Tatsuya went out to Kyuuchouji Temple to train as he normally did, but he wasn’t delaying the mission due to pride or conceit.
As he explained to Miyuki, this mission was not just about simply capturing or killing the mastermind. Arrangements to organize a search party needed to be made first. It was still too early to contact the involved people.
Until it was time to move, he went to Yakumo’s temple for his usual training.
However, after the usual bout of sparring, they had a slightly different conversation than usual.
“Tatsuya-kun, how is your mission going?”
Yakumo asked this in a small talk tone while they were drinking tea brought by a disciple on the floor in the main temple building.
“Not good.”
Tatsuya answered and omitted saying until yesterday.
“In spite of that, you don't seem particularly worried.”
Yakumo asked this not suspiciously, but cheerfully.
“It’s none of my business after all.”
The words he didn’t say this time were, “until the day before yesterday.”
When Miyuki was attacked by anti-magic supporters, the capture and obliteration of the mastermind, Gu Jie, became Tatsuya’s top priority.
“None of your business… Regardless, you seem to be working diligently.”
“Because it’s my mission. I can’t refuse.”
Ignoring Yakumo’s face that was twisted into a grin, Tatsuya asked a question in return.
“However, this is unusual. Master cares about my mission?”
“This is not unusual. Wasn’t I helping you with various things up until now like the ‘vampire incident’ or the ‘parasite doll incident’?”
“In other words, does that mean that this is a situation that Master can’t ignore this time?”
“Even if you are a monk you are not completely freed from matters of the world. It’s awful.”
Tatsuya failed to see any degree of discomfort that could be described as ‘awful’ from the expression of the carefree answering Yakumo.
“Then could you please help me with the search of Gu Jie, the ancient magician from the former Dahan, who is the mastermind of the terror attack?”
Tatsuya found the idea of being led around in circles in this manner somewhat distasteful, so he brazenly tried asking Yakumo for support.
He had said this sarcastically, assuming that it would be refused.
“All right.”
So when the immediate response was a nod, Tatsuya wasn’t able to respond for a moment.
“What’s wrong with you? It seems like you are somehow surprised.”
Of course, Tatsuya was aware that it would be his defeat if he didn't manage to stay calm. So he obediently raised the white flag. ??It was a defeat either way.
“I was surprised. Because I thought that you surely wouldn’t agree immediately.”
“It’s merely cooperation. Just to help a little.”
Tatsuya could not see what Yakumo was really thinking behind that carefree smiling expression he was wearing as usual.
“Then I will think about what I would like to request from you.”
“That’s fine. I will lend you my power to the extent I’m capable of. Oh, but don't go asking me to teach you any techniques any more.”
“I know.”
At this time Tatsuya was unaware that he had been tricked into allowing Yakumo to intervene.
After Tatsuya returned from training, he changed into his school uniform and went to school as usual.
They hadn’t forgotten that the school was closed from today to the weekend. Miyuki’s and Minami’s personal items were left at school because they returned home immediately after the police interrogation yesterday. They were going to collect these.
There is no need to bring textbooks and notebooks to and from school unlike one hundred years ago. But changing clothes for P.E. as well as practice and club activities were necessary.
If they don’t want to take care of the details, they can pay a low price to the school for cleaning changing clothes. Even though female students would entrust their uniform to the company, none of them would hand over their underwear for cleaning.
Besides, girls tended to carry various things around anyways. Male students mostly came to school empty-handed, whereas girls would bring some personal items of different sizes.
The gates were shut because the school was closed, but the procedure to enter the school went smoothly since they were wearing the proper uniform, brought their student ID’s and had a legitimate reason. They arrived at school without being attacked nor delayed by a demonstration.
In that case we’ll be home again soon, the trio thought.
This expectation itself was not wrong. It’s just that there was an unexpected person in the school.
“Shiba-san!”
“Ichijou-san?”
In the classroom of class 2A, Masaki was going to the desk by himself.
“…Are you studying?”
