Maidens of Cygnus - Volume 4 - Chapter 7.2

Mirage Bat is an event where holographic light balls are projected in midair and competitors hit them with a stick to make them disappear. It’s a competition for number of light balls extinguished in three 15-minute periods, with 5-minute breaks in between.

Appropriate for an event with such a simple concluding process, the rules are also simple. You must not touch other competitors, you must not obstruct the path of other competitors, you must not leave the stage, and in addition to these three big prohibitions, there are only regulations regarding minor restrictions of flying magic.

These restrictions were based on matches in 2095’s Nine Schools Competition, in which First High’s Shiba Miyuki did not limit herself to just a simple landslide victory when she first demonstrated flying magic, she also forced every single one of the other competitors who copied the flying magic to withdraw. Though the competitors from other schools who withdrew were just reaping what they had sown, the situation where all but one had ran out of magic power was seen as serious.

At the time of the aforementioned match, the other schools copied the Activation Sequence for the original flying magic as it was to use it themselves, so when their stamina was exhausted the safety mechanism worked and no major incidents occurred. However, the safety mechanism can also be removed depending on the arrangement of the Activation Sequence, and, even if unintentionally, the safety won’t work and it can cause accidents.

Therefore, the tournament management committee set a limit of one minute of continuous use of flying magic. After using flying magic for one minute, competitors are required to land, no exceptions.

When this rule was introduced in 2096’s tournament, competitors, one after another, violated this rule due to unfamiliarity. It is an event that is characterized by having few restrictions originally. Both competitors and staff were very confused. Nowadays, all the competitors have the one-minute end condition set up in their CADs.

The biggest reason for Mirage Bat’s popularity is, as one should expect, its glamorous look. Beautiful girls — many magicians are exceedingly good-looking by the general sense of beauty — wearing unitards (leotards with tights incorporated) that expose the body line, in combination with vests and miniskirt, dancing lightly in the air. It was impossible for it to not get popular, especially with men.

However, for competitors it may be a design that they would feel embarrassed to appear in public in. Actually, in the waiting room, Mei, who was waiting to go to the first match, was looking embarrassed.

The Mirage Bat stage has the shape of a circular pond surrounded by eight pillars. Scattered on the pond are six pillars of different heights for competitors to use as footholds.

A shadow befell that stage. The shadow quickly spread to cover the entire stage. It was the shadow cast by a massive decorative ceiling curtain spread in the sky using automated blimps.

Due to the event format involving hitting holograms with a stick, the sky above the stage being dark is more suited for Mirage Bat. This is the reason both the newcomers competition and the main competition finals are held in the evening.

However, the qualification round is held in the morning to ensure the competitors participating in the finals have plenty of time to rest. The sky being covered in thick clouds would be adequate conditions for Mirage Bat, but it isn’t known whether the match day will conveniently be cloudy. Clear weather days like today are not unusual. It is for this that this midair curtain was introduced.

Also, this midair curtain is also a measure against rain. Rainy weather is also unsuitable for Mirage Bat, which requires looking up to play.

Once the stage was sufficiently dark, the competitors began their entrance. Since the competitors choose the scaffolding they prefer by order of entry, the entrance order was drawn by lots.

Mei was the fourth of six competitors to enter.

The pillars to be used as footholds each have slightly different heights. The difference between the tallest pillar and the shortest pillar is just under 1 meter, but many competitors prefer the tall pillars, perhaps because they want to be closer to the target light balls, even if just by a little. In fact, the competitors that had entered until now had chosen the first to third pillars by order of height.

However, Mei chose the lowest foothold, close to the center of the pond. This isn’t an expression of self-confidence, she sees horizontal distance as more important than vertical distance. The light balls appear in random locations. That being the case, flying from the center of the pond has the shortest horizontal distance on average. It’s purely on average, so in almost all cases, it won’t be the shortest, but Mei chose ‘not an unfavorable position’ over ‘most favorable position’.

The entrance of the competitors ended. The time is 8:59:40.

The competitors waited for the start.

And, at exactly 9am. A buzzer announcing the start of the match rang, and four light balls appeared in the air.

The competitors simultaneously jumped up and took off. Four of them are using flying magic, two aren’t. Mei is one of the two.

