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Chapter 1
Common Era November 6, 2095 - Yotsuba Main House-
Reception Room
A rather large building done in the style of a traditional Samurai
residene!
"hat is the im#ression of the $otsuba %ain &ouse as seen from
outside the gate!
'om#ared to a ty#ial residene it is ertainly s#aious! ()en
alling it a mansion does not feel li*e a misnomer!
&o+e)er someone +ho loo*ed at the grand mansions of the li*e
those of the Saegusa ,amily and -hi.ou ,amily/ +ould #robably be
rather sur#rised by it sim#le snug a##earane!
"he $otsuba do not are about the s#aiousness of their house!
0eause the $otsuba ,amily/ +ho maintain a systemati #oliy of a
serey/ +ould ne)er in)ite a large number of outsiders as guests!
Perha#s they thin* a grand mansion +ould only be an enumbrane!
1ithout regard to the fat that her mother had been a member of the
main family/ %iyu*i mused o)er the matter from an outsider2s
#ers#eti)e/ as she and her brother ste##ed through the
o)er#o+ering struture of the gate together!
"hat day33333the day that +ould be ome to be *no+n in the future
as 4"he Sorhed &allo+een2 +as only one +ee* ago!
"he siblings had brought themsel)es to the mountain )illage that
+as not reorded on any ma# by foot/ in aordane +ith their
aunt2s in)itation3333+hih should rather be alled a summons to
a##ear before her!
5es#ite +hat ould be hy#othesi6ed from the outside struture/ it
+as a modern/ and 7uite e8#ansi)e ree#tion room9 that they +ere
ushered into and informed that they +ere to +ait in! "his +as not a
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small ree#tion room used for #ri)ay/ this +as large room that
ould be lassified as an 4Audiene 'hamber2 +hih let us *no+
that today2s summons +as not a #ersonal one from our aunt/ it +as
from the %aster of the $otsuba ,amily! 33331ell/ +e had diserned
that from the beginning!
;e)er the less/ thought %iyu*i!
"hree years ha)e #assed sine - ha)e been summoned to this room
+ith my brother!
<ntil no+ for one #rete8t or another her brother had been e8luded
on the oasions +hen the family ame together as one to elebrate
or share ondolenes and their aunt ne)er had diret ontat +ith
him ho+e)er/ it has been three sine he has aom#anied me nay/
sine my brother has been nearby +hile - had ontat +ith her!
=f ourse/ %iyu*i ould not determine +hether that +as a good
thing or a bad thing!
>33335on2t +orry! 1e are not the same/ as three years before!?
&er uneasiness had a##arently sho+n on her fae! %iyu*i tilted her
eyes u#+ard to find "atsuya nodding reassuringly in her line of sight
as she #ee*ed at him!
;e8t to the sofa %iyu*i +as sitting on/ he stood!
"hree years before/ he had the same #osture!
"hree years before/ he had stood behind %iyu*i!
"hat2s orret/@! ,rom three years before/ it2s altered!
"atsuya +as #robably tal*ing about ho+ our abilities had altered
from three years before! <n7uestionably/ there in terms of the #o+er
the t+o of them had there ould be no om#arison to three years
before! (s#eially in regards to "atsuya/ he had attained ombat
#o+er ri)aled that of their aunt/ $otsuba %aya/ famed as one of the
+orld2s strongest magiians/ *no+n as >"he %aou of the ,ar (ast?
and >"he Aueen of ;ight?! -f you e8amine their magi affinities in
detail/ it +ould be readily a##arent that in a one on one
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onfrontation "atsuya +ould +in!
&o+e)er more than their relationshi# +ith their aunt in terms of
abilities/ had hanged from +hat it +as three years before/ %iyu*i
thought!
333Suh as/ the relationshi# bet+een her brother and herself!
333And the feelings she herself direted to her brother!
"he mind of %iyu*i +ho +as sitting on the sofa +ith #erfetly
orret #osture drifted to that time three years before@!
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Chapter 2
Common Era August , 2092 ! "#ina$a-Na%a
Airport&"nna 'eri#a (acation %ome)
B0eginning from around 'ommon (ra 2030/ the earth under+ent a
radial dro# in tem#erature9 the +orld2s o)erall food su##ly deteriorated
on a massi)e sale! Sine around 2020/ ad)aned agriulture #rodution
ame to be a solar3#o+ered industry and this limited the influene it had
on ad)aned industrial nations! &o+e)er/ the im#at of the damage on
the emerging industrial nations that had e8#eriened an aelerated
#o#ulation e8#losion brought on by radial eonomi gro+th +as a
#rofound one!
1ith the dro# in tem#erature and desertifiation #roeeding
simultaneously in the ;orth 'hina region/ it +as onfronted +ith an
e8tremely serious situation!
"he residents of ;orth 'hina/ in aordane +ith the traditions of their
#eo#le/ +eathered suh dire straits! 'oloni6ation by 0order
"ransgression B in short/ by using illegal immigration!
&o+e)er/ Cussia did not assent to the influ8 of illegal immigrants! "his
resulted in illegal aliens being thoroughly e8#unged/ e)en from
un#o#ulated +ildernesses and rented out noo*s of houses!
"hose +ho #ossess true #o+er/ annot gro+ +eary of bloodshed!
'hina admonished Cussia in the name of humanitarianism9 Cussia
admonished 'hina in the name of international la+!
"he antagonism of both nations +as not onfined bet+een both nations!
'rossing national borders in the name of humanitarianism is banned by
international la+!
"hroughout the +orld/ *indling +as laid .ust +aiting for a math!
-n this en)ironment/ there +as a food shortage aused by tem#erature
dro##ing!
"here +as a struggle o)er energy resoures to be used to alle)iate the
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#roblem!
,or the *indling to beome an inferno/ e)en a slight im#etus +ould ha)e
been enough!
-n 'ommon (ra 204:/ 1orld 1ar "hree B an outbrea* of 20 years of
+ars lustered aross the +orld started!
,rom 204: to 2064/ +ide sale border dis#utes throughout the +orld
made this an era of ontinuous +ar!
;ot a single nation +as able to remain a bystander9 this +as truly a
+orld +ar!
1hen the onflits finally eased/ the +orld2s #o#ulation +as a third of
the si6e it had been in 204:9 it had been dereased to 3 billion #eo#le!
Cussia reabsorbed <*raine and 0elarus into the ;e+ So)iet <nion
DShinSoCenE9 'hina go)erned o)er the northern #arts of 0urma/
Fietnam/ and Gaos as +ell as the Horean #eninsula through the Ireat
Asia Alliane DAsian AllianeE9 -ndia and -ran de)oured )arious
ountries in entral Asia to onstrut the -ndo3Persia <nion9 the <SA
absorbed 'anada and %e8io to fuse all of ;orth Ameria into one
nation D<S;AE9 the (< s#lit into eastern and +estern #arts9 half of the
)arious ountries of Afria dissol)ed9 in South Ameria/ aside from
0ra6il/ the region +as di)ided into small ountries +here go)ernments
did not ha)e muh reah beyond their o+n loation!
"he +orld had been transformed this +ay by 20 years of +arfare/ e)en
though it ne)er resorted to nulear +arfare/ and magiians +ere one #art
of this +orld and its transformation!
-n 2046/ J"he -nternational %agi ,ederationJ +as established!
"heir #ur#ose +as to #re)ent the #ollution of the earth beyond +hat it
ould reo)er from through the use of radioati)e materials in +ea#ons
of mass destrution!
1ithin the bounds of their stated #ur#ose to halt the use of nulear
+ea#ons/ magiians freed themsel)es from the yo*es of the ountries
they belonged to and +ere #ermitted to inter)ene +ith their s*ills in
border dis#utes! ()en magiians on the front lines ta*ing #art by *illing
eah other +ould ease their s*irmish +hen they obser)ed signs of the
use of nulear +ea#ons9 +hether it +as their o+n ountry or their
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enemy2s ountry/ they +ould oo#erate to sto# the de#loyment of
nulear +ea#ons!
"he banning of nulear +ea#ons has been established as the #aramount
duty of magiians around the +orld!
"his #at/ J"he -nternational %agi ,ederation2s 'harterJ/ targets
radioati)e materials that an be used for +ea#ons that ontaminate the
en)ironment9 stritly s#ea*ing/ that does not inlude lean nulear
bombs! &o+e)er/ sine in order to detonate a state of the art nulear
bomb made to be use for great battles/ a small nulear bomb +as
indis#ensable/ this resulted in a om#lete ban on nulear +ea#ons!
"hus/ in the #eriod of +ar that lasted t+enty years/ there +as not a single
usage of nulear +ea#ons!
"he -nternational %agi ,ederation is honored for this ahie)ement9
internationally reogni6ed as an ageny of #eae e)en after the +orld
+ar ended/ it ou#ies a #osition of #restigeB
- heard the announement that it +as time to #ut on my seat belt and
losed the file of teahing material in J'ontem#orary &istory 3 A IuideJ
that related to magiians! "he ontents +ere a little diffiult for someone
li*e me +ho had .ust beome a middle shool student/ but it +as
suffiient to *ee# me from being bored!
- had heard that modern air#lanes +ere not sub.et to failure aused by
eletromagneti interferene generated by information terminals!
&o+e)er/ turning information terminals off during ta*eoffs and landings
+as a traditional ourtesy! ;ot only me/ the other #assengers also turned
their terminals off! - did not intend to be the only one disobeying the
rules of ommon sense li*e a s#oiled hild!
"he seat +as o)ered by an egg sha#ed safety shield/ a real3time image
of a southern island +as #ro.eted on the interior!
Goo*ing at that )i)id greenery and s#ar*ling oean/ ma*es the +orld2s
tem#erature dro# seem li*e an e)ent in a fitional story!
;e)ertheless/ the e)ent is an une7ui)oal fat!
0efore +e +ere born/ the +orld2s limate began getting +armer but/ +e
an loo* at the traes of the tem#erature dro##ing all around us!
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,or e8am#le/ the dress ode!
;ot e8#osing bare s*in/ this manner in +hih +e dress is nothing but a
trae of the dee# im#ression the era of the tem#erature dro##ing left on
the +orld!
1ell/ - ha)e no interest in dressing to e8#ose my shoulders or breast area
B and in the first #lae/ it +ould not be flattering style on me/ yetB/ it2s
not om#ulsory to ha)e a s*irt so long the hem drags/ and - li*e lothes/
ho+e)er in #ri)ate #laes/ there are no rules o)er manner of dress so it2s
not li*e it really hinders us!
1hile - am thin*ing of these tri)ial things/ the air#lane touhed do+n at
;aha air#ort!
- ould hardly feel any tremors from the landing!
"he seat belt that +as only a meaningless formality unlo*ed and -
o#ened the shield of the a#sule seat!
<nderneath +as a regular seat/ the seat +as so narro+ my elbo+
ollided +ith it/ it seemed li*e +e +ere rammed in here +ithout a trae
of i)ility but/ if - had to #ut u# +ith +ho *no+s ho+ many #eo#le -
didn2t *no+ and had ne)er seen before at #oint blan* range for an hour/
- +ouldn2t be able to endure it!
- +aited for =*aa3sama to lea)e her seat/ together +e turned to the
#assenger e8it!
1e +ere using the summer brea* for a #ri)ate family )aation tri#!
A family tri# +as originally a #ri)ate matter/ - thin* but9 in the ase of
our family tri#s/ they +ere almost ne)er #ri)ate/ e)en so - +as
regrettably heerful!
"he only loud on the hori6on +as that it +as not .ust =*aa3sama and -/
Ani +ould also be +ith us!
K K K
1hen +e left the F-P lounge in the arri)al lobby/ Ani had already gone
and #i*ed u# our he*ed in luggage and +as +aiting for us!
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&a)ing Ani tra)el all by himself and get the luggage +asn2t some form
of #etty meanness!
(8euti)e 'lass #assengers had #reedene +hen it ame to
disembar*ing from the #lane! "heir luggage also had #reedene in
being returned/ nay/ as e8#eted he did ha)e to +ait a little! 'onsidering
the time it too* to get the luggage ready for #i* u#/ ha)ing Ani/ +ho
+as a ommerial lass #assenger/ go and #i* u# the luggage for us is
not #ointless!
;aturally/ there is a #ro#er reason for Ani/ alone/ to be seated in
ommerial lass!
-n (8euti)e 'lass/ in addition to the normal abin attendant/ s#eial
re+ members +ho s#eiali6e in handling )iolene at as guards and
*ee# a +athful eye! -f a riminal inident li*e a hi.a*ing/ suiide
bomber or suh +ere to our/ it +ould be in the loosely guarded
ommerial lass! Ani is assigned a ommerial lass seat/ for the sa*e
of handling suh an unli*ely ourrene! "hat being said B e)en -
a*no+ledge that the +ay my family handles suh matters is not normal!
1hile - +al* +ith =*aa3sama/ - ha##en to glane o)er my shoulder/ Ani
is #ushing the art arrying our luggage all alone as if it +ere #erfetly
normal +ithout a trae of dissatisfation on his fae/ silently trailing us!
Gi*e he al+ays does!
- do not #artiularly hate this Ani!
- merely ha)e trouble interating +ith him!
- ha)e no idea +hat he ould #ossibly be thin*ing!
1hy/ is he ommonly treated li*e a ser)ant +hen he is family! -f he +as
a ser)ant/ it +ould #robably be normal to be alm at reei)ing this
treatment!
- *no+ - ha)e been told that this is the duty he has been assigned to do!
-/ also/ a*no+ledge our family2s uni7ueness!
;e)ertheless/ Ani is only a first year middle shool student li*e me!
Ani +as born in A#ril and - +as born in %arh!
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1e +ere born +ithin a year of eah other/ so +e are in the same shool
year9 this is only a oinidene brought about by our birth months
ho+e)er/ all the same/ this does not hange the fat that until %arh of
this year he +as an elementary shool student li*e me!
'onsidering that fat/ ho+ an he ta*e to being ordered about by me/ his
younger sister so almlyB
"he eyes of Ani and - met!
%y se)eral glanes o)er my shoulder are #robably bothering him!