Miyuki spontaneously asked that question even though the answer was obvious. It was too surprising to see a person alone with an open terminal for online studies in the classroom while the school is closed.
“Uh, yes.”
Masaki also realized that his current appearance might be interpreted as strange, he replies to Miyuki’s question with a forced smile.
“Because there are still lessons at Third High today…”
“Oh.”
For now, even though they were surprised by it at first, Tatsuya as well as Miyuki were convinced by his explanation. Masaki had been given a seat at First High so he could take the classroom lessons of Third High.
It’s a ‘seat’ rather than “being enrolled”. Naturally, their school being closed had no bearing on the state of Third High.
Masaki had a forced smile for Miyuki’s surprise which could be called a reasonable reaction.
“Since Third High seems to be closed from tomorrow onwards as well, I think today I’m going to leave in the afternoon.”
In that case, wouldn’t it have been better to take a break today? These lines were on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t voice them after all.
Because precisely at that time, the terminal Masaki was using made a warning sound. Masaki returned his eyes to the terminal with an ‘Oops’
expression. To not disturb Masaki, Miyuki went with quiet footsteps through the classroom to the lockers in the back and silently took out her baggage.
Miyuki walked to a spot diagonally across from Masaki, bowed once, and silently left the classroom along with Tatsuya.
They didn’t encounter any trouble on their way back from First High.
Rather than feeling it was ominous, Tatsuya felt a sense of disappointment. Although, Tatsuya also thought that the activists had enough common sense to not cause disturbances at the same location for two consecutive days.
Due to this, Tatsuya was able to focus on the original search activity, and there was no reason for him to harbor dissatisfaction. Based on the information that Masaki was only available from the afternoon onwards, Tatsuya made arrangements for the pursuit of Gu Jie.
“Tatsuya-kun, you've tracked down the ringleader, haven't you?”
“Yes. Some time ago I got a message from our parent’s house.”
“I see…”
Mayumi made a frustrated expression on the visiphone’s screen in reaction to Tatsuya’s lie. She was feeling immense shame in how the Yotsuba Family was one step ahead even though the incident happened in Saegusa territory.
However, there was actually no big progress from the Yotsuba Family’s side either, but Tatsuya of course didn’t say that.
“Gu Jie, the mastermind behind the Hakone terror attack incident, is hiding in Hiratsuka right now.”
“Eh, Hiratsuka!?”
“The enemy has hardly moved since this began. He was only moving in a limited range. We mistakenly assumed that the person behind a large-scale incident would not stay in a densely populated area and this was used against us.”
“I see…”
The irritation of Mayumi’s face was directed to herself, her father, as well as her older brother.
The search party from the Saegusa Family commanded by her older brother Tomokazu took the current personnel from Koto City and lead them to Narita. As a result of the investigation, they were judging that the possibility of the target hiding in the districts Hakone, Izu and Miura Peninsula was low.
However, the criminal was lurking in the area that was supposedly searched. That means that the net of the investigation was too loose.
This lead Mayumi to feel like the Saegusa Family is not as thorough, rather, they were inferior to the Yotsuba’s Family in the Ten Master Clans.
“Saegusa-senpai, may I continue to talk?”
“Excuse me, please do.”
Even though he could not read Mayumi’s heart, he could see that Mayumi was tormented by powerlessness from her expression.
But Tatsuya didn’t comfort her and instead brought her attention back to the task at hand.
“To not give him any time for escape preparations, I think we should move immediately to capture him. However, it’s not a good idea to resolve the Hakone terror incident on our own. We have to consider the honor of the police as well.”
“That’s right. A large-scale bomb incident occurred in the immediate surroundings of the capital. The prestige of the police depends on the arrest of the criminal. If we solve this with our private magicians alone, it would result in leaving a sour feeling between us and the police…”
Even if Gu Jie is caught, if the relationship with the police and the Ten Master Clans deteriorates because they caught Gu Jie, it is a loss for magicians at the end of the day.
