Tokyo Ravens - Volume 2 - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3 - Shikigami Showdown
Part 1
Underneath the Onmyou Academy building was a spacious area rivaling an athletics field - a magic training field used for practical coursework.
The arena of the magic training field was about as large as three or four basketball courts, and it was about three stories high, with spectator seating above the two-meter tall walls that encircled it. It looked like an indoor stadium, but the biggest difference was the altar set in the back and the incantations and patterns written on the walls. In addition, there were light green pillars on either side of the entrances with magical power-infused shimenawa [10] roped across them protecting the outside against the spells cast inside the arena.
Just then, the students in Ohtomo's class were walking in and sitting in the spectator seats, gazing around the arena.
"......So this is where practicals are held."
"Other places also have classrooms for practical trainings, but this is still the biggest."
Touji looked around the underground magic practice field below the spectator seats, and Tenma who sat next to him replied.
"Speaking of first-class magic training, this place could be called one of the nation's largest altars. The outer walls of this place have undergone enchantment by National First-Class Onmyouji, and not even the strongest magic can breach it - even a third phase spiritual disaster couldn't destroy it. Even people from the Onmyou Agency come to borrow it sometimes."
"It's such a luxury to come to this impregnable fortress for a quarrel."
Touji crooked his mouth, 'hmph'ing ironically. However meddlesome he was, he had never expected the situation to develop into this.
He casually sized up the surroundings, searching for Natsume's position among the students spectating the battle. She was sitting in the second row by herself, separated from the arena by a distance of one row.
Even now, Natsume still hadn't shown any intention of coming forward to help Harutora. Though she was pretending to be calm, the restlessness in her heart was clear from a glance. Regret and contradiction was written all over her face, and she stared imposingly at the arena.
At the moment, the people standing in the arena were the warming-up, motivated Kon and Kyouko who had recalled the two Yaksha for now. Ohtomo was together with Harutora who seemed still unprepared, and they hadn't yet appeared.
"Is this class always this casual?"
"It's not."
"Maybe our instructor is a bit too carefree."
"That...... I can't say it's not true......"
Tenma showed a wry smile and a difficult expression towards Touji's straightforward questions.
"In the end, he originally wasn't a teacher, and he only just began as an Onmyou Academy lecturer this semester...... Honestly, he's not very good at teaching."
"What was his profession before?"
"He was originally a Mystical Investigator before he retired because of his foot injury, and he was quite excellent - at least he says so."
"A Mystical Investigator, huh......"
Mystical Investigators - magical criminal investigators specialized in anti-personnel magic, the Onmyouji specialty that required the most ability. Unfortunately, the only impression Touji had of them was of being brushed off by Dairenji Suzuka as if they had been minions or background characters. Of course, this was all due to their opponent at the time being too strong.
"Right, Tenma. Regarding the incident that happened just now - Harutora just called a shikigami. Weren't the reactions of Kurahashi Kyouko and everyone else a bit too intense?"
"Ahh, if it were only a standard shikigami everyone's reactions wouldn't have been that surprised, but it's because Harutora-kun called forth a defensive shikigami."
Tenma replied to Touji's question honestly. The two of them had just met yesterday, but today they were already quite friendly.
"I remember you said yesterday that in this class only Natsume and Kurahashi Kyouko had defensive shikigami. Is that little thing really that powerful of a shikigami?"
"Actually, it's not that it's powerful...... Defensive shikigami and servant-type shikigami are basically shikigami that have to be summoned all the time, so it's an unusually heavy burden for the person they serve. Though the burden is comparatively lighter when they're not materialized, they still have to maintain a link of spiritual energy at all times, and so anyone without particularly strong magical power is unable to control those kinds of shikigami."
"Oh, I see. Simply put, a magical power that's not strong enough won't be able to control one."
"Right, so servant-type or defensive shikigami are a kind of status symbol for Onmyouji."
"So that's why everyone felt it so unexpected that an outsider like Harutora would have a defensive shikigami."

Touji nodded his head knowingly. Then, it was Tenma's turn to lean in towards Touji.
"......Hey, Touji-kun. Honestly, how is Harutora-san's strength? I originally believed he was an outsider, but...... Was he really helped out by the Tsuchimikado family?"
Tenma didn't forget to be careful of the surroundings as he asked this, and the eyes behind his glasses couldn't conceal his curiosity. Touji hmphed, shrugging his shoulders.
"That guy's normal expression is his most truthful appearance, and that little guardian was a parting gift his dad gave him when he left, so he doesn't actually know how to control it well."
"He, he indeed looked like he couldn't really control it......"
"But......"
A sharp, cold light flashed across Touji's eyes, and his mouth curved into a cold smile, bringing about an arrogant air.
?
"If you look down on him for that, there's a good chance you'll suffer for it. This summer is an example."
Touji's tone changed, and Tenma couldn't help but look at him and utter a "Huh?" sound. But, Touji didn't heed Tenma's gaze and just stared intently at the arena.
Touji hadn't witnessed first-hand how the incident caused by Dairenji Suzuka this summer had been wrapped up, after all. Something had happened on the 'Imperial Hill' altar, but he had only heard the ins and outs of Harutora's point of view, so he didn't understand Harutora's true strength either.
Because of this, he was quite interested in this shikigami showdown regardless of how things would develop.
Tenma stared at Touji, his gaze rather confused, still seeming confused about what the 'example' referred to.
"...On the other hand, Harutora-kun is really slow. What's he doing?" He deliberately changed the subject as if noticing that Touji was unwilling to continue talking. Touji's expression softened considerably from his consideration.
"......Though I shouldn't say this in front of you yourself..."
"Huh? What?"
"If you want to make friends with an intelligence source, it seems like it's more suitable to have a bit more of an evil heart."
"......Is that praise? Or derogatory?"
That roundabout explanation sounded incomprehensible to Tenma. Touji didn't respond, just deliberately letting a warm smile show on his expression.
Just then--
"Ah, he's here! ......Huh, what's going on?"
Tenma looked at the arena and shouted, and Touji also leaned his body forward slightly.
Harutora and Ohtomo, who had volunteered to referee, showed up in the arena where Kyouko and Kon were waiting.
But, it couldn't be told immediately whether or not the person who walked into the arena was actually Harutora.
Because--
"......Why is that guy wearing a kendo protector?"
"A, And he's even wearing miasma-protection clothing on top of it! That's exorcist equipment!"
The Harutora who appeared in the arena was wearing a kendo mask on his head, with a chest protector and protective gloves on his body and also a black outer garment over it. Not only Natsume and the other students but even his opponent Kyouko and his teammate Kon widened their eyes in surprise.
Just as an uproar swept over the vast magic training field, the strangely outfitted Harutora walked straight towards the center where Kyouko was waiting.
Then, Ohtomo gave Harutora a wooden sword.
Touji couldn't help but laugh hilariously upon seeing that scene, instantly seeing through what Harutora was attempting.
"......Not bad, it's very like his style."
Touji delightedly spoke softly to himself beside the confused Tenma.