J!!!1hat is itLJ
- reogni6e that the reason Ani also direted his eyes to+ards me is
beause - ha)e been loo*ing at him intermittently!
&o+e)er/ from my mouth only an re#ulsi)e )oie ame out!
J-t is nothing!J
Ani res#onded in a #olite tone li*e one a butler might use to address the
mistress of the house he +as ser)ing!
Gi*e or disli*e/ the lo)e of a brother for his sister or the hatred of lose
*in9 all those emotions a brother might diret to a younger sister or a
lose relati)e +ere not there!
J-f that is so/ #lease do not stare at me! -t is unomfortableMJ
- a*no+ledge that - am being unreasonable!
1e are the ones +ho are treating Ani as a ser)ant/ there is no reason for
Ani to +ish suh a thing!
5es#ite that/ - selfishly stri*e at Ani +ith my irritation!
JPardon me!J
Ani halted and bo+ed his head to+ards me!
And #ut a little more distane bet+een us than there had been until then
as he follo+ed behind us!
1hy/ - thought!
Nust no+ - +as merely being self3entered! - am suh a disagreeable
hild!
BNust li*e - thought/ - ha)e trouble interating +ith this Ani!
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K K K
"he #lae/ +e are staying in this time/ is a reently #urhased )aation
home in =nna Seri*a! - +ould ha)e been fine +ith a hotel but/ sine
=*aa3sama does not handle #laes +ith numerous #eo#le +ell/ 'hihi
hurriedly #re#ared this for us!
As usual that man a##ears to thin* that he an use money to buy
affetion! !!!()en though that money/ is +hat he married =*aa3sama to
obtain!
Although 'hihi +as e8traordinary +hen he +as young B sine e)en
for a magiian/ he #osses an abo)e normal 7uantity of #sions/ his
#otential #o+er made him highly #ri6ed as a magiian! -t seems
ho+e)er/ aording to the urrent magi tehnial system the 7uantity of
#sions #ossessed does not influene the su#eriority or inferiority of
magi ability! -n the end/ that man ould not ma*e his #otential #o+er
into atual #o+er9 he renouned trying to ma*e his life a suess as a
magiian9 urrently he is installed as an e8euti)e in a om#any reated
by =*aa3sama2s family!
0eause of those #artiulars/ - an understand +hy he is deferential to
=*aa3sama yet/ as his daughter/ - +ish he +ould dis#lay a more father3
li*e u#rightness!
!!!- lightly shoo* my head to hase a+ay these #ointless refletions from
inside my mind! After all - am on )aation/ - am a+are that being
tra##ed in un#leasant thoughts is foolish!
J1elome/ =*u3sama! -t is good that you ha)e ome/ also %iyu*i3san/
"atsuya3*un!J
"he one/ +ho ame out to greet us at the )aation house/ +as Sa*urai
&onami/ +ho had been sent slightly ahead of us/ in order to ta*e are of
the leaning/ sho##ing and other suh things for us!
She is =*aa3sama2s Iuardian!
<ntil fi)e years ago/ Sa*urai3san +as a SP of the %etro#olitan Polie
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5e#artment! - belie)e that they 7uite strongly attem#ted to im#ede her
de#arture +hen she resigned/ ho+e)er/ it had been deided that she
+ould be =*aa3sama2s Iuardian before she sought em#loyment +ith the
%etro#olitan Polie 5e#artment9 .oining the %etro#olitan Polie
5e#artment +as for the #ur#ose of learning the ins and outs of guard
o#erations!
She is a modified magiian +hose geneti struture has been altered to
strengthen her dis#osition for magi/ a member of the first generation of
the 4Sa*ura2 Series! 5uring the +aning days of the 20 years of
ontinuous border onflits/ she +as onstruted at a researh institute9 a
magiian bought by the $otsuba ,amily before she +as born!
;onetheless/ she is a heerful/ li)ely +oman +ho does not seem to feel
the +eight of her #ersonal history9 aside from her main duty of
#rotetion o#erations/ she ta*es are of =*aa3sama2s e)eryday
neessities +ith great attention to detail for us! Aording to her/ she
finds the role of house*ee#er the more ongenial role!
-t ran ounter to the image of a Iuardian to abandon her #rotetion
o#erations but/ she ame ahead of us to the )aation house in order to
aumulate *no+ledge about the urrent status of this area/ sine Ani
+ould be lose to =*aa3sama and -/ that being said - +ished Sa*urai3san
and Ani had s+ithed duties! B0ut/ sine ta*ing are of the details of
#ro)iding a omfortable household +ould be im#ossible for Ani/ that
+ould be #ointless!
J;o+/ #lease ome in! "here is hilled barley tea ready! =r else/ - an
ma*e some green teaLJ
J"han* you! Sine it is already made -2ll ha)e the barley tea!J
J$es/ ma2am! %iyu*i3san/ "atsuya3*un is barley tea alright for you/
alsoLJ
J$es/ than* you )ery muh!J
JSine you ha)e troubled yourself to ma*e it!J
"here is only one thing/ about Sa*urai3san that might be alled
unsatisfatory/ it is that she treats Ani as =*aa3sama2s son B and as my
brother!
-t goes +ithout saying that this is a natural thing to do!
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&o+e)er/ -!!!annot do that natural thing!
At times li*e this/ - am irrationally )e8ed +ith myself for that reason!
J=*aa3sama/ - +ould li*e to ta*e a short +al*!J
- am a+are that sine +e ha)e .ust arri)ed/ things are too unsettled for
me to go on a s+im/ but on the other hand/ being shut u# in the )aation
house +ould be +asteful/ so - +ould li*e to ta*e a +al*! 1al*ing to
%an6amou +ould be im#ossible beause it is a little too far but/ .ust
+al*ing leisurely along the #ath alongside the beah +ould undoubtedly
feel #leasant!
J%iyu*i3san/ ha)e "atsuya aom#any you on your +al*!J
<nfortunately/ +hen - heard =*aa3sama2s re#ly/ - felt that my long
a+aited +al* +as s#oiled from the start!
- really +ished to #rolaim that - +ould be alright alone ho+e)er/ - did
not +ant to +orry her unduly!
JB- understand!J
-t too* all my strength to *ee# my )oie from being #etulant!
- #ulled my +ide brimmed stra+ hat lo+/ did not loo* behind me/ and
+al*ed out beneath the +aning rays of the sun!
"he oean bree6e fluttering the hem of my summer dress is as - thought
it +ould be rela8ing!
- reei)ed hel# from Sa*urai3san in order to a##ly sun blo* from head
to toe +ithout missing a s#ot/ so - ould feel the +ind on my arms and
legs +ithout onern for the sun2s rays!
1ith my s*in o)ered in bro+n ream/ - thin* that - don2t loo* muh
different than a loal hild!
Probably/ than*s to that - am not stared at +hen - #ass by someone/ this
is a omfortable feeling!
%y s*in has ne)er *no+n the feeling of tanning in the sun/ it is not
oneited to say that - am regrettably ons#iuous in #laes li*e a beah!
B;ay/ - am really not oneited about it!
- ha)e a memory of going to a #ool +ith my elementary shool friends
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and being dee#ly horrified by being told that - loo*ed li*e a J$u*i3
=nnaJ/ e)en no+/ - annot blot it out! "he remar* +as e8essi)ely
horrifying beause it +as a thoughtless remar*/ not by any means an
attem#t to bully me or to maliiously tal* behind my ba* or anything
li*e that!
"here is no +ay - am la*ing in my #igmentation! -t2s .ust that my hair is
a shade of bla* too dee#!
'ould it be hereditaryL 0ut/ my family line is not su##osed to ha)e been
intermingled +ith (uro#eans for the #ast fi)e generations!!!+ell/ sine -
do not *no+ any farther than that9 the #ossibility that this omes from
some long ago geneti anestor is not none8istent! &o+e)er/ e)en =*aa3
sama beomes a little dar*er in the summer and Ani2s om#le8ion ould
be alled tanned9 sine it so s#lendidly soa*s u# the sun so muh that -
an no longer tell +hat his original olor is/ so - do not belie)e it ould
be alled a hereditary thing!
JBBJ
- ha)e been remembering and ontem#lating things that - do not +ish to/
- onsiously foused ahead/ in order to not loo* ba*/ too
onsiously! !!!1hat should - do +ith my mind/ - am so #er#le8ed!
Although my ears are unobstruted/ - an not hear the sound of
footste#s! "here is no sign of someone being there! B;aturally/ - ha)e
no s*ill at deteting someone2s #resene to begin +ith/ but still!
-f - turned around/ ho+e)er/ undeniably at a little distane a+ay/ Ani is
aom#anying me!
0eause Ani is my Iuardian!
1hy do - not use JbodyguardJ but a grandiose term li*e JIuardianJ/ -
do not understand! ()en one reason/ +hy/ e)en no+! &o+e)er/ a
JIuardianJ of $otsuba is someho+ different from a sim#le JbodyguardJ/
that is something - thin* - am able to understand!
A bodyguard does a J.obJ/ a guardian #erforms a JdutyJ!
0odyguards ris* their li)es to #rotet the ones they are guarding in
e8hange for earning a monetary re+ard! "here are ases li*e an SP of
the #olie +ho ondut #rotetion o#erations as #art of their #rofessional
duties/ but sine those #eo#le also reei)e a salary for their #rofessional
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duties/ - thin* that they unmista*ably meet the broad definition of
ou#ations that reei)e monetary om#ensation!
-n ontrast to that/ Iuardians reei)e no monetary re+ards! All the
neessities of li)ing are #ro)ided by $otsuba! 1hene)er ash is needed/
$otsuba su##lies it! "o be orret that is not a re+ard/ it is the ost of
maintaining the #o+er of #rotetion!
- onlude that it is thus/ a bodyguard #rotets in order to eat9 a
Iuardian eats in order to #rotet!
Iuardians ha)e no #ri)ate life of their o+n! All of them/ the male
Iuardians and the female Iuardians/ +hether they all the one they
#rotet %aster or %istress are de)oted to ser)ing that #erson!
1e are a lan that thin*s that this is #erfetly normal and -/ too/ find it
so! -f you annot thin* that this is normal9 the only thing you an do is
+ithdra+/ ho+e)er/ +e are 4$otsuba2! B()en if - am some+hat
embarrassed to be alled %istress/ - feel that that is #referable to being
e8#elled/ but still! - am ha##y/ +hen +e are a+ay from the lan9
JIuardiansJ do not normally use the designations of J%asterJ or
J%istressJ +hen +e are not inside the lan!
Ani beame my Iuardian +hen - +as si8 years old! %y first Iuardian is
Ani/ #robably this is something that +ill not be hanged for a long time!
"hat #erson is not the son of the elder sister of the head of the $otsuba
'lan/ he is the Iuardian of a andidate to be the ne8t head9 if - beome
the head/ he +ill be my shado+9 until my life ends/ it +ill be that +ay!
As long as/ - do not relie)e him of his duty as a Iuardian!
$es/ that is the single +ay a Iuardian an esa#e his duty and be
allo+ed to li)e the life of a normal #erson for a Iuardian to dismissed
by the one he guards!
&e aom#anies me!
&e follo+s behind me!
- annot be se#arated from him!
&e annot esa#e from me!
"he one +ho +ill not esa#e is me!
Page 29/219
"he one +ho is unable to esa#e is him!
5es#ite the fat that - am the only #erson that an let him return to the
life of an ordinary middle shool student!
"he one +ho *ee#s him/ Ani/ from being able to be an ordinary middle
shool student is -9 beause/ - +ill not release Ani!
B- do not *no+ ho+ to interat +ith Ani!
B- do not hate Ani!
"hen +hy/ am - onfining him to this ruel onditionL
"he ans+er does not ome!
1hene)er - thin* about this matter/ for some reason my mind goes
blan*!
1ith my ga6e fi8ated on the ground beneath my feet/ - 7ui*ened my
#ae!
- +ho had my eyes ast do+n+ard and my feet going at a fast +al*9
suddenly/ my arm +as grabbed and it seemed li*e - +as going to fall
ba*+ard!
-mmediately/ before - im#ated +ith +hat +ould be a thud9 - de#lorably
fell into Ani2s arms!
- made no om#laint to Ani!
Nust no+/ +as the fault of me/ +ho +as not loo*ing ahead! B"he fat
that - refle8i)ely raised my )oie is a seret9 - ha)e no intention of
telling anyone!
"he #roblem is after my body +as restrained by Ani that - reei)ed an
im#at from the front! - +as not the one +ho bum#ed into someone/
learly - had been the one bum#ed!
()en though - am angry/ this is ob)iously a set u#!
- fous my anger filled ga6e u#+ard! &o+e)er/ all - ould see is a bul*y
+all of musles!
- set my ga6e e)en higher!
Page 30/219
,inally/ - *ne+ the identity of the one +ho bum#ed into me!
A big bla* male teenager/ +ho +ore a dishe)eled +orn out army
uniform B a 4Geft 0lood2!
5ue to the intensifiation of the t+enty years of ontinuous border
onflits/ the Amerian Dat the time it +as still the <SAE fores
garrisoned in =*ina+a e)entually +ithdre+ to &a+aii and left behind
their hildren! "he ma.ority of them +ere not abandoned by their
#arents/ their fathers had died in the +ar9 ho+e)er/ many of them +ere
ta*en in and raised by the ;ational 5efense fore +ho had inherited the
base/ after+ards they beame #art of the military!
"hey are )aliant soldiers +ho su#erbly fulfill the duty of defending the
border and many of their hildren/ also beome soldiers! &o+e)er/ a
#ri)ate =*ina+a "ourist Iuide +ebsite ontained an artile +arning that
many of those hildren/ in short the seond generation/ +ere *no+n for
beha)ing badly so one should be +ary of them!
0ehind the large youth/ there +ere t+o teenagers also +earing old
tattered army uniforms in a slo##y manner +ith similar builds/ releasing
sneering laughter in a nauseating fashion!
%y refle8i)e anger +as naturally hanged into fear!
%y mind +as so rammed +ith fear that the natural thought that if the
+orst ha##ens/ - an use magi ould not be formed!
B<ntil my field of )ision +as blo*ed by Ani2s ba*!