As the Saegusa Family was also active in having acquaintances other than magicians, Mayumi understood immediately what Tatsuya was trying to say.
“Therefore, Saegusa-senpai. Can we mobilize the police for the capture of Gu Jie?”
When she was asked by Tatsuya, Mayumi frowned.
“Under what pretext? I'm sure you're aware, but we can't obtain an arrest warrant just because the Yotsuba Family declares someone as the criminal.”
Tatsuya nodded without moving an eyebrow to Mayumi’s statement.
“I know. If the police could be moved with normal procedures, I wouldn’t think of bothering you to lend a hand. Because there is not enough evidence to convince a judicial institution, I thought that the Saegusa Family, who have good connections with the police in the Kanto region, would be able to convince the police to move.”
Even though she knew that it was an open provocation, Mayumi couldn’t hide her displeased expression.
“I will try to voice that once but… honestly speaking, when it comes to influencing the police, Tatsuya-kun’s girlfriend is better suited for that.”
Nevertheless, Mayumi would never make a mistake like rising to the bait promising aid without considering the consequences. Mayumi talked about Erika intentionally as “girlfriend” to try to tease him.
However, with Tatsuya as an opponent such an obvious attempt at showing composure is completely useless.
“Well, if senpai says she doesn't mind talking to the Chiba Family, let’s talk with Erika.”
In this situation, mainly the Saegusa Family would lose their face.
“For god’s sake, stop!”
Mayumi couldn't stand to face the criticism from her family if she were to go ahead and approve the participation of the Chiba Family on her own. It was only natural for her to raise her voice and put a stop to it.
“Also, as I told you, I would like to start tonight.”
“Understood! I’ll arrange everything by evening! Please stop bullying me!”
“Thank you very much.”
Tatsuya did not object to Mayumi’s line “Please stop bullying me!”.
After talking to Mayumi, Tatsuya also finished talking to Katsuto and Masaki via video call. When Tatsuya was in the midst of thinking if he could rest till the time he had to leave, the bell rang informing him of arriving guests.
The visitors were Fumiya and Ayako.
“Welcome, Ayako-san and Fumiya-kun. But didn’t you have school today?”
Miyuki, who by chance chose clothes that could be used to go out, asked that question while inviting the two of them into the living room.
It was still before 4 pm. The school time of Magic High Schools was the same everywhere. Every Monday to Friday until 3:20 P.M., except for extracurricular lessons. There wasn’t enough time even if they came from Fourth High directly to this house. The pair ?? not only Fumiya but also Ayako ?? were wearing typical, inconspicuous streetwear.
Since they didn’t bring any baggage, they were wondering if they came here after checking into a hotel. It was only natural that Miyuki asked “What about school?” if she didn’t know the circumstances.
“Excuse us for disturbing you, Miyuki-oneesama. Since today Fourth High is temporarily closed as well.”
“Is that so? I heard that Third High had still classes today.”
To Tatsuya’s question, Fumiya answered.
“Following in the same form as the decision of First High, Second High and Fourth High are temporarily closed from today on. I heard that the other five schools will also follow suit from tomorrow on.”
“This matter has become extremely exaggerated.”
Tatsuya muttered like it was someone else’s affair, but he himself was an involved party that triggered yesterday’s incident. To comment on this like an outsider was wrong to begin with. Was it good or bad that a person pointing that out wasn’t present?
Because Miyuki was the student council president of First High, it would have been appropriate for her to originally know this information, but the reason she didn’t hear it was that she entrusted the reporting to the school to Izumi yesterday. Miyuki muttered “I have to make amends to Izumi-chan” without giving it voice. ??If Izumi knew this, she would have danced in a delirium of joy.
Tatsuya turned his gaze towards the pair in front of him without remembering things like Izumi.
“Well then, may I ask for the reason why you came?”
The twins sitting opposite of Tatsuya communicated with eye contact to decide who’d answer. ??They weren't trying to push off the responsibility to each other.