Mei caught one light ball with her stick. One point, a sign of good things to come. Her body naturally decelerated as she ascended. At the same time as she scored, she had cancelled her magic.

As Mei began descending, a new light ball appeared. She accelerated her own body towards that hologram. However, she couldn’t score. The competitors from other schools who were using flying magic were faster. As Mei repeatedly went up and down in this way, she continued scoring and missing points.

A minute passed since the start of the match. The competitors used flying magic descended onto the footholds.

Through repeatedly and freely descending and ascending using intermittent acceleration magic, Mei stays in the air without using flying magic. She’s using acceleration magic, not flying magic. It does not conflict with the rule that enforces returning to the foothold.

With her strategy that minimizes the time moving up or down that cleverly responds to the situation, Mei took advantage of the other’s player’s choices to accumulate points.

The first period ended. Mei is provisionally in first place. There was a reasonable difference to second place. If this momentum continues, it’s looking like she can go through the qualification round in first place.

“Hmm...”

Marika was humming in the stands.

“I’ve seen it many times, but she really can pull that off with such skill. It would be totally impossible for me.”

Mei repeatedly used magic on herself to not ascend or descend too much. And she’s doing that while going after the light balls.

It is a technique that requires quick use of magic bordering on the absurd. It’s not the activation of magic that is fast, it’s the decision to activate magic that is rapid. Maybe it should be said that it’s a magic technique that depends more on intelligence than magic ability itself?

“Yeah, you’re right. It would be impossible for me too.”

Alisa showed she was in fully agreement.

“It would obviously be impossible for me too.”

Hiyori, listening to their conversation, said while deeply nodding.

5 minutes before 10am, the third period concluded.

Mei, rightly so, went through the qualification in first place.

◇ ◇ ◇

Right now, sitting next to Alisa at the stands is Mei, who had changed into her Nine Schools Competition uniform. A two-piece with a tailored jacket and a pleated skirt. It gives a sportier impression compared to the regular uniforms.

The reason Mei changed, of course, is because she wanted to take off the Mirage Bat costume as quickly as possible. In that sense, maybe it was good that she was in the first match.

Though neither Alisa nor Hiyori was worrying about things like costumes.

“Mei, are you sure you don’t want to go rest?”

Hiyori asked her from the other side of Alisa. Her face didn’t look that serious, but it was clearly understood from her voice and expression that she was still worrying.

Mirage Bat is scheduled with at least 6-and-a-half-hour interval between the qualification rounds and the finals because this event is remarkably exhausting in terms of stamina and magic power. It is common for competitors who have advanced to the finals to lie down and rest after their qualification match is over. It is also normal practice for extremely tired competitors to rest body and mind by sleeping in a capsule that isolated sound, light and vibrations — called ‘sensory deprivation capsule’. Despite the glamorous look, it is that much of a grueling event.

“I’ll take a nap after eating lunch. Since before resting, I want to watch Marika’s ma—”

Right then, Mei glanced the Third High stands.

“I want to watch Ichijou Akane’s performance.”

There wasn’t much of a difference between Mei’s spirit during the match and now.

“Ah, she’s coming out.”

Alisa, sandwiched between them, murmured, and Mei and Hiyori also turned their attention to the stage.

Marika is making her entry. She was second in the order.

Marika chose, not the second tallest pillar, but the third tallest next to the edge of the pond.

Seeing that, Hiyori muttered “Eh, why?”.

Alisa was able to infer why she chose the edge. But wasn’t confident, so she, along with Hiyori, requested an explanation from Mei by glancing at her.

While protesting at Alisa with her eyes as if saying ‘You know this, right?’, Mei slightly opened her mouth.

“...She’s limiting her field of vision.”

“Field of vision... Aah, so that’s what it is.”

Hiyori pondered for a moment and understood what Mei was trying to say.

Mirage Bat is composed of three steps: 1) finding the light balls projected in the air; 2) getting closer to the light ball; 3) hitting the light ball with the stick in their hands. The superiority of flying magic lays in the ability to perform step 2 faster than jumping from a foothold.