-t +as the lean ba* of a young boy!
;e)ertheless/ it +as a broader ba* than mine!
- did not notie +hen it started but/ - +as being sheltered by Ani2s ba*!
J&ey/ - got no business +ith a brat li*e youLJ
5isdaining us +ith sorn/ the big youth #eered at Ani2s fae!
Ani made no res#onse!
J$ou too sared to s#ea*LJ
J&a ha/ a hi*en boy! Nust/ trying to sho+ offMJ
"he t+o youths behind him/ deride and threaten Ani!
Page 31/219
"he anger in my heart is re.u)enated!
'om#ared to before/ their #lan is more ob)ious!
4Should ha)e ta*en my 'A5 +ith me2/ - lamented! - an2t ontrol the
effets of my #o+er )ery +ell/ +hen - la* an assisting tool! 'ausing
serious in.uries e)en to someone li*e this/ +ould be a+*+ard in )arious
+ays!
-f - had aess to a 'A5/ these .er*s +ould not be saying +hate)er they
li*edM
;ot e)en -/ myself/ understood +hy on earth - +as burning +ith suh
rage/ - glared at the big teenager barring the #ath in front of Ani!
"he big teen2s eyes loo*ed at me and narro+ed!
&is li#s mo)ed!
-t ould ha)e been to laugh/ it ould ha)e been to s#ea*9 there is no +ay
to tell!
JSine +e ha)e no intention of begging you to merifully forgi)e us for
bum#ing into you/ turn a+ay from this ourse of ation! ,or both of our
sa*e!J
"he alm tone +as not that of someone +ho ould be alled a boy/ the
big teen2s fae stiffened due to the om#letely unhild3li*e statement!
JB1hat did you sayLJ
-t +as a lo+ faint +his#er li*e 7uery!
J$ou should ha)e been able to hearLJ
"he retort om#letely la*ed emotion as if it +as a mere omment made
to oneself!
-n both of the teen2s eyes/ an e)il glint nested!
J-f you #ress your head to the ground/ - +on2t forgi)e you! ,or no+/ -2ll
let you off +ith bruises!J
J-f you are tal*ing about 5oge6a/ you shouldn2t say head/ you ha)e to
say forehead!J
-mmediately/ after+ards!
1ith no sign or #re)ious indiation/ the teen stru* out at Ani!
Page 32/219
()en though Ani +as a teenager as +ell/ Ani still had the body of a first
year middle shool student! "he differene bet+een him and the big
youth before my eyes +as that of an adult and a hild!
- refle8i)ely losed my eyes!
"here +as a thud li*e sound!
- .ust reali6ed that if Ani +as stru*/ then -/ +ho +as behind him/ +ould
beome in)ol)ed as +ell9 - thought it +as strange that that had not
ourred!
"imidly/ - o#en my eyes!
"he first sight that entered my )ision +as the fae of the big teen fro6en
in disbelief!
"here +as no need to +orry about +hat ould ause him to ma*e suh a
loo*!
"he teen2s right arm +as e8tended in an inom#lete #unh!
Ani +as sto##ing the fist +ith t+o hands!
Although it +as t+o arms )ersus one arm/ the differene bet+een the
+eight of their t+o bodies +as suh that it should not ha)e made any
differene!
"he mass of the big teen2s body +as #robably o)er t+o times that of
Ani!
5es#ite that fat/ Ani +as not +arding off the blo+9 +ithout ta*ing e)en
one ste# ba* to brae himself/ Ani +as ta*ing the full +eight the big
teen +as #utting into that #unh head on and sto##ing it!
5id he use magiL B;o/ there +as no indiation of that!
-n things li*e aademis/ #hysial strength/ and agility9 Ani +as more
a#able but/ in magi/ - am su##osed to be more a#able than Ani! -f Ani
used magi than there is no +ay - +ould be una+are of it!
J-nteresting!!!- only intended to #lay around +ith you but!!!!J
Irinning broadly/ the big teen #ulled ba* his arm and assume a #osture
+ith his left fist in front of his hest!
0o8ingL
Page 33/219
HarateL
-/ a om#lete no)ie in ombat and martial arts +as unable to reogni6e
+hih it is! &o+e)er/ someho+ e)en - ould disern that the foe +ho
had been half #laying before had beome serious!
- forgot about fleeing/ from the shado+ behind that boy2s ba* - #ee#ed
at the big teenager!
"hat boy2s la*adaisial remar* omment #lunged into the ears of -/ +ho
said nothing and stilled my breath!
JCeallyL -t2s going to be no laughing matter if +e go beyond this #oint!J
1hy are you s#ea*ing in suh a #ro)oati)e mannerLM
"y#ially if someone li*e you too* him on/ they +ould not be able to
math him!
"y#ially/ #eo#le of our age should flee in this situation!
;o/ Ani2s intentions do not matter!
- should flee e)en if/ - do it alone!
B5es#ite +hat - +as thin*ing in my head/ my body did not lea)e its
#lae behind Ani2s ba*!
J$ou2re s#outing a lot of trash tal* for a bratMJ
1hat ha##ened ne8t ould not be aught +ith my eyes!
- ould only understand the results/ e)erything else is mere on.eture
about +hat ourred!
"he teen2s left leg ad)aned for+ard!
"he teen2s left leg and right leg +ere #laed in +hat loo*ed li*e a
fighting stane/ Ani #laed his left leg for+ard!
"he teen2s left hand +as aiming for Ani2s ollar/ .ust as the lunging fist
seemed about to onnet!
Ani2s left fist +as #ro##ing him u# from its #osition on the middle of his
hest!
-n that short blur of time/ more than this seemed to ha)e ourred but
some time +as unmista*ably used by the big teen to s#ring ba* using
the reoil!
Page 34/219
Page 3:/219
5o3on/ a sound li*e that of a "ai*o being stru*/ surely that +as the
sound of Ani2s fist!
Ani +ithdre+ the leg he had #laed for+ard/ as if it +ere a #rearranged
signal the big teen2s body sun*/ #ain li*e ries arose from +here he +as
do+n on both *nees on the surfae of the road!
Ani loo*ed #ast the big teenager +ho +as rouhed do+n and oughing
#ainfully and 7uietly direted his eyes to the #eo#le behind him!
Gi*e they +ere #etrified/ the t+o male teens did not mo)e!
Ani turned his ba* on them!
JGet2s go!J
Ani too* my arm in his hand!
At last/ - beame a+are that those softly murmured +ords +ere direted
to+ards me!
J%iyu*i3san did something ha##enLJ
1hen - returned from my aborted +al*/ Sa*urai3san #aled and rushed
o)er to me in a small s#rint!
- did not thin* my fae loo*ed that terrible but/ e)en -/ myself/ reali6ed
that - had turned a little #ale so/ from the outset/ - made no attem#t to
deei)e her!
J-t +as a minor!!!!unfortunate enounter +ith a young man!J
J1ell!!!!MJ
1ith only that Sa*urai3san seemed to ha)e diserned the gist of the
situation!
;onhalantly/ she made a sur)ey of my #erson9 #robably he*ing to see
if my lothes +ere in disarray!
J- am fine!J
-t +as a bit of a strain but/ - thin* my smile +as natural!
1hen - direted my smile to her/ Sa*urai3san also returned a relie)ed
smile to me!
&o+e)er/ - ould not ontinue smiling for long!
0eause Ani sa)ed me B that #hrase did not de#art from my mouth!
Page 36/219
- shifted my fous from the +ords - thought to say/ Ani +as feigning
ignorane9 his fae +as/ as al+ays/ e8#ressionless9 he bo+ed lightly to
Sa*urai3san9 des#ite that/ his eyes ne)er turned to+ard me and +ithdre+
to an inner room!
Cegrettably/ the #ainfully onstruted smile - had made seems to be
about to rumble!
JB"a*ing a sho+er +ill rinse off the s+eat!J
"here +as no s+eat on me but/ - used that as a #rete8t to ta*e refuge in
the sho+er room!
"he hot +ater of the sho+er bouned off my s*in!
- forgot to remo)e the +ater re#ellent ream/ - merely felt the heat! "his
allo+ed my body that seemed about to sha*e to +arm!
J1hy!!!J
- too* my head out from under the s#ray of the sho+er! &ot dro#s
outline my fae/ by the orner of my eyes and abo)e my hee*bones/
different *inds of dro#s intermingle!
J1hy am - rying!!!LJ
A bemused )oie reahed my o+n ears! -t +as not a tearful )oie/ it +as
as if it +as somebody else2s )oie!
J1hy do - ha)e to ryLJ
Pani*ing/ - e)en try shouting9 there is no ans+er! - am the only one
here!
J+hy!!!1hy!!!J
"he only sound that - an hear is the sound of the sho+er! ;o one +ill
gi)e me an ans+er to my 7uestion!
Re*erences
1! $u*i3=nna O A female Na#anese sno+ monster
2! 5oge6a O a dee# bo+ +ith the forehead on the ground gi)en to beg
forgi)eness
3! "ai*o O Garge Na#anese drum
Page 37/219
Chapter 3
2095A+ November 6t% , Yotsuba Main House+ra$ing
room
>=h my!?
<#on hearing "atsuya2s utterane as he loo*ed out the +indo+ faing
the ourtyard/ %iyu*i2s onsiousness returned from the #ast to the
#resent!
>=nii samaL?
>-t2s the Huroba elder sister and younger brother!?
Ilaning u# as his sister2s 7uestion/ "atsuya ans+ered +ith a slight loo*
of sur#rise!
>Aya*o san and ,umiya *unL?
Although his fli*er of sur#rise +as faint/ it didn2t esa#e %iyu*i2s
notie! &a)ing risen half+ay/ she hurriedly tried to orret her #osture/
before thin*ing better of it and sitting ba* do+n +ith a flo#!
>-t seems they .ust ame out!?
"he om#le8 the Huroba siblings +ere oming from +as the #lae their
grandmother/ the little sister of "atsuya and %iyu*i2s deeased
grandfather as +ell as aunt to the urrent head %aya li)ed!
Huroba ,umiya is the number t+o andidate for suession to the
$otsuba family headshi#! -t +as no +onder they2d )isit their
grandmother! %iyu*i +asn2t sur#rised by their #resene here in and of
itself!
>@@maybe it2s .ust a oinideneL?
>"hey2re not e8atly the ty#e +ho +ould .ust #ass on by des#ite
*no+ing that +e2re here though!?
"hat2s ertainly true/ %iyu*i thought!
>1hether by a +ide or narro+ margin/ it seems fate has deided our
missing eah other +as not to be!?
Page 38/219
A )ery nonommittal ans+er!
"hin*ing the same thing as her brother/ %iyu*i2s mind +andered ba* to
the e)ents of another hane enounter one night@@
Page 39/219
Chapter 4
Common Era 2092, August , "#ina$a- (acation House &
Hote- .art/
Although +e ame here on )aation/ the bonds of soiety and family
annot be se)ered/ regrettably! - ha)e .ust barely beome a middle
shool student/ but that does not mean that there are no #eo#le +hose
in)itation - annot deline!
=nly blood relations +hih is not )ery many #eo#le/ as it is said e)en
the dar*est loud has a sil)er lining ho+e)er/@!! - had om#letely no
intimation that any of those #eo#le +ould be in the same #lae at the
same time as me!
"he one +ho sent the in)itation is Horoba %itsugu3san! "his #erson is
=*aa3sama2s ousin!
"he hand of the lo* is #ointing to 6O00#m! -t is nearly the time that -
ha)e to de#art the )aation house!
- sit in front of my )anity/ a brush in my hand!
>&a@!?
1ithout thin*ing/ - allo+ed a sigh to esa#e my mouth! "he me in the
mirror is +earing a distintly dis#irited loo*!
- am not ill at ease at #arties! &o+e)er/ - .ust tra)eled from "o*yo to
=*ina+a/ this )ery day! - +anted to ta*e it easy for at least this e)ening!
>%iyu*i3san/ ha)e you finished getting readyL?
After a *no*/ a )oie sounded through the door! -t seems that Sa*urai3
san has ome to all on me +ho is lingering in her o+n room!
><h/ yes?
-/ +ho had been ontem#lating the +his#ers of my thoughts/ refle8i)ely
stood u# to gi)e my ans+er!
-nter#reting my re#ly as #ermission to enter/ Sa*urai3san o#ened the
door! 333'ertainly/ it ould be that *ind of signal so/ - did not get
#artiularly flustered/ but!
Page 40/219
>1hat2s this! Aren2t you already to goL?
Seeing that - had hanged into a o*tail dress/ +as +earing a ne*lae
and a hair band/ and had my #urse in my hand9 Sa*urai3san let her
feelings sho+ +ith a #ainful smile!
>5on2t ma*e suh a sullen fae or all your finery +ill go to +aste!?
'ould my fae be so easy to readL
>@@5o you understandL?
-t +as Sa*urai3san/ - faed9 nay/ that did not hange the fat that it +as
the eyes of another #erson! - had had no intention of letting anyone be
a+are of my unha##iness!
>As for me/?
1hile saying that Sa*urai3san #ur#osefully ga)e an e8ultant +in*! @!is
she telling me that it is alright to sho+ other #eo#le this *ind of faeL
>Sto#@!ma*ing fun of me/ #lease!?
1ithout thin*ing/ - made a #outy fae9 flustered/ - foused on smoothing
out my e8#ression into something more ladyli*e/ but! - ould feel my
hee*s turning red as - +athed Sa*urai3san release a giggle!
- am already a middle shool student/ - thought - had sto##ed this sort of
hildish beha)ior!
>-2m sorry@!!but?
$ou +ould not thin* she +as 30 years old3333you ould only thin* that
she +as in her t+enties at the most3333after she giggled for a +hile
loo*ing ute/ Sa*urai3san 7ui*ly modified her e8#ression!
;aturally/ - reigned in my emotions as +ell!
>"here are #eo#le +ith shar#er 4eyes2 than me/ sine there are many
#eo#le in this +orld! -ndeed/ it is beause - *no+ you/ %iyu*i3san/ so
+ell that -4m also )ery a+are of the things you disli*e! &o+e)er/ it is
also #ossible that someone +ho an read your fae +ith a glane might
be at the #arty! 0eause you/ %iyu*i3san/ are not an ordinary middle
shool student/ - belie)e you must a##ear as if there are no ga#s in your
defenses!?