“We confirmed the corpse of the ancient magician about which we received information from Tatsuya-niisan. Oumi Kazukiyo is the ancient magician with the nickname “Puppet Master”, whose specialty technique is an SB magic from the continent that possesses and controls corpses with spiritual beings. Our target now, Gu Jie, is a user of a different type of corpse manipulation technique, right?”
“Rather than manipulating the corpses directly, manipulating them by letting them be possessed with SB’s… It is different than what I heard from Gu Jie’s magic. Weren’t they supposed to be adherents of the same school of magic?”
To Tatsuya’s question, Fumiya nodded without taking time to think.
“Oumi is the descendant of Taoists who immigrated from the continent about 150 years ago. Rather than traditional magicians from Dahan and the Great Asian Alliance amongst others, his art is said to be faithful to tradition and it looks like that was his secret root of pride.”
“He is the descendant of magicians who immigrated before the existence of magic became known?”
They think of themselves as inheritors of traditional magic, but if you look at it from the perspective of the ancient magicians who settled down in this country several hundred years before, they are newcomers.
It’s not hard to imagine that they didn’t feel at home. It could be that the parents' intention behind the strange old-fashioned names was to make themselves fit amongst the Japanese practitioners. The person himself seemed to have gone the other way.
“The relations with the Onmyoji system ancient magicians were particularly bad.”
“Therefore he was taken advantage of by Gu Jie there.”
“Probably.”
“Even if you want to feel sympathy towards his situation, that is no justification for his actions.”
"Not that I have any intention of sympathizing in the first place", Tatsuya muttered, and resumed the questioning.
“How about intelligence related to other collaborators?”
“After analyzing the remaining thoughts in the corpse of Oumi, it seems that Gu Jie newly acquired corpses of two people. …I’m sorry, I don’t know the identity of the corpses.”
“Because the Kuroba as well as the Tsukuba don’t know anything about this, it’s highly likely to be a rather high-level magician.”
“Yoshimi-san and Yuuka-san agree with Tatsuya-niisan as well.”
Once they become corpses, magicians and non-magicians as the same.
Corpses of magicians and non-magicians alike impede examination by magic. However, if a corpse were to keep the abilities it possessed while the person was still alive, there was a good chance that they could repel detection methods that used perception-type magic.
The followers of Gu Jie that were in No Head Dragon had the technology to process the brains of magicians into auxiliary tools called “Sorcery Booster” that put a specific magic into operation. There are no grounds anywhere to assume that Gu Jie cannot do the same thing.
In addition, at Kamakura, Gu Jie was going to use the bodies of the magicians that were remodeled into generators after they died as well. If you can’t use the abilities one had during their lifetime, there is no such need. One is efficient if one blows oneself up and involves the enemy into it the same moment one dies.
Anyways, Tatsuya thought. By what logic can a corpse keep the abilities that it possessed while still alive?
Magic is the power of the mind, that is the common opinion. There is no evidence to deny this at all.
However, at the same time the answer to the fundamental question “What is the mind?” has not appeared at this point as well. Everything there is now is of the hypothesis or speculation type.
These hypotheses vary from things that are almost established theories in fields where the opinion is divided. For example, concerning the question “What is the mind made of?” the theory “It is made of Pushions.” is widely supported. On the other hand concerning the topic “Where is the mind?” there are various theories such as “It’s in the information dimension.”, “There exists a mind dimension.”, “It exists as an entity in this world.”, and “It’s not in a fixed location but always flowing.” and all hypotheses have certain supporters.
If the dead can use magic and the power of the mind is available, being alive is not a necessary condition for having a mind. No, what is the essential difference of “life” and “death” to begin with?
Tatsuya intuitively knows that he can’t revive people in whom death has unfurled. It’s instinct rather than intuition. His characteristic magic “Regrowth” taught him that. That’s why there is nothing else but a clear border between life and death.
However, if a corpse can use the power of the mind called magic, a corpse should also be able to draw out mind products such as intent, memory, and emotion. A corpse also providing the same personality it while being alive may also be possible for the aforementioned reasons.