If you stand on the edgemost foothold, there is a low probability that a light ball will appear behind you. You can concentrate on what’s ahead of you. As a consequence, she is able to do step 1, finding the light ball, quickly. That was Marika’s idea.

“But it’s a prerequisite to not losing to other competitors in speed, isn’t it?”

By standing at the edge of the stage, you have to move a bigger distance than other competitors if you decide to aim for a light ball that appeared on the opposing side, and the possibility of other competitors blocking the path is also high. Hiyori was feeling like the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.

“Of course, that is true.”

“But Marika isn’t using flying magic, right?”

“It’s starting.”

Hiyori and Mei cut off their conversation due to Alisa’s warning.

Not just them, everyone in the stands stopped talking.

As if it was made to wait for that moment, the match start buzzer sounded.

The ‘Reactive Armor’ that Marika — that the Toogami family uses is magic that forms a defensive shield along the body. The shield is positioned 3 to 5 centimeters outside of the skin. However, with increased skill in using it, small items can be brought inside the shield.

But ‘Reactive Armor’ does not allow solid or liquids through both ways. Even gases, only oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide can pass through, furthermore, carbon dioxide can only be emitted from the inside to the outside of the shield.

Therefore, while using ‘Reactive Armor’, even if you’re holding a weapon inside the shield, you can’t use it. It is possible to hold weapons and tools through the shield, but it will be like holding it through a glove at least 3 centimeters thick. And there will be no feeling that you’re touching it when holding it with your hand. Only the weight can be felt. This means that, at best, you can wield a stick or hold up a shield, and it’s absolutely impossible to do things like operating firearms.

For this kind of reason, the combat method envisioned by the experts of the Former Tenth Research Institute during the development of ‘Reactive Armor’ was a ram attack, making use of its impermeability for physical things.

Not allowing any solid objects to penetrate the shield is the same as being more solid than any kind of material. Because of its hardness, it destroys objects with collisions. To give this attack sufficient destructive power, the Former Tenth Research Institute also tried to give ‘Toogami’ the ability to move at high speeds while using ‘Reactive Armor’.

Specifically, joining the single-body armor magic and movement magic. Cladding yourself with a shield and moving your own body to ram the target.

In fact, after the ‘Toogami’ became Extras, this idea bore fruit with the Juumonji Family’s ‘Cannonball’, that is, having ‘Defensive Phalanx’ active and smashing the shield into the enemy using Movement-Type Magic. The former ‘Toogami’, who became ‘Tookami’, cannot complete this attack magic.

However, it’s not like the aptitude for Movement-Type Magic given to the ‘Toogami’ by the Former Tenth Research Institute disappeared. The seeds for ‘magic that lets you move in a straight line at high speeds’ was waiting for when the water necessary for germination would be poured into the soil called Tookami Family, who were stripped of their number.

The match start buzzer rang and a light ball appeared in the sky. Marika confirmed the distance to the light ball and the direction and activated self-moving magic, not self-accelerating magic.

Movement-Type Magic wasn’t her strong suit. It was because Movement-Type Magic is usually used to move objects other than herself that she didn’t realize it. She had believed that Movement-Type Magic used on herself was to zero out her movement distance in midair, in other words, to prevent her from falling to keep her still in the air.

It was when Marika started practicing Mirage Bat that she first became aware of it. That magic to move her own body suits her. Complex movements are still difficult for her. But she quickly grasped moving in a straight line by connecting points. This was magic that became the basis of ‘Mock Teleportation’.

The one who realized that was Mei. Mei knew that a former Fourth High student called Kuroba Ayako used a magic that should be called a downgraded version of ‘Mock Teleportation’ to get an overwhelming victory in Mirage Bat.

The number of challenges that ought to be solved in order for Marika to reproduce that were not few. To compete in Mirage Bat with self-movement magic, first of all, she had to learn techniques to avoid collisions with other competitors.

Even now it can’t be said she was able to fully settle this issue.

But deciding if she can or cannot move somewhere, that she has become able to do.

(Can move!)

Marika jumped.

She appeared in front of the light ball faster than any other and vigorously swung the stick down.

A surprised voice shouted “So fast!” in the Third High stands.

“She really is.”