;o rebellious feelings +ere aroused by this +ell aimed ad)ie!
Page 41/219
>@!%ight there be a good +ay to do itL?
>;o matter ho+ +ell you intend to oneal them/ regrettably/ feelings
are al+ays #ortrayed in the olor of your eyes and e)ery hange of your
faial e8#ression!?
@!!-s she saying that nothing an be doneL
>1hat you need to do is to s*illfully deei)e your o+n emotions/ do you
get itL ,irst/ you bring you/ yourself/ in alignment +ith +hat you +ould
all your false fae!?
Possibly beause she read my disontent/ Sa*urai3san ontinued into
great detail in a soothing manner!
K K K
As she instruted me to/ - shrouded my heart +ith a false fae9 sine -
+as still )ery muh a hild/ - ould not sto# my s#irits from falling as -
neared the site of the #arty!
Huroba =.i3sama +as not a bad #erson! Dstritly s#ea*ing/ he +as not
my unleE
-t2s .ust that #robably beause his +ife died young or something/ the
+ay he dotes on his hildren is a little@!!+ell/ e8tremely annoying!
Iosh/ .ust +hat does he thin* he is doing/ bragging about his hildren to
another hildL ;o/ this is not ho+ - should feel9 he is surely not thin*ing
at all/ but - do +ish he +ould onfine that to#i to his fello+ adults!
!hoo/ a sigh esa#ed my mouth!
1ithout thought/ not onsiously!
"his +as not the time to be e8#elling sighs/ if - am doing this no+ - may
not be ontrol myself at the atual #arty!
- am already +ithin the hotel grounds!
&o+ #ointlessly ostentatious333this +as only my sub.eti)e o#inion/
but333- ould already see the entrane! "he dri)erless ommuter ar
sto##ed!
Page 42/219
1ith 7ui* motions/ Ani got out of the ar/ held ba* the door and begun
+aiting for me to get out!
%y e8#ression stiffened/ and - ad)aned on the battlefield of de#ression
and tedium!
-n the lobby/ there +ere hard faed older men/ young men and dignified
young +omen! ;one of them +ere trying to stand out/ but they +ere
ina#able of fooling the eye of - +ho had been aom#anied by #eo#le
li*e them from birth!
-t +as not any of my business/ but they made me +ant to tell them that
they should train more!
;aturally/ it goes +ithout saying that - +as not aom#anied by Ani
alone this e)ening!
"+o +omen bodyguards from a seurity ageny +ith offies around the
ountry +ere esorting me/ tem#orarily!
At the #arty and on other oasions/ there are numerous #laes +here -
annot be +ith a male om#anion and the o##osite is also true! -f
Sa*urai3san ould be here as usual/ there +ould be no need to +orry9
ho+e)er/ right no+ she is remaining at =*aa3sama2s side!
=*aa3sama is a little un+ell and is resting at the )aation house e)en
no+! ;one of that an be hel#ed/ but/ due to that/ - must deal +ith =.i3
sama alone!
&o+/ de#ressing! ,rom the outset/ e)en if 'hihi D,atherE ould be
relied u#on/ the duty of entertaining relati)es should not fall to me/ +ho
is both younger and a girl/ the duty should belong to the eldest male
hild!
- glared at the ba* of Ani +ho +as +al*ing ahead of me in bitterness!
>=.i3sama/ - am so grateful for the in)itation!?
As e8#eted/ the loation +as too big a site for a #ri)ate #arty9 as
e8#eted/ an e8tra)agant table +as being used as a ba*dro#9 as
e8#eted/ =.i3sama ame out to meet me lad in an e8#ensi)e suit and -
made the #er funtionary greeting! ,or this *ind of thing/ there is no
reason for reati)ity!
Page 43/219
>- am glad you ame/ %iyu*i3han! -s your =*aa3sama +ellL?
=.i3sama re#lied +ith e8aggerated friendliness!
=nly someone li*e him/ still sti*s a 4han2 on my name/ these days!
And as usual/ he ignored Ani2s e8istene as if he +ere in)isible!
Sine Ani only stood behind me in silene/ it ould be that both of them
+ere ignoring eah other!
>=h ho+ *ind of you to be onerned! - thin* she is only a little tired/
but - +anted her to ta*e good are of herself/ today!?
>- am so relie)ed to hear that! =h sorry/ - ha)e *e#t you out here tal*ing!
;o+/ ome inside! 0oth Aya*o and ,umiya +ill en.oy seeing you/
%iyu*i3han! "hings that alled natural/ naturally our9 - e8#eted the
t+o of them to ome but@!
5es#ite all the self instrution not to do so/ - felt a sigh threatening to
lea)e my mouth!
- attahed myself to =.i3sama and +ent to a table inside the room!
Gea)ing Ani behind at the entrane!
"here is a so alled ustom of bodyguards #laing themsel)es alongside
the +all ready for ation!
5es#ite being guilty of treating him badly myself/ - al+ays feel
e8tremely annoyed +hen other #eo#le treat him as a ser)ant@!- am
#robably .ust being selfish!
0e that as it may! - am for no+ fored to deal +ith the Huroba family
alone and unassisted!
>Aya*o3san/ ,umiya3*un/ are the t+o of you +ellL?
<#on my greeting them/ ,umiya3*un seemed ha##y and Aya*o3san
seemed li*e she had been +aiting for me9 their res#eti)e smiling faes
+elomed me in the usual +ay!
>%iyu*i3neesamaM -t2s been so long?
>=nee3sama/ you ha)e not hanged at all?
Aya*o3san and ,umiya3*un are one grade belo+ me/ si8th year
elementary shool students!
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<nli*e my brother and -/ these t+o are t+ins! "hey +ere the same age as
me/ but beause - +as born in %arh and they +ere born in Nune they
+ere in a lo+er grade!
,or some reason or other/ for as long as - an remember/ Aya*o3san has
al+ays blatantly felt a ri)alry +ith me@@!this is one more reason
dealing +ith this family is so de#ressing!
Sine the other andidate for suessor +as not Aya*o3san but ,umiya3
*un/ e)en if she felt om#etiti)e +ith me@!- +as su##osed to be
onealing my true feelings!
,umiya3*un is adorable beause he is o#enly affetionate to me/ but -
feel he is a little too adorable for a boy! At any rate/ om#ared to Ani@
no/ that #erson is e8traordinary!
- see that their lothes are a little too utesy again/ today9 - must strain
myself to *ee# my faial musles from mo)ing!
()en +ith this air onditioning/ is it not too +arm to +ear something
li*e that in this season/ ,umiya3*unL
()en if you are +earing it a asual style/ to +ear a bolero .a*et and a
ummerbund@!sine this is a #ri)ate #arty/ - do not thin* it is neessary
to go so far!
=n the other hand/ Aya*o3san@!!+ell/ as usual is alled as usual for a
reason! &er dress +as abundantly adorned +ith ribbons/ trims and
deorati)e buttons and e)en her abo)e the *nee so*s had ruffles +ith
ribbons on them! &er hair +as #rettily arranged in urls/ and a fringe had
been added to her hair band! - do not #artiularly +ant to 7uibble o)er
someone else2s taste in attire/ but this style is #robably a little abnormal
at a summer resort!
Sine both they and their #arent +ear Ddress u#E suh lothes/ - thin*
they ma*e things o)erly formal/ ho+e)er! 1hile - am ontem#lating
suh things in order to distrat myself/ =.i3sama is ontinuing to brag
about my ousins! 5uring his boasting about inonse7uential things li*e
Aya*o3san reei)ing a #ri6e in a #iano om#etition and ,umiya3*un
being #raised by his riding instrutor/ - made #olite res#onses in all the
right #laes and +aited for time to #ass!
- al+ays +onder if this is some *ind of #unishment game9 ho+e)er/ eah
Page 4:/219
time - am blessedly sa)ed before my #atiene +ears too thin! "oday also
at any moment no+ ,umiya3*un +ill begin to fidget!
>0y the +ay/ %iyu*i3neesama@!+here is "atsuya3niisamaL?
Ah/ here it omes!
,umiya3*un is a )ery nie hild/ he treats Aya*o3san and - the same9 to
be brief/ he adores me as muh as if - +as really his elder sister/ but he
adores Ani more than either of us9 or you might say that he re)eres him!
;o/ - +onder if admires might be a better +ay to define itL ()en so/
+ell/ - annot say that - do not understand!
-n general terms333that is in aordane +ith the guidelines set by the
%agi ,ederation333Ani is not blessed +ith a talent for magi! &o+e)er/
that #erson om#ensates for that +ith a surfeit of brains/ musles and
s#eial talents!
&is shool grades are outstandingly e8ellent!
;o matter +hat s#ort/ he is first lass9 or #ossibly su#er first lass!
And/ the ounter atta* that all magiians are )ulnerable to is that
#erson2s sole trum# ard!
Surely/ Ani is the ty#e of #erson that all boys might re)ere as a hero! ;o!
Surely/ not .ust boys!
&is out+ard a##earane is neither amiable/ li)ely nor s+eet but des#ite
all that!
Ani is inredibly ool@@
@@!eh/ +hat on earth am - thin*ingML
"hat #erson is merely my guard/ nothing more!
"hat #erson and - only share a sibling relationshi# through genetis/
nothing more!
1hy/ - am ating li*e - ha)e a brother om#le8@@!
>&e is on +ath o)er there!?
As if una+are that a bla* loud had suddenly a##eared in my heart/ -
#ointed to his #osition beside the +all +hile +earing my #ainsta*ingly
onstruted smiling fae!
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Ah/ ,umiya3*un2s hee*s are beoming red!
A##arently/ - am fooling them!
>@!um/ +here e8atlyL?
;e8t to ,umiya3*un +ho had ta*en his eyes off me in order to searh for
Ani by letting his eyes +ander all o)er the room/ Aya*o3san +as also
sending her eyes hither and thither along the +all +hile #retending
indifferene!
&er attitude +as unusually easy to read/ she +as e)en sho+ing her teeth
as she smiled9 ho+e)er/ - thin* that +as something she +as direting at
,umiya3*un! - #ointed out the #lae +here Ani +as standing to ,umiya3
*un +ho +as standing ne8t to Aya*o3san +ho had allo+ed her +all of
indifferene to brea*! Ani +as +athing us!
>"atsuya3niisamaM?
,umiya3*un2s fae suddenly lit u# and he bounded o)er to Ani2s
#osition!
>=h/ +ell/ there4s nothing that an be done!?
1hile )oiing a om#laint/ Aya*o3san headed after ,umiya3*un +ith
s+ift feet! -ndeed/ she loo*ed as if she +as restraining herself from
running!
As he +athed those t+o/ =.i3sama made a sour fae9 he did this e)ery
time!
=.i3sama slo+ly +al*ed after them in a om#letely different mood than
Aya*o3san2s! - too trailed after them!
,umiya3*un +as enthusiastially on)ersing +ith Ani about something!
Ani made ountless small nods/ the orners of his mouth rose slightly/ he
sho+ed a small amount of teeth333he smiledL
"hat #ersonL
5es#ite ne)er gi)ing a smile li*e that to me@@!M
>&ey no+/ ,umiya/ Aya*o! $ou shouldn2t interfere +ith "atsuya3*un2s
+or*!? -n order to maintain my insinere smile/ - had to gras# my hands
strongly to *ee# my fingers from urling into a fist and #laed a smile so
#ainsta*ingly onstruted to loo* natural that =.i3sama +ould not doubt
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that it refleted my true feelings!
>"han* you for your +or*! $ou are so diligent in #erforming your
tas*s!?
>"here is no need to than* me!?
"he Ani that faed =.i3sama +as the usual Ani! &is fae +as so de)oid
of e8#ression that the smile that had been on his fae a little +hile ago
seemed li*e an illusion!
>A+/ =tou3sama! 1ouldn2t a moment or t+o be alrightL %iyu*i3
neesama is our in)ited guest! %a*ing the arrangements to #re)ent harm
befalling one2s guest is the duty of the host!?
>-t2s .ust as =nee3sama said! "he guards of Huroba are not so uns*illed
as to allo+ a single one of our guests to be less than om#letely safe!
-sn2t that right/ =tou3sanL?
(hL ,umiya3*un doesn2t address =.i3sama as >=tou3sama?@@@
0y onentrating on suh a tri)ial thing/ - +as able to distrat myself
from my mood!
>"hat is true but@@?
Paying my thoughts no mind/ =.i3sama s#o*e ambiguous +ords +hile
loo*ing be+ildered!
- +as be+ildered as +ell9 ho+e)er/ #erha#s/ Aya*o3san and ,umiya3*un
understood =.i3sama2s true intent! =.i3sama did not li*e his o+n
hildrenBes#eially ,umiya3*unBdireting any friendly interest at Ani!
,umiya3*un is a andidate +ho aims to beome the ne8t head of the
$otsuba!
Ani is sim#ly the guard of a fello+ andidate for the suession/ me!
()en if +e #lae a s#eial title on them li*e Iuardian/ they are ser)ants
after all9 if - s#ea* ruelly/ they are no more than tools to be used then
thro+n a+ay!
A tool that/ if - an be #reise/ ould not beome a andidate for the
$otsuba suession!
;aturally/ +hile Ani is the one +ho is my guard/ sine the relationshi#
bet+een Ani and ,umiya3*un is only that of seond ousins/ there is no
real #roblem +ith ,umiya3*un adoring Ani! -t is the same +ith Aya*o3
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san! %aya obaa3sama +ould #robably not be bothered by that!
Page 49/219
Page :0/219
-t sounds harsh +hen - say it/ but =.i3sama is only +orried about status!
=.i3sama an only see Ani as a ser)ant/ a dis#osable tool! All that means
is that the #erson alled Huroba %itsugu is #robably a >$otsuba? to the
marro+ of his bones! "herefore/ - feel that - am not mista*en in
belie)ing that he feels that ha)ing his o+n hildren sho+ing em#athy for
a tool is im#ro#er!
"hat is the natural +ay of things for a >$otsuba?!