Where is that different from a living person…
“Onii-sama?” “Tatsuya-san?” “Tatsuya-niisan?”
“Ah, sorry.”
Miyuki’s, Ayako’s, and Fumiya’s voices pulled his thoughts back that entered into digressions. Tatsuya seemed to have thought for a rather long time.
“No, you were for sure in the middle of your thoughts, I am sorry.”
“No. Rather…”
Before Tatsuya got into an apology contest with Miyuki, he changed the topic.
“Returning to the first question, what is the reason that the two of you came here? Although communication is potentially intercepted, delivering the investigation results won’t be the only purpose.”
Tatsuya stares at Fumiya and Ayako at the same time.
“Did you come over to guard Miyuki while I’m out?”
Fumiya and Ayako looked at each other and Ayako sighed.
“Tatsuya-san, I’m wondering whether or not your understanding of things is too good.”
Ayako’s words “Your understanding of things is too good” was in a dictionary definition sense of “You understand amongst other things the point of view and feelings of the other too well.” and wasn’t the complimentary “You are a good-natured person”. It was a protest that she wanted to stop his “seeing through anything and everything.”
“So we can avoid acting together with families such as the Juumonji and Saegusa, we are out of this operation. It’s the same for people such as my father and Yuuka-san.”
Certainly, the mission this time was not so important that they had to make it succeed even at the risk of leaking the details of the Kuroba's and Tsukuba's unique advanced mental interference magic to the Ten Master Clans. The Yotsuba could satisfy their duty by just having Tatsuya participate.
“The school is closed until the weekend so we volunteered to be the guards for Miyuki-oneesama. Even though I say guard, Miyuki-oneesama’s power is overwhelmingly stronger than ours, though.”
“That’s why we are in your care until Sunday.”
To Fumiya and Ayako, who were lowering their heads, Tatsuya nodded while smiling bitterly.
“No, I can also be relieved if I know that you are involved. Will you be staying in a hotel until Sunday?”
“Yes, that’s the case, but we were wondering if we could stay over alternately? We do not need a bedroom.”
In other words Fumiya says that they want to guard the house at night.
Indeed, the role of a guard is a serious matter.
“If you two don’t mind sharing the same room, it’s fine that you check out of the hotel and stay in our house.”
The former guest room became Minami’s room, but the room their mother used when she was alive is practically vacant at this time. As the twin bed was left as it was, there is no problem with sleeping there as well. Even in case their father Tatsurou comes home on a whim, they just have to repel him to the mansion of his second wife. Because the position of Tatsuya’s side is already stronger than Tatsurou’s position.
“…Nee-san, what will we do?”
Whether on duty or on personal affairs, staying at this house was convenient for Fumiya. That’s the same for Ayako. In spite of that Fumiya asked Ayako so, because he thought about that his older sister might have unpleasant feelings to the point of “Sleeping in the same room”.
Fumiya’s concern was not necessarily irrelevant, Ayako frowned subtly.
Even though they are twins, in spite of that she was a daughter of marriageable age and if that meant staying in the same room with the opposite sex, she would feel hesitant.
Miyuki, who noticed her conflict, tried to propose to lodge Ayako in her own room. However, Ayako answered a moment too early.
“Thank you for your offer. Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-oneesama, Minami-chan, we are in your care.”
“Likewise, I’ll leave it to you. Minami, will you arrange the room for the two to stay in?”
“Of course.”
It’s a rather late time to start with cleaning and making the bed now.
However, Minami answered with these words and bowed to Tatsuya without showing any displeasure.
“Then we’ll fetch our luggage from the hotel.”
Ayako says so and stands up together with Fumiya.
“I will also go out soon. The probability that I cannot return today is high. Miyuki, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Yes, Onii-sama.”
“Tatsuya-san, I wish you good luck in the battle.”
Tatsuya and Miyuki also stood up a breath later.
“I’ll try to get it done by tomorrow morning.”
To Ayako’s encouragement, Tatsuya replied with that.
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