Akane, like Hiromi, was struck with admiration. Akane’s eyes were following Marika as she descended into a foothold.

“I didn’t think she would have that kind of magic. I wonder why she didn’t use that magic in the bout against you the other day, Akane-san...”

Reira presented the question inquisitively, with a mutter.

She, who received military training for combat magic as Liú Lìlěi, perceived with one glance that the self-moving magic Marika used was something primarily intended for ramming attacks.

“I don’t want to believe she was going easy on me...”

Akane replied, also with a mutter.

“Maybe she mastered it after that bout? She really is an interesting one...”

Akane smiled, looking pleased. That smile, reminiscent of pumas or cheetahs, was beautifully elegant and ferocious.

The surprise among the First High students was not inferior to Third High’s either.

“...Marika can use that kind of magic?”

Hiyori, who didn’t have the opportunity to watch Marika practice, asked with an incredulous voice to Alisa who is sitting next to her.

“She learned it while practicing for the Nine Schools Competition.”

The reply came Mei, on the other side of Alisa.

“In less than a month!?”

Hiyori’s voice got louder, and the pitch got higher.

“Seems like she had the aptitude for it from the start. She didn’t have the opportunity to use that kind of magic until now, right?”

“This is probably why even though he wasn’t chosen as a competitor, she could say that ‘Mirage Bat is also pretty fun’. She was able to dig up the potential she hadn’t even realized she had.”

Alisa added after Mei while recalling Marika’s words, a little envy seeming to appear on her voice.

Afterwards, Marika steadily increased her score.

She wasn’t able to gets points from every single light ball that appeared, but each time she jumped she scored without fail.

Her pace didn’t change until the end, and she slowly built a lead over the other competitors who started showing signs of fatigue.

And once it ended, Marika advanced to the finals with an undisputable score difference.

◇ ◇ ◇

Before the start of the third match, Marika showed up at the stands wearing the same costume she had during the match and a cooler jumper on top of it.

“You’re interested in Ichijou-san’s match too, Mina?”

Marika nodded with “Yeah” to Alisa’s question and then asked “What do you mean, me too?” with her head tilted.

“Ah, Mei too, huh?”

But she immediately reached the answer by herself.

“Yeah. After all, isn’t Ichijou-san my biggest rival? I believe it is imperative for me to watch the match.”

“Hmmm, for reconnaissance, huh?”

“Is it different for you, Marika?”

Having doubts about Marika’s slow reaction, Mei asked back.

“No, it’s not. Ichijou-san is probably the strongest opponent, right?”

A forced answer. Mei got increasingly suspicious, and was going to question her what she really was thinking, but at that time the buzzer rang to start the match.

Her ponytail fluttered, her small body danced in the sky.

Akane made full use of flying magic to accumulate points one after another.

“Can this strategy be called orthodox? She’s using flying magic really well.”

Alisa let her impressions out, to which Mei shook her head.

“I can’t say it’s ordinary. To curb the time loss of landing every minute, she’s using movement magic and inertial neutralization magic when she returns to the foothold.”

“She has the impact of an eagle or a hawk attacking its pray from the sky.”

Mei pointed out Akane’s sharp drops, and Hiyori made that comparison.

“Like a predatory bird — a ‘Raptor’, huh? That sounds cool.”

Marika cheerfully smiled.

“I don’t know about using ‘Raptor’ for a girl...”

Alisa reservedly voiced her protest, but there were no voices of support for her.

— Side note, ‘Raptor’ didn’t take off as nickname for Akane.

“It’s not just the flying magic.”

Probably not because nobody agreed with her, Alisa called attention to a different aspect.

“She finds the light balls extremely quickly. Hiiro-san was using magic that increases her perception speed, so maybe Ichijou-san is using it too?”

“That might be true... Nicely spotted, Alisa.”

Mei turned her impressed eyes to Alisa.

“Yeah, you really are amazing, Asha!”

Marika unreservedly praised Alisa.

Not just Mei and Hiyori, but the other First High girls who are around and happened to hear that collectively thought ‘Business as usual for her...’.

After that, Akane continued displaying her ‘quickness’ and ‘speed’, unrivaled by the other competitors, and safely advanced to the finals.