-n order for me to beome 4$otsuba %iyu*i2/ - must ha)e the same
mental attitude as =.i3sama!
"hat he is a Iuardian is more im#ortant than him being my elder
brother!
"hat #erson has the #osition of my guard! -f it is neessary/ he +ill
e8hange his o+n life in order to fulfill his obligation to #rotet me as a
human shield! -t is only natural for that #erson +ho is a tool not to lo)e
me9 -/ too/ must not yearn for lo)e from that #erson!
- ga)e myself these instrutions!
Gi*e an inantation/ - re#eated them o)er and o)er!
Ani has the #osition of my guard!
&e is my human shield!
"hat is the #osition granted to Ani! - must beome the heir of %aya
=baa3sama/ therefore Ani is not my =nii3sama333
- stiffened due to a #ain in the ore of my brain!
,or an instant/ - felt as if - had no idea +here - +as!
=f ourse that +as an illusion! - am at Huroba =.i3sama2s #arty that -
+as in)ited to9 in front of me/ =.i3sama is ma*ing an disomfited fae!
@@someho+ - feel li*e - +as thin*ing about something really
im#ortant/ ho+e)er@!that2s #robably .ust my imagination!
>@!!,umiya/ do not trouble your honored father so muh?
<ne8#etedly/ the one +ho tossed =.i3sama a lifeline +as Ani!
&e alled ,umiya3*un/ 4,umiya2!
-n an affetionate tone as if ,umiya3*un really +as his younger brother!
Page :1/219
5ee# inside my mind/ - felt a faint #ain!
1ithout thin*ing/ my fae started to so+l in disomfort!
- must not!
-f - sho+ dis#leasure on my fae no+/ it +ill be misinter#reted as
disa##ro)al of Ani and =.i3sama2s interation!
@@- +onder if that +ould be a misinter#retation@@@!L
;o/ ;o/ if - thin* about thatM
<umm/ +hat an - do at a time li*e thisL
0efore - left/ Sa*ura3san told me +hat to do!
"hat2s right/ - need to s*illfully deei)e my o+n feelings3333
>Hurobo3san/ it is all right to entrust the #arty site to youL -/ myself/
+ish to ta*e a little loo* around outside!?
>=h/ reallyL "hat is a s#lendid idea?
=.i3sama sho+ed tremendous sur#rise at Ani2s suggestion/ and e)en
alulatingly #raised Ani for it!
><nderstood! - +ill loo* after %iyu*i3han! "his #lae is under my
su#er)ision so - +ill ae#t res#onsibility!?
"hat is #robably insinere #raise that an be #rodued at any time!
Sine there are di#lomati e8uses to get rid of #ests/ - should use one to
rid myself of the biggest one!
A truly on)enient false fae!
4,irst you bring you/ yourself/ in alignment +ith +hat you +ould all
your false fae!2
333Ani is faithfully #erforming the duties allotted to him!
>A+ nutsM 1e are returning to Shi6uo*a tomorro+M 1e do not often get
a hane to see eah other/ and +e don2t e)en get a hane to s#end a lot
of time tal*ing?
>,umiya/ alm do+n a little@@"atsuya3san/ +hat ,umiya said is true9
so #lease return 7ui*ly!?
><nderstood! 1e +ill ta*e one tour around and then return! So/ then
Huroba3san - am going to get a little air!?
Page :2/219
333"herefore -/ too/ must #erform the duties allotted to me +ith all my
strength!
1hile - listening to Ani re#lying to ,umiya3*un2s #rotests and Aya*o3
san2s re7uests in a gentle tone of )oie/ - instruted myself thus!
Page :3/219
Chapter 5
Common Era November 6, 2095--Yotsuba Main House-Reception
Room
&ee3hee333
At the sudden sound of %iyu*i2s giggling )oie9 "atsuya/ +ho had been
loo*ing out the +indo+/ turned his eyes to the interior of the room!
-n ontrast to the (astern style of the arhiteture/ the big room +as
done in 1estern style! "here +ere e)en #aintings of landsa#es adorning
the brightly hued +alls/ not re#rodutions either9 aording to the
signatures of the elebrated modern artists on the an)ases/ these +ere
original oil #aintings! And the stately natural +ood table +as of a si6e
that ould easily sit o)er ten #eo#le!
;onetheless/ this room ga)e an im#ression of em#tiness! "his +as
#ossibly due to the fat that/ instead of the s#ae being ou#ied by the
legs of o)er ten hairs/ there +as only the four legs of a sofa #laed by
the table9 also/ aside from the table and sofa/ there +ere almost no
furnishings9 +hih a##eared to lea)e all too muh s#ae lefto)er in the
room! %a*ing the room feel unneessarily )ast +as #robably for the
#ur#ose of #syhologially induing a feeling of o##ression!
;aturally/ suh things had been beneath "atsuya2s notie for a long time
no+! &is ga6e +ent straight to his younger sister!
<#on reei)ing his #u66led loo*/ %iyu*i/ +ho +as seated on the sofa
+ith the ar)ed ball and la+ legs/ bashfully du*ed her head!
>@!!Pardon me/ =nii3sama! - +as merely remembering something that
ha##ened in the #ast!?
>Something amusingL?
"atsuya also smiled in res#onse to the smile on %iyu*i2s fae +hen she
ans+ered! >;o@@ - +as so foolish in the #ast/ - found that humorous!?
"atsuya2s smile )anished/ a feat that ourred in the blin* of an eye in
res#onse to the thoughtless self de#reiating remar* but9 he +as unable
to find anything negati)e in the ontent of the +ords/ the tone of the
Page :4/219
)oie or the e8#ression on her fae!
>'ome to thin* of it/ =nii3sama ba* then +as *ind to Aya*o3san and
,umiya3*un@@! - +as 7uite sho*ed by thatL?
,rom +hat she said/ "atsuya formed an im#ression of the general #eriod
%iyu*i +as remembering and a smile bro*e out!
>1ell@!- +as .ust a hild ba* then/ gi)e me a brea*!?
>"hat is absurd! - am the one +ho +as a foolish hild!?
Although the t+o of them +ere still at an age that the +orld ould still
all them >hildren?! And not e)en the siblings themsel)es/ thought of
themsel)es as adults!
5es#ite that/ the t+o of them e8#eriened no feelings of inonsisteny or
hesitation +hen they labeled the #eo#le they had been three years #rior
as mere >hildren?!
>()en though - am your sister/ ba* then/ - did not understand one thing
about =nii3sama! ;o@!- did not e)en +ant to understand you!?
"atsuya +anted to say something to refute that but/ aside from a brief
smile besto+ed on the bo+ed head of his sister/ sadly/ he had no other
res#onse to gi)e! ()en if he ould refute her +ords/ it +as not neessary
to do so!
Although both of them had been +rong/ neither of them +ere
res#onsible9 "atsuya and %iyu*i +ere both a+are of this!
-f %iyu*i +as no longer in the mood to ontinue s#ea*ing of the #ast/
"atsuya +as not going to bring it u# again!
"atsuya returned his ga6e to the +indo+!
1hile a##earing to blan*ly ga6e outside/ his fi)e sense +ere fully
o#erational/ loo*ing for signs of unusual ati)ity and missing nothing!
&is e8tra sense #erei)ed more than his fi)e senses/ so he +as al+ays
ready to aess the information dimension at a moments notie!
"his +as all for the sa*e #roteting %iyu*i!
-f something ame into e8istene that loo*ed li*e it +ould harm %iyu*i/
"atsuya +ould destroy it first to #re)ent that!
"his had not hanged bet+een no+ and ba* then!
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Still ba* then/ she had been una+are of it!
Still ba* then/ she had been *e#t from being a+are of it!
Page :6/219
Chapter 6
2092A+ August 5t% , "#ina$a(i--a&Coast o* "nna
Gast night had ontinued until onsiderably late! Arri)ing at =*ina+a
then ha)ing a #arty until near midnight made for a #retty tough first day!
$et/ e)en so/ for me to +a*e before the sun had risen/ ould only be
e8#lained as habit!
"ruth be told/ - had +anted to slee# a little longer/ but - didn2t +ant to
turn into a loose lady! ,alling aslee# again +ould be unthin*able! 1ith
effort/ - sent energy to my limbs/ got off the bed and dre+ ba* the
urtains/ o#ening the +indo+ to let in some fresh air +hile - +as at it!
Sine -2m on the seond floor faing the ba*yard/ there +as no +orry
about being seen in my #a.amas from the outside! @@although ta*ing
are of my a##earane first really +ould ha)e been more fitting of a
lady2s eti7uette!
Sniffing the sea bree6e - inhaled dee#ly/ s+elling my hest out!
And at the moment - loo*ed do+n/ there +as my brother training!
'rouhed do+n lo+/ he2d ta*e a ste# +ith the right foot/ thrust out his
right arm/ thrust out his left arm!
"hen in that #osition he2d ta*e a ste# +ith the left foot/ and .ust as -
thought he2d thrust out his left arm again he ra#idly #ulled it ba* and as
if interseting/ thrust out his right arm!
"urning his body as he #rogressi)ely too* ste#s +ith the left foot and
right foot/ his right arm +ould forefully mo)e from inside to outside/
left arm from outside to inside/ right hand u#/ left hand do+n!
-t seemed li*e some sort of martial arts or *arate - didn2t *no+!
-n eah hand he held a small/ one *ilogram +eight/ +ith +hih he +ent
through motions +ith great #reision! "hey +ere as )i)id as the set
#oses used by lead daners or stage ators!
%a*ing his +ay in a irle around the fringe of half the ba*yard/ my
brother finally sto##ed mo)ing/ e8haling greatly and rela8ing!
Page :7/219
3(h/ it2s o)er@@L
- stared +ith bad grae at my brother2s ba* as he too* a dee# breath!
1illing him to sho+ me that beautiful 4dane2 again!
Get me see more!
Nust one is fine!
"hat ama6ing form of yours/ to your little sister@@
331aitM
- regained myself!
33;o +ay/ -/ had been entranedL
- losed the urtains in a rush/ then hurried from the +indo+!
"he urtain rails made a #retty big noise/ but it +ouldn2t be audible from
the yard@@ - thin*!
Geaning against the +all/ - olla#sed do+n!
%y fae +as hot!
%y heart/ #ounding a+ay furiously/ +ouldn2t alm do+n e)en as - held
my hands against my hest!
33&e hadn2t reali6ed/ rightL
%y brother hadn2t loo*ed u# e)en one!
&e shouldn2t ha)e seen me standing at the +indo+!
$et des#ite that/ as - had stood staring as if enhanted/ - had the feeling
that my brother had notied me too!

As al+ays/ my brea*fast +as #ro)ided by Sa*urai3san! "his )illa also
tehnially had an automati oo*ing mahine managed by a &AC/ but
Sa*urai3san herself had insisted that 4those +ho rely on automati
mahines beome insi#id2 and as suh/ all her meals +ere homemade
unless under e8traordinary irumstanes!
Ceently/ - had ta*en a hand in hel#ing too/ but truth be told/ my s*ills
are still )ery muh in the 4getting there2 stage!
Page :8/219
>5o you ha)e any #lans for todayL?
As - si##ed tea after the meal/ Sa*urai3san as*ed that 7uestion! -n form
that +ould ha)e been addressed to =*aa3sama/ but - *ne+ full +ell it
a##lied to me too!
>-f the heat lets u#/ -2d li*e to go out to sea!?
"hin*ing a little/ =*aa3sama ga)e her re#ly!
>Shall - ready the ruiserL?
>&mm!!!!!! a smaller sailing yaht +ould be nie!?
><nderstood! -s 4#m alrightL?
>$es/ #lease!?
1ith e8#eriene/ Sa*urai3san smoothly inferred the s#eifis from
=*aa3sama2s brief +ords and dedued her intentions/ effiiently
assembling a shedule!
"his means my timetable for #ast 4#m has been deided as +ell! =*aa3
sama most li*ely intends to s#end the time until then inside the )illa!
;o+/ +hat shall - doL
>%iyu*i3san/ if you ha)e no #artiular #lans/ ho+ about going to the
beahL ()en if you .ust lie do+n/ - thin* it2d be a good +ay to refresh
yourself!?
Seeing me lost in thought/ Sa*urai3san made a suggestion!
>@@- guess so! "hen/ - su##ose -2ll .ust rela8 on the beah in the
afternoon!?
>-2ll hel# you #re#are! <fufu/ if you2re +earing a s+imsuit then you2ll
need to arefully a##ly sunsreen to eah and e)ery little #art of your
body!?
@@(hL 4<fufu2/ that2s@@
>@@;o/ than* you! - an do it by myself!?
>;o+ no+/ there2s no need to refrain!?
@@Sa*urai3san strangely seems to be antii#ating something!
>"he sunlight here in the tro#is is intense! -f you lea)e a ga#
some+here/ it2ll be terrible!?
Page :9/219
@@Sa*urai3san/ that loo* in your eyes is )ery sus#iious!
>;aturally +e2d ha)e to o)er all the bits under the s+imsuit too!
<fufufu@@?
><h/ uhmm/ Sa*urai3sanL?
Sa*urai3san/ for some reason/ you loo* really sary right no+M
>'ome on/ let2s go get ready!?
- attem#ted to sli# a+ay in silene/ but before - ould mo)e an inh/
Sa*urai3san had her hand around my +rist!
&er gri# +asn2t so tight as to be #ainful/ but there +as definitely no
sha*ing her off!
- +as dragged li*e that u# to the seond floor/ and +hen - glim#sed at
my brother/ - had the distint feeling he +as laughing underneath his
e8#ressionless fae!
@@()en though he2s not su##osed to ha)e any suh human feelings!

<nder Sa*urai3san2s hands/ sun ream really +as rubbed )ery
thoroughly o)er e)ery inh of my body/ and by the time - stumbled out
from the )illa to the beah/ - +as lim# all o)er!
P@@1hy do - ha)e to be so tired o)er thisLP - om#lained unreasonably
to myself!
-n any ase/ - assumed +hat - onsidered a modest easygoing #osture/
too* off my tuni/ then +ent under the #arasol my brother had set u# and
on to# of the sheet my brother had #re#ared - lay do+n!
"he se#arate s+imsuit - +ore +asn2t 7uite so far gone as a bi*ini/ but
still #ossessed 7uite a fair amount of e8#osure! -t +asn2t something -
+ould ha)e hosen/ but then again Sa*urai3san hadn2t e8atly gi)en me
muh of a hoie!
"hat2s +hat - thought any+ay/ but at the sight of me/ my brother +asn2t
mo)ing an inh! 1earing *nee3length trun*s under a #ar*a/ he +as
seated ne8t to me +ith his eyes on the hori6on!
Page 60/219
Page 61/219
Hnees slightly bent/ loo*ing as if s#aing out!
1hen - stole a glane o)er/ it +as as if he +asn2t e)en a+are of me/
sim#ly staring into the distane! - +onder if he2s boredL
&e2s a healthy/ fit boy in his first year at .unior high/ but +ith the sea
right in front of him/ all he did +as sit! "hat +as it!
-s this normalL 5ri)en by that 7uestion/ - mo)ed myself +ith my
elbo+s/ and snea*ed a glane at the other #arasols dotted around!
"hat2s a@@ family - thin*! A mother and father/ and a girl #robably in
her first or seond year of #rimary shool!
Nust as - thought so/ a boy slightly older than the girl ame running u#
from the beah!
"he boy too* his father2s hand/ and made as if trying to #ull him o)er to
the sea!
"he #arasol ne8t to theirs +as )aant! "here +ere )arious belongings
indiating the #resene of t+o #eo#le! @@there are t+o #ar*as/ +hih
means t+o #eo#le rightL
"hose t+o +ere #robably do+n by the sea as +ell!
0eyond that +as@@ +hoa+hoa+hoaM
- #ut my head do+n in a hurry!
After attem#ting another #ee*/ - +as fored to lo+er my head again
almost immediately again!
"here/ a guy around senior highB - don2t thin* he +as a uni)ersity
student yetB +as rubbing oil o)er a girl!
-n some #retty dangerous areas too! &ey/ is he going for full body
o)erageL
And in suh an o#enly #ubli #lae at that/ aren2t/ aren2t they
embarrassed at allL
"he guy at least didnPt ha)e to +orry about being seen! Stro*ing a+ay at
the girl2s body/ he +as laughing 7uite ha##ily! -t +asn2t a )ery #leasant
e8#ression to see!
5o guys/ li*e doing that sort of thingL
Page 62/219
A more outgoing +oman +ould laughB Sa*urai3san definitely +ould
laugh/ but - had read in a maga6ine some+here that men li*e touhing
+omen! -2)e also heard from friends at shool that +hen 4ad)aned2
sem#ais go out on a date/ they ha)e trouble +ith their boyfriends
see*ing after their body! Nust +hat do they thin* girls are/ - indignantly
felt at the time! "hat terrible age of 4free se82 ended half a entury agoM
0esides +hih/ you2re doing those things to a .unior high studentM
@@;ot good/ not good! 'alm do+n! - an2t go ausing a frost on the
beah in =*ina+a in the middle of summer!
0ut/ the +oman didn2t seem to be against it!
-t might .ust be beause she2s lying do+n #rone the same as me and not
readily )isible/ but sine the guy is being allo+ed to go right ahead -2m
guessing she2s o* +ith it!
@@"he same/ as meL
&erePs me lying do+n/ and therePs that #erson sitting ne8t to me!
- +onder/ is he thin*ing something similarL -s he a#able of suh a
thingL
- raned my ne* slightly/ loo*ing again at my brother2s fae/ and my
brother/ +as loo*ing at me!
=ur eyes met!
-n ontrast to me +ho +as fro6en still/ he sim#ly ontinued to loo*
around for t+o/ three seonds/ before turning ba* to fae the hori6on!
- regained ontrol of my body +ith diffiulty and/ unable to say
anything/ sim#ly buried my no+ heated fae in the shado+s!
- used my done u# hair as a urtain of sorts/ although - an easily see it
beoming something rather troublesome in the future!
Gying #rone/ - ould do nothing but +ait for my hee*s to ool do+n!
1ith my )ie+ obsured so/ my no+ ba* to normal head began to fill
+ith all sorts of thoughts - really shouldn2t ha)e been thin*ing about!
&e/ .ust +hen had he begun loo*ing at meL
1hat #art of me +as he loo*ing atL
%y ba*L GegsL =r@@
Page 63/219
- +onder/ does this #erson ha)e the same interestsL 1as he thin*ing he2d
li*e to touh my body/ or something@@L
- *ne+ - really shouldn2t be thin*ing suh things about my blood3related
sibling! 0ut my brother and - +eren2t 7uite that straightfor+ard!
()en though +e li)e in the same house/ +e rarely see eah other!
"he only times +e2re together/ inluding to and from shool/ is +hen
+e2re out! 0eing together during the day/ li*e no+/ only ha##ens during
tri#s!
,or as far ba* as - an remember/ - ha)e no memories of ta*ing baths
together/ #laying together/ or anything at all!
"o me/ my brother is not so muh family/ but rather more li*e a one year
older boy - *no+! "hat is my true feeling!
-t2s #robably the same for him!
,or him/ -2m most li*ely .ust someone attending the same shool/ a one
year younger girl@@
<ne8#etedly/ - heard the sound of sand shifting!
- *ne+ it must ha)e been my brother getting u#!
- ouldn2t raise my head!
Cather/ my fae sim#ly san* further do+n into my arm +hih +as
ser)ing as a #illo+!
- tried +illing strength into my arms/ legs/ and ba*/ and found out my
body +as had other ideas!
-nside my stiff body/ my heart )iolently #ounded a+ay!
- sensed my brother looming o)er me!
- ouldn2t breathe!
%y head +as in a da6e!
-t2s too early for that to be beause of o8ygen de#ri)ation/ a rational #art
of my mind almly and uselessly told me!
%y body/ +hih sim#ly refused all instrution to mo)e/ +as softly
o)ered by a thin loth!
33(hL
Page 64/219
- ould feel the fabri/ strething from my shoulders to my thighs!
-t +as the tuni - had ta*en off earlier!
"hat suitably folded tuni/ +as no+ s#read o)er my body!
Someho+/ suddenly/ - felt a sense of seurity!
All my meaningless tension disa##eared/ and #erha#s as a onse7uene
my mind began to drift instead!
1ithout allo+ing myself any further self3analysis/ - felt myself lulled
into a omfortable sense of dro+siness!
-n the end/ - really do ha)e to be than*ful to Sa*urai3san! 5es#ite the
fat - +as under a #arasol/ - had sle#t in that fiere sunlight for 7uite a
+hile! -f - hadn2t been guarded by sunsreen all the +ay u# to my nails/
my bare legs +ould no doubt be suffering terrible burns by no+!
>So hot@@?
As - blamed the interru#tion to my slee# on the relentless heat/ my
brother +as/ as e8#eted/ still ne8t to me +athing the hori6on!
>@@&o+ long ha)e - sle#tL?
>Around t+o hours!?
- as*ed a 7uestion +ithout +arning!
And yet/ he ans+ered +ithout a moments hesitation!
Almost as if to head off any other 7uestions!
"he ans+er felt rushed/ li*e he didn2t +ant to gi)e me time to thin*!
>- see!?
- )aguely felt that something +as u#/ but my head +as still fu66y from
ha)ing .ust a+o*en/ and - +asn2t able to #ut a finger on that sense of
disomfort!
As - got u#/ my tuni sli##ed off onto the sheet!
Perha#s beause of the sea bree6e blo+ing sand e)ery+here/ des#ite the
fat - had sle#t on a sheet/ the surfae under my limbs felt a little rough!
>-2m going into the +ater!?
1ithout +aiting for a re#ly/ - hoo*ed on my sandals!
Page 6:/219
All around the sheet/ numerous foot#rints +ere e)ident! "hey hadn2t
been there before! Some #arts had been flattened/ resembling the ba*s
of #eo#le +ho had fallen o)er! Perha#s some #eo#le had been #laying
beah )olleyball@@L
"he number of surrounding #arasols had inreased as +ell!
-t seems a lot had ha##ened +hile - +as aslee#/ - thought la6ily/ as -
headed do+n to the beah!

After a late lunh/ - s#ent some time reading in my room! &o+e)er/ after
t+o hours - beame bored! -t2s not that - disli*e reading/ - sim#ly didn2t
really feel li*e it today!
- guess -2ll go get =*aa3sama to sho+ me some magi #ratie!
"hin*ing that/ - +ent to her room!
%y room is in the )ery middle of the 2nd floor!
=*aa3sama2s room is aross from the stairs/ on the other side!
"he room o##osite mine is em#ty/ and the one ne8t to the stairs belongs
to my brother!
Passing by it/ - heard a )oie from inside!
1ithout thin*ing/ - #aused!
"his resort is #retty standard/ meaning that unli*e our home/ it2s not
fully sound#roofed9 yet des#ite that/ it2s not so hea# that normal )oies
ould be heard from the hall+ay! ,or them to be audible/ they must be
s#ea*ing )ery loudly!
;ot to mention that that )oie .ust no+/ +as Sa*urai3sanL3 -nstinti)ely/
- #ressed my ear to the door!
>&o+ ould you lea)e a terrible blo+ li*e this +ithout treatmentM?
Sa*urai3san +as #robably solding my brother!
>-t2s nothing ma.or! "here is no om#romising damage to the bone!?
>5on2t at as if e)erything2s fine as long as nothing2s bro*enM 5oesn2t it
Page 66/219
hurtML?
>"here is #ain! &o+e)er/ it2s nothing more than a #enalty - ha)e set
u#on myself!?
PainL
PenaltyL
331hat are they tal*ing aboutL
>&aa@@ you2re al+ays li*e this@@ "atsuya3*un/ -2)e already gi)en
u# trying to orret that mentality of yours but@@
At the least let me heal you u# +ith magi/ so ta*e off your lothes
#lease!?
Al+aysL
>"here is no need! -f it beomes a hindrane in ombat/ it +ill re#air
itself!?
>@@"atsuya *un/ e)en Iuardians ha)e a day to day life! 0eause +e
aren2t merely fighting mahines! S#ea*ing of +hih/ about that inident/
it +ould ha)e been better for you to sim#ly +a*e %iyu*i3san and lea)e!
As Iuardians/ though +e should res#et our harge2s +ill and freedom
to the utmost/ that2s no reason to get into a fight .ust beause you don2t
+ant to interfere +ith a na#!?
@@(hL %eL
>- am regretful!?
>Seriously/ #lease thin* this inident o)er alrightL Cunning is also a
#erfetly res#etable tati! "atsuya3*un/ you need to learn to be more
fle8ible!?
- didn2t hear the sound of a sigh/ but rather sensed that Sa*urai3san had
done so as she sagged her shoulders and #re#ared to lea)e!
-n a hurry/ as 7uietly as - ould/ - +ent ba* to my room!

"he ruiser Sa*urai3san had #re#ared +as a si83seater sailing shi# +ith
an eletri motor attahed!
Page 67/219
"he four of us/ along +ith the helmsman and his assistant/ filled the boat
to full a#aity!
- sat a+aiting de#arture on seats arranged fae to fae! 5iretly aross
from me is =*aa3sama/ and ne8t to me is my brother!
Pretending to +ath the sails being set u#/ - shot a glim#se at my
brother2s #rofile!
&e +as intent u#on their +or*/ and didn2t notie my ga6e!
()er sine - had o)erheard their on)ersation/ - ouldn2t hel# thin*ing
about it!
%y brother is my esort!
Ietting in.ured in the ourse of #roteting me is to be e8#eted!
0ut u# until no+/ - ha)e rarely e)er seen my brother in.ured!
5iret onfrontation li*e yesterday2s are also rare!
S#ea*ing of his in.uries/ they had all been from training!
1hih +as +hy -/ des#ite being a suessor andidate to the $otsuba/
had al+ays nai)ely assumed that there )ery fe+ humans +ho +ould be
des#iable enough to #i* on us hildren!
Suh a thing may be so in no)els/ but reality is different!
At ,umiya3*un2s #lae/ unli*e the $otsuba/ =.isama2s +or* seemed to
be more out of on)eniene!
"he 4Iuardian2 attahed to me is ionially assoiated +ith a suessor
andidate of the $otsuba/
"herefore a #art of me had al+ays thought that for a hild li*e my
brother to be assigned as a Iuardian/ had been for the sa*e of gi)ing my
magially3la*ing brother a #lae in the $otsuba! And another #art has
al+ays felt guilty for doing so!
0ut from the on)ersation those t+o had earlier/ in.uries seem to be
something #ar for the ourse!
>%iyu*i3san/ is something bothering youL?
>Ah/ no/ it2s nothing!?
At that une8#eted )oie/ - turned around in a hurry!
Page 68/219
;ot good/ not good!
- made =*aa3sama +orry!
>-t2s been a +hile sine -2)e gone sailing@@?
>Ah/ that2s right!?
Pretending to +ath the sails being set u# seems to ha)e +or*ed out!
0ut that +on2t #ut them off indefinitely/ and - deide to shel)e my
thoughts for no+!
Nust in time/ it seems +e2re about to de#art!
5es#ite the fat that +e2re not using the motor/ +e dre+ a+ay from the
#ier at a greater s#eed than - e8#eted!
- foused my thoughts on the flo+ing senery!
-n the fae of a +esterly +ind/ +e +ere headed in a north3north+est
diretion!
Sine - had assumed that in summer along =*ina+a/ a southeasterly
+ind should be blo+ing/ - as*ed the a#tain about it/ to +hih he re#lied
that a lo+ #ressure area +as a##roahing from the (astern sea!
- +as also told that it +ouldn2t gro+ into a ty#hoon/ so - shouldn2t be
onerned!
- hadn2t e)en been a+are of that/ so my +orries did go u#@@ but it2s
not li*e -2)e been at sea for any long #eriod of time/ so it2s #robably .ust
a needless an8iety!
Although +e +ere sailing to+ards -e.ima/ the #oint of the tri# itself +as
sailing so +e had #lanned to turn ba* half+ay! 1ith the urrent +ind
s#eed though/ by the time +e +ere half+ay it2d be dus* already!
