Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume SS - Chapter 3.5

Chapter 5 – The Operation Ends 

The box wagon stopped in front of the apartment building where she was staying. Lina got out of the car wearing the mini-furisode.  And entered the apartment building’s main entrance without stopping to watch the box wagon’s departure. 

She had left the paper bag containing her change of clothes in the station wagon, not that she meant to. She had simply forgotten. 

From the moment she had escaped from the Shinto Shrine, she has been agitated. From the moment she had gotten close and met the eyes of the targeted young boy, Shiba Tatsuya. 

It was not because she was glared at. It had felt causal until the moment she looked over as she passed by. It would be easy to put it down to her unusual appearance. The mission was to leave an impression of herself on the target. That the targeted young boy turned to look at her was something that she could interpret as meaning that the mission was a success. 

Besides, there is no way he could have seen through to her true identity, so she determined that she must be overthinking things. Her current appearance has no factors that could denote that she is a member of Stars——. 

However, even as she told herself that, the beating of her heart would not readily return to normal. 

That look, in that moment it seemed like her had seen through everything. 

She had never seen such a look before. Until now, no matter what kind of magician had been her opponent, she had never been assailed by this feeling. 

It was not overpowering, rather, it was the opposite. 

It felt like the uneasiness you get when you lean forward to look down at the street from the top of a skyscraper.  

A sense of peering into a bottomless abyss. 

Of having met the gaze of the monster that lies dormant within the abyss —— it gave such an illusion. 

Lina shook her head numerous times, trying to expel the anxiety from within herself. 

She doesn’t know if her housemate had returned, but she cannot allow her subordinates to see her in such an unreliable state. 

——I am the High Commander of Stars, the Sirius, and the strongest magician in the United States of North America. 

——I cannot show them an image where I appear to be a frail little girl. 

Taking a deep breath in front of the room, Lina opened the door. 

There are no shoes in the entry way. Relieved to see this, Lina removes her boots. “Welcome home.” 

Caught off guard, it made her jump. 

This cohabiter could be said to be a methodical person, and at this point Lina realised that she would not have removed her shoes. 

“Silvie, you’re back?” 

For managing to make her expression a smiling one, Lina praises herself inside her mind. 

“…………” 

However, all that was returned, was a loss for words. 

“Silvie?” 

Not realising the extent of the ridiculousness present, Lina told herself that she needed to do something and called out the name of the cohabiter who had frozen up with a shocked expression. 

Warrant Officer Silvia Mercury First. A Stars planet-class magician. ‘First’ means that she is ranked first of the planet-class troops bestowed with the codename ‘Mercury’.  Rather than volunteering to join the army, she was scouted for her magical technical abilities. She is twenty-five years old and majored in Journalism at University. And at present she has been selected as the personal aide of ‘Major Sirius’ due to the value of her technical skills in information analysis. 

“……Lina.” 

After a not-so-short silence, Silvia squeezes out her voice. 

“What is that… outfit?” 

“Ah, is it this? So that I wouldn’t be unnecessarily conspicuous, I investigated the fashions of Japan appropriate for visiting a Shinto Shrine.” 

This is a lie. This ‘one-piece kimono’ was really selected to be conspicuous, and she had been excited to receive the catalogue from Abigail. However, Lina is thinking that ‘she herself is not behaving in a particularly ridiculous way,’ so she replied innocently without being aware that she was telling a lie. 

“It caused me quite a bit of trouble. Does it suit me?” 

As Lina raised her long sleeves for her to see, Silvia raised her hand to her temple as though she were enduring a headache. 

“……Before I answer that question, I would like to ask one thing.” 

“Yes, what is it?” 

“At the Shinto Shrine, did you see any girls wearing the same fashion as you were, Lina?” 

Because she does not understand the reason for the question, Lina’s expression went completely blank. 

For the time being, she searched though her own memory whilst tilting her head for a different reason; asking herself ‘why is she asking me this?’ 

“……Hmm? Now you mention it, I don’t recall seeing anyone.” 

“Lina, I will say this bluntly. That outfit is ridiculous!” 

“Huh!?” 

“Don’t you ‘huh’ me! That outfit is something you would only see on an extreme animation and comics maniac. What did you use for reference? With an outfit like that, you must have stood out like a sore thumb!” Silvia did not try to conceal the iciness in her gaze. 

While shuddering from that gaze, Lina once again searched her memory. Recalling the targeted young boy’s smile. That……” 

“……Now you mention it, the target also made a bitter smile when he looked at me.” 

It was. It had not been derision, it was a bitter smile. 

Being conspicuous was fine. That had been the plan from the start. But perhaps she had been attracting the wrong kind of attention……? 

Such thoughts resulted in a cold sweat as a chill ran down Lina’s spine. 

Silvia put her hands on her hips. The eyes staring at Lina were firmly fixed upon her. 

“……High Commander.” 

(Eeeeeek) 

In a voice that appears to resound from the depths of the earth, Lina summons up a pitiable shriek within her mind. 

“Today, cancel your entire schedule after this. This presumptuous Mercury is going to give you a detailed, easy-to-understand explanation of recent fashion trends in Japan.” 

Silvia’s tone is resolute, leaving no room for refusal. 

“……Yes.” 

Lina had no alternative but to nod her head. (Abbyyyyy! This isn’t what you told meeeeeee!!!) Lina vented a complaint within her mind. 

Bringing Abigail to mind, for some reason, brought an image of her returning a triumphant thumbs-up to Lina’s complaint. 

(Fin)