Sailing is more omfortable than - had antii#ated!
-t felt li*e my onfused heart +as being s+e#t a+ay by the +ind!
-f - had *no+n/ - +ould ha)e li*ed to lea)e earlier and go further!
- losed my eyes/ and for a +hile sim#ly listened to the sound of the
+ind in the sails!
-f +e an end the day li*e this/ - should be able to slee# )ery
omfortably tonight!
Page 69/219
33Should/ beause - *ne+ that this ouldn2t last!
<#on feeling a #artiularly shar# +ind/ - o#ened my eyes!
Sa*urai3san +as loo*ing sternly out to sea/ or rather/ glaring!
"he +ords the assistant uttered as he des#erately a##ealed into the
radio33 submarineL -n this situation/ - don2t thin* it2s the ;a)y! 'ould it
#ossibly be foreignL "hese are Na#anese territorial +aters though! 5on2t
tell me@@ an at of aggressionML
-t +asn2t only me starting to fret! As if the shi# itself had #ushed the
#ani button/ the motor s7uea*ed as it started u# and the sails +ere
sto+ed!
As the rudder s+ung round the ruiser tilted/ and - grabbed on to the rail!
>=.ou3sama/ #lease go to the front!?
Although - *ne+ this +asn2t a good time/ my brother alling me 4=.ou3
sama2 all of a sudden +as a #retty big sho*!
-t2s something that ha##ens often/ but to be alled in suh a +ay as if -
+ere a stranger saddened me!
-n the fae of that/ my attitude unneessarily hardened!
>- *no+M?
1ith that utterly unalled for and meaninglessly high #ressured line/ -
om#lied and left my seat!
- obser)ed the foaming sea!
Although my brother had his ba* to me and - ouldn2t see his fae/ -
.ust *ne+ +hat sort of eyes he +as ma*ing .ust as sure as if - had ta*en
his hand!
;either glaring/ not staring!
33sim#ly e8#ressionless and em#ty/ those/ eyes of the )oid!
Sa*urai3san stood on the stern side/ #roteting =*aa3sama!
=*aa3sama is an e8e#tionally #o+erful magiian/ but her strength has
been do+n beause of it reently! "he interations bet+een magi and
the body is still not fully understood/ but it is *no+n that using #o+erful
magi has a #ro#ortional strain on the body!
Page 70/219
She mustn2t be allo+ed to use magi!
Ceahing that thought/ - too* my 'A5 out from my #ouh in a hurry!
Sa*urai3san already had her 'A5 on standby!
And my brother +asBem#ty handed/ .ust standing there!
,rom behind our +a*e/ t+o bla* shado+s ra#idly a##roahed in our
diretion!
5ol#hinsL Gi*e hell they +ereM
- ould identify those intuiti)ely!
"or#edoesML 1ithout any +arning +hatsoe)erML
As - +as fro6en/ my brother standing in front of me made an
ine8#liable gesture! &e raised his right hand out to sea/ at those
looming bla* shado+s!
1ithout a 'A5/ you do *no+ there2s no meaning in ma*ing the motions
rightL
()en if only in the least/ you2re still a magiian rightML
- +as ursing inside! ;ot only irritation at my brother imitating the
gestures +ithout *no+ing their true #ur#ose/ but irritation at his
#o+erlessness as +ell!
1ith those thoughts in my mind/ - loo*ed u# at Sa*urai3san! As =*aa3
sama2s Iuardian/ surely she +ould do something in #lae of my
brother2s uselessness/ and berate him for his esa#ismBbut!
- +as off!
,aster than Sa*urai3san ould ati)ate anything/ my brother/ li*e a flash
of thunder in the louds/ unleashed magi!
-t +as o)er so fast/ - didn2t e)en reali6e it +as a sign magi had been
in)o*ed for a moment!
0oth the tor#edoes san* to+ards the bottom of the sea!
As they san*/ the shado+s e8#anded! "he tor#edoes had disintegratedL
Nust +hat had this #erson done@@L
1ithout a magial aid or anything@@L
Page 71/219
As doubt and denial +arred in my mind/ the magiian inside me told me
this #henomena +as +ithout a doubt aused by my brother/ +ho had
used an unbelie)ably ad)aned magi to interfere +ith the information
struture of the tor#edoes and ahie)e an e8treme state of
deom#osition!
"his #erson/ +ho/ a#art from the ability to neutrali6e anotherPs magi/
should not ha)e any magial ability himself/ had@@L
'ould it be that -/ don2t atually *no+ the least bit about this brother of
mineL
-/ didn2t atually understand anything about him at allL
As Sa*urai3san ontinued to +or* magi under the +ater/ - sim#ly stared
at my brother2s ba*/ re)erted to the hild he seemingly a##eared to be
on the outside!
Page 72/219
Chapter 7
2095A+ November 6t% , Yotsuba Main House+ra$ing
room
"atsuya/ +ho had been loo*ing out the +indo+ until no+/ suddenly
loo*ed o)er at the door+ay!
1hile the house seemed li*e a traditional Na#anese house on the outside/
the inside +as an unsru#ulous om#romise bet+een (ast and 1est! An
a##ro#riate desri#tion may be a Na#anese31estern style mansion! "he
rooms +ere either #urely Na#anese or #urely 1estern!
"his dra+ing roomBthe 4audiene hall2/ +as 1estern style! "he
+all#a#er/ eiling/ floor and +indo+s/ along +ith the lighting and
furniture +ere all 1estern!
"he door+ay had a +ooden door!
,rom that door/ as "atsuya stared/ a 4*no* *no*2 noise #roeeded!
%iyu*i said 4ome in2 +hile still seated on the sofa/ and a )oie re#lied
4e8use me2 as the door o#ened! 1earing an a#ron o)er a *imono/ a
4maid2 a##eared! @@aording to the image of the house/ #erha#s
4meido2 +ould ha)e been more a##ro#riate/ but it +as diffiult to get
#ast that anahronisti im#ression!
"hat 4maid2 bo+ed dee#ly/ before standing aside!
0ehind her/ stood a man +earing a suit!
"hat man +as someone "atsuya *ne+ )ery +ell!
%iyu*i o)ered her mouth +ith a hand! -t seemed to ha)e dro##ed o#en
of it2s o+n aord!
1hile not to the same e8tent as "atsuya/ %iyu*i also tentati)ely *ne+
this man!
As the man entered the room the maid bo+ed again/ before lea)ing and
losing the door +ithout any e8#lanation! -t seems that she had only
been a guide!
>-t2s been +hile/ "atsuya! 1ell/ atually - guess it2s only been a +ee*!?
Page 73/219
>%a.or@@ +hy are/ no/ you +ere alled by our Aunt rightL?
As*ing for a reason/ "atsuya s+a##ed the 47uestion2 for a 4statement2
half+ay through! "here2s no reason for Ha6ama to )isit the $otsuba/ so
on)ersely/ it +as ob)ious the reason he +as here +as beause he had
been alled!
>"hat is orret! - had not heard that you2d be attending as +ell/
ho+e)er!?
>@!!- am sorry!?
"he one +ho had a#ologi6ed +as %iyu*i/ +ho had stood u# the moment
Ha6ama entered the room!
Ha6ama had sim#ly been stating a fat! &e +as not small3minded
enough to be u#set o)er suh a tri)ial matter!
Hno+ing that "atsuya had sim#ly shrugged/ but %iyu*i ould not so
easily #ut aside the bungling of her relati)es!
>-t is not something to be onerned o)er!?
Ha6ama and %iyu*i did not ha)e muh orres#ondene!
-n fat/ they had ne)er met +ithout "atsuya also being #resent!
1hih +as +hy Ha6ama/ in the #resene of a third #arty/ +as not 7uite
as fran* +ith %iyu*i as he +ould normally be +ith "atsuya!
;e)ertheless/ being in "atsuya2s #resene all the time/ he ouldn2t hel#
but thin* of her as sim#ly 4"atsuya2s little sister2!
Still/ +hile the number of times they2)e met is not as muh/ she had first
met him the same time as "atsuya!
"heir a7uaintane +ith Ha6ama/ s#rung from the e)ents of three years
ago!
Page 74/219
Chapter 5
2092A+ August 5t% , "#ina$a(i--a
0y the time the 'oast Iuard of the 5efense ,ores rushed o)er/ the
submarine had disa##eared!
Sa*urai3san +as fuming at ho+ utterly outrageous it +as that they hadnPt
notied it entering our territorial +aters/ but/ to be honest/ - +asn2t as
interested!
Cather than assigning blame/ - sim#ly +anted some rest!
;ot so muh for #hysial fatigue/ but mental e8haustion!
1e +ere as*ed by the #erson in harge of the 'oast Iuard that they2d
li*e a summary of the inident/ but - +asn2t in the mood at the time! ;ot
.ust me/ but both =*aa3sama and Sa*urai3san also felt the same! 1e told
him that if there +as anything in #artiular they +anted/ they ould
ome )isit/ and +e returned to the )illa!
Cight no+/ -2m lying in my room!
- had ta*en a sho+er/ but my head +as still unlear!
1hat lingered in my mind li*e storm louds in the rainy season/ +as the
magi my brother had sho+n! -f - +asn2t mista*en/ he had diretly
modified the information struture of the ob.ets and deom#osed them!
0ut as - reall/ diretly interfering +ith information strutures is
lassified as amongst the highest ran* of diffiulty in magi! ;e)er3mind
me/ it2s #ossible e)en =*aa3sama or Aunt +ouldn2t be able to do it!
And yet that #erson/ +ithout e)en using a 'A5@@
"hat #erson/ hadn2t he been remo)ed as a suessor andidate beause
he la*ed magial talentL
-t +as beause he ouldn2t use magi/ that he +as assigned as my esort
insteadL
As long as - an remember/ as +ell as from +hat -2)e been told/ aside
from the non3systemati anti3magi 4Iram 5is#ersion2/ - ha)e ne)er
seen him use any high le)el magi!
Page 7:/219
0eause he +as unable to use the systemati magi of mainstream
modern magi ade7uately/ he too* ad)antage of his high #hysial s*ill
and his s#eifi anti3magi ability to ma*e a #lae in the $otsubaBthat
+as su##osedly the reason my brother +as my Iuardian!
- donPt get it!
- don2t get it at all!
1e2re family/ siblings/ and yet - *no+ nothing +hatsoe)er!
()en the fat that - *no+ nothing/ - didn2t reali6e until today!
- +as a##alled!
'ome to thin* of it/ this is the first real tri# -2)e had sine beginning
.unior high!
- +onder/ +as yesterday the first time he had esorted me alone in the
truest sense of the termL
- had been si8/ and he se)en!
"hat +as the age from +hih my brother beame my esort/ and - +as to
be esorted by him!
-n the si8 years sine/ my brother has al+ays been my esort!
0ut there2s no +ay that you2d fully entrust the #rotetion of one +ho
may be the target of *idna# and assault to a #rimary shool *id!
- see/ so that2s +hy - didn2t *no+ that #erson2s true +orth/ his real
a#abilities@@
"hen/ +ho ould - as* to *no+ +ho that #erson truly isL 1ho really
*no+s himL
=*aa3samaL Sa*urai3sanL =r maybe AuntL
Nust as - found a lue to esa#ing the ma6e of my thoughts/ or so -
thought/ a *no* ame from the door!
'aught off guard/ - got off the bed in a hurry/ and as - ombed my hair/ -
as*ed +hat it +as!
>-2m sorry to disturb your rest! "he military is here/ and +ould li*e to
hear about the e)ent@@?
Sa*urai3san2s hesitant )oie ame from the other side of the door!
Page 76/219
>,rom meL?
As - o#ened the door/ - as*ed ba*! -t +asn2t terribly res#etful/ - *ne+
as - s#o*e/ but - really +as 7uite sur#rised!
>$es@@ - told them that "atsuya3*un and - ould ans+er any 7uestions
they might ha)e/ but@@?
Sa*urai2s e8#ression +as )ery a#ologeti/ e)en though it +asn2t her
fault@@
-f she ats li*e that/ -2m the one +ho2s going to be in #ain!
>- understand! Are they in the li)ing roomL?
Seeing Sa*urai3san2s nod/ - told her that -2d get hanged then be right
do+n!
"he soldier +ho ame to tal* +ith us identified himself as 'a#tain
Ha6ama &arunobu!
After finishing his introdution/ he +ent straight to the #oint!
>@@So/ did you diso)er the submarine by haneL?
>"he one +ho diso)ered the submarine had been the boat a#tain! -f
you2d li*e to *no+ the irumstanes onerning that/ you should tal*
+ith them!?
>5id you notie any harateristis that ould identify it2s registryL?
>-t +as submerged throughout! %a*ing out s#eifis +as im#ossible!
()en if it had surfaed ho+e)er/ - don2t *no+ muh about submarines!?
"he 7uestions and ans+ers +ere e8hanged bet+een the 'a#tain and
Sa*urai3san!
=*aa3sama seemed ontent to lea)e e)erything to Sa*urai3san/ and sine
- hadn2t been )ery om#osed at the time/ e)en if - +as inlined to s#ea*/
there +asn2t muh that - ould add!
>A##arently/ tor#edoes +ere firedL 5o you ha)e any idea +hy they
atta*edL?
>;one +hatsoe)erM?
Sa*urai3san seemed 7uite irritated! She had been dissatisfied +ith the
Page 77/219
res#onse of the military from the start/ and at this im#liation 4you guys
#robably did something to #ro)o*e them right2 7uestion +hih made
e)en me feel slightly hagrined/ it +as no +onder she2d beome angry!
>B- thin* you2re missing something!?
Still being glared at by Sa*urai3san/ the 'a#tain turned to fae my
brother! -t +as #robably sim#ly an at/ +ithout any dee#er meaning
behind it! A ne+ )enture/ in order to soften the lashing atmos#here
bet+een these t+o!
>-n order to lea)e no +itnesses/ it is #ossible to infer that #erha#s they
+ere trying to abdut us!?
%y brother2s ans+er ho+e)er/ +ent far beyond sim#ly learing u# any
disontent!
>AbdutL?
"he 'a#tain made an e8#ression of sur#rise/ yet intrigued at the same
time/ and urged my brother to e8#lain further!
>"he tor#edoes fired at our ruiser +ere foam tor#edoes!?
>=hL!!!!!!?
,oam tor#edoesL!!!!!! ,oam #roduing tor#edoes/ - guessL %eaning that
they #rodue bubbles@@L
>,oam tor#edoesL 1hat are thoseL?
Nust as - turned my head/ Sa*urai3san as*ed my brother in my #lae!
"he reason she didn2t as* the 'a#tain/ +as #robably beause she still
+asn2t fully o)er it yet!
>"he tor#edo +arhead is filled +ith hemials designed to #rodue large
7uantities of foam in a sustained reation! -n that froth3filled +ater/
#ro#ellers +ould be useless! A shi# +ith a high entre of gra)ity li*e our
sailing shi# +ould li*ely be o)erturned as +ell! -n doing so/ the target is
tra##ed/ and the re+ an be a#tured under the disguise of an aident!?
>1hy do you thin* soL?
"he 'a#tain +as loo*ing at my brother +ith great interest!
- +as sim#ly sur#rised that he *ne+ suh things!
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Page 79/219
>"he ruiser2s ommuniations had been .ammed! 5oing so is al+ays
mandatory if attem#ting to fa*e an aident!?
;otiing our ommuniations +ere disabled in a situation li*e that/
sur#rised me e)en further!
>@@Sorry/ but deduing their armament based on that alone/ is rather
+ea* in my o#inion!?
>;aturally/ - didn2t .udge based on .ust that!?
>$ou ha)e further e)ideneL?
>$es!?
>"hat isL?
>- refuse to ans+er!?
>@@?
0eing told that +ithout any hesitation +hatsoe)er/ the 'a#tain ouldn2t
seem to find anything to say!
1ell/ Sa*urai3san and - +ere s#eehless as +ell!
>5o you need e)ideneL?
>@@;o/ that +on2t be neessary!?
At my brother2s relentless #ae/ the 'a#tain seemed to be slightly at a
loss!
>'a#tain/ ould +e end soonL - don2t thin* there2s anything further +e
an say that +ould be of hel#!?
=*aa3sama/ +ho had until no+/ remained silent sa)e to introdue herself
earlier/ suddenly s#o*e in a bored tone!
A bored/ yet hard to resist tone!
"he 'a#tain immediately reognised that air of dismissal!
>,air enough! "han* you for your oo#eration!?
Saying so/ the 'a#tain rose and saluted!
%y brother and - sa+ the 'a#tain and his subordinates out!
A ar +as #ar*ed outside/ and ne8t to it/ t+o +ell onditioned soldiers
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stood to attention!
=ne of them/ u#on seeing my brother/ +idened his eyes in sur#rise!
- also remembered him! &e +as the bad soldier from yesterday/ one of
the 4Geft 0lood2s33
>- see!?
Seeing the loo* of astonishment in the soldier/ 'a#tain Ha6ama nodded
in understanding!
>$ou2re the boy +ho too* do+n NoeL?
At the 'a#tain2s +ords/ - refle8i)ely +ent on the defensi)e!
&o+e)er loo*ing at the 'a#tain as he laughed merrily/ it didn2t seem
li*e he held any tension +hatsoe)er! %y brother hadn2t reated at all!
>%astering the tehni7ue of -nner Stri*ing at suh a young age/ you2re
7uite the genius!?
5es#ite being srutini6ed from head to toe/ my brother didn2t sho+ a
hint of un+illingness at all! 0ut +hat is this 4inner stri*e2L
-t2s a )ery ad)aned sounding term@@
>Gane 'or#oral &iga*iM?
&a)ing his name shouted out in suh a loud )oie/ the bad soldier from
yesterday trembled and +ined!
<nder the 'a#tain2s strong ga6e/ he ran u# before him!
"he 'a#tain glaned at the man as he saluted and stood to attention!
"hen he turned to fae my brother/ and bo+ed!
>%y subordinate ated )ery rude to you yesterday! - gi)e my a#ologies!?
At this utterly une8#eted sight/ - +as om#letely lost for +ords!
1ith his arms folded behind his ba*/ legs a#art and head slightly
inlined it +as a rather slo##y bo+ from the )ie+ of #ubli ourtesy/ but
a rugged soldier li*e the 'a#tain/ for him to a#ologi6e so graefully to a
hild li*e my brother +as too o)er+helming!
>- am Gane 'or#oral &iga*i Nose#hM ,or my unbeoming ondut
yesterday/ - am )ery sorryM?
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,ollo+ing u# the 'a#tain/ om#letely different from yesterday Gane
'or#oral &iga*i tensely uttered those +ords as he in ontrast bo+ed
dee#ly!
-t seems he +asn2t really a bad guy!
,urthermore/ he seemed to be #retty terrified of the 'a#tain!
>B- ae#t your a#ology!?
-n the s#ae of a breath/ my brother ans+ered!
>"han* you )ery muhM?
- also had no ob.etion!
- hadn2t intended to s#ea* in the first #lae!
,ollo+ed by Gane 'or#oral &iga*i/ 'a#tain Ha6ama #roeeded to the
large o#en to##ed ar/ then sto##ed three ste#s a+ay and loo*ed ba*!
>Shiba "atsuya3*un/ +as itL At the moment/ -2m ser)ing as the instrutor
of an airborne magiian s7uad at =nna base! -f you2re free/ ome )isit us
sometime! -2m sure you2ll find something of interest!?
'a#tain Ha6ama s#o*e those #arting +ords and/ +ithout +aiting for a
re#ly/ limbed into the ar!
References
1. No real English equivalent; the idea of hitting your opponent in the
stomach and having the impact transfer all the way to the back.
Page 82/219
Chapter 9
2092A+ August 6t% , "#ina$a(i--a&"nna Air 0orce 1ase
=n the morning of the third day of our )aation/ a storm began to bre+!
"he s*ies +ere o)erast/ and strong +inds ble+!
-t seems a tro#ial storm +as a##roahing from the (astern sea!
A##arently by the time it blo+s u# here it +on2t ha)e the strength of a
ty#hoon/ but from the loo*s of it/ it2d ome #retty lose!
()ery hannel +as ad)ising it +ould be best to a)oid marine s#ots/ but -
don2t thin* anyone +ould be in a beah3going mood in this +eather
any+ay! 0oats +ere ob)iously out of the 7uestion!
1e2d be here for t+o +ee*s/ so there2s no need to o)erdo anything for
.ust these fe+ days!
>1hat are your #lans for todayL?
As she #assed freshly ba*ed bread to =*aa3sama/ Sa*urai3san as*ed that
7uestion!
>-n this +eather/ e)en sho##ing +ould be@@?
"ilting her head slightly/ =*aa3sama muttered to herself! %a*ing that
gesture/ she seemed almost li*e a girl in terms of uteness! -t +as .ust a
moment/ but she a##eared really young!
>1hat shall +e doL?
0eing as*ed in re)erse/ Sa*urai3san also eased eating and tilted her
head!
She also a##eared really young/ but unli*e =*aa3sama/ Sa*urai3san ga)e
more of an 4=nee3san2 li*e feel@@ although of ourse/ =*aa3sama is
far older in terms of age!
>&m@@ho+ about going to see a Cyuu*yuu daneL?
Saying so/ Sa*urai3san turned on the +all mounted dis#lay!
5eftly o#erating the handheld remote/ she brought u# a guide on
Cyuu*yuu #erformanes!
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>-t a##ears you an also try on the ostumes yourself!?
>Goo*s interesting! 1hat do you thin*/ %iyu*i3sanL?
>- thin* it also seems #retty nie!?
>-2ll arrange a ar! "here is one #roblem ho+e)er@@?
Seeing both =*aa3sama and - nod/ Sa*urai3san seemed rather somber!
>"he #erformane is for +omen only!?
Ah/ that2s true! -t ertainly did say that at the bottom of the )ideo!
"hen/ my brother@@
>- see@@?
=*aa3sama had ri##ed her toast into small #iees/ and +as #o##ing them
into her mouth one by one!
>@@"atsuya/ you an be free for the day!?
>$es!?
>$ou reei)ed an in)itation to the base from the 'a#tain yesterday rightL
"his +ould be a good o##ortunity to )isit!
$ou may be in)ited to .oin their training!?
>- understand!?
$ou an be free/ =*aa3sama had said/ but she had ended u# ordering him
after all!
1ithout sho+ing any dissatisfation +hatsoe)er/ my brother sim#ly
ae#ted it +ith his dead#an e8#ression
"he same as al+ays!
><m/ =*aa3samaM?
1hy - did suh a thing/ - don2t *no+ myself!
>'ould - go together +ith ;i/ ;ii3sanL?
%y li#s/ tongue and )oal ords ran off and said suh a thing! Q"he
reason - stumbled o)er #ronouning ;ii3san +as most li*ely beause in
my head/ - had al+ays been alling him 4brother2 or 4that #erson2 all the
time!
-t2s not li*e - +as ner)ous@@or anything!
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>%iyu*i3sanL?
- thought it +as #retty abru#t myself! As e8#eted/ =*aa3sama +as
shooting me a rather 7ui66ial loo*!
<uu/ so unomfortable@@M
>-/ uhm/ -2m also interested in +hat sort of training magiians in the
military go through/ and uh/ as a %istress - thin* - should find out more
about the abilities of my Iuardian@@?
>-s that so@@ho+ admirable!?
Saying the +ord 4mistress2 re7uired o)eroming onsiderable amounts
of resistane!
-n any ase/ - stood there +illing =*aa3sama to belie)e my des#erate
e8uses!
,or some reason/ - feel rather guilty@@
0ut/ - didn2t intend to lie! 33;e)er mind lying or not/ - didn2t e)en *no+
my true feelings!
>"atsuya/ it2s as you heard! $ou2ll be aom#anied by %iyu*i3san on
your tour of the base!?
>$es!?
>Nust *ee# one thing in mind! -n #ubli/ don2t go using honorifis or the
li*e +hen addressing %iyu*i3san! Cather than 4=.ou3sama2/ .ust
4%iyu*i2 is fine! Ations +hih ould lead to the diso)ery that %iyu*i3
san is a $otsuba &ead suessor is #rohibited!?
>@@<nderstood!?
"his time/ there +as a slight delay before my brother nodded!
-t +asn2t .ust my brother +ho e8#eriened onfusion!
- +as in a su#reme state of embarrassed be+ilderment! "he #art about
the 4andidate2 +ent straight o)er my head/ and instead/ my mind +as
filled +ith senes +here my brother +as alling me 4%iyu*i2!
>5o not misunderstand! "his is only e8#edient for deei)ing any
obser)ers +ho may be +athing! "here is no hange in the relationshi#
bet+een you and %iyu*i3san!?
Page 8:/219
At =*aa3sama2s +ords +hih brought a sense of disomfort/ my brother
sim#ly re#lied 4as you ommand2!

Although +e2re on )aation/ our hosts +ere in the middle of +or* in a
national institution! -n order to not be rude and derease e8#osure - +ore
a <F resistant see3through ardigan o)er a modest short slee)ed dress/
+hile my brother +ore a short slee)ed #olo shirt under his summer
.a*et +ith an*le length dress #ants +hen +e )isited 'a#tain Ha6ama at
the base!
>- am Sanada/ in the 5efense Army 5e#artment of 1ea#ons
5e)elo#ment!?
"he soldier +ho greeted us +hen +e arri)ed introdued himself! &is
ran* a##arently +as Gieutenant! &earing that/ my brother seemed 7uite
sur#rised!
1hy is it@@+hen he2s +ith other #eo#le/ he sho+s suh a +ide )ariety
of e8#ressionsL
>-s something the matterL?
>;o@@it2s .ust - didn2t e8#et to be guided by an offier! Also/ -
thought that this +as an air fore base!?
&earing my brother2s +ords/ the orners of Sanada3san2s mouth
t+ithed! -t felt li*e he had +armed u# to us a little!
>-t seems you ha)e some familiarity +ith the military/ don2t you!?
>%y martial arts master +as one in the army!?
>Ahh/ - see@@+ell/ the reason an army tehnology offier is in an air
fore base is beause my s#eialty is rather uni7ue/ and +e2re short here!
"he reason your guidane isn2t being left to a nonom is@@beause +e
+ere e8#eting you/ - su##ose!?
Gieutenant Sanada smiled affably as he s#o*e! &e +asn2t #artiularly
handsome/ but his features had a ertain harm +hih +ould #ut anyone
at ease!
&o+e)er for some reason my brother/ u#on seeing that smile/ seemed to
Page 86/219
go on guard!
Sanada3san led us into a high3eiling gymnasium! 0y gymnasium/ - refer
to the fat that that2s the losest im#ression - ould thin* of/ and it2s
#ossible that it has a different name altogether!
,rom the eiling +hih +as #robably about fi)e stories high hung a
large number of ro#es/ from +hih many soldiers +ere limbing u# to
the eiling then .um#ing off! "hey +ore no #arahutes! -t +as doubtful
+hether a #arahute +ould ha)e done any good at this height/ but
normally s#ea*ing fratures +ould be the least of their #roblems!
"his tehni7ue is Aeleration Systemati %agi5eeleration is
it@@
"here #robably +as around :0 #eo#le!
All the soldiers getting on then off the ro#es +ere magiians!
"he le)el of this s*ill +asn2t #artiularly high/ but it2s e8tremely
unli*ely that2s all they teah magiians at this base! ,or so many
magiians to be in one regional base@@this is truly the frontline
border!
- an also see the bad soldier/ err/ Gane 'or#oral &iga*i!
So that #erson +as a magiian@@
'a#tain Ha6ama +as +aiting for us! - an understand that he *ne+ +e
+ere oming based on him sending Sanada3san to #i* us u#/ but -
didn2t thin* he2d go as far as to lea)e su#er)ision of training to a
subordinate +hile +aiting!
;oBhe hadn2t been +aiting for 4us2/ but rather/ my brother!
>'oming this early/ an - inter#ret this as an interest in the militaryL?
1ith a lumsy smile on his rugged fae/ 'a#tain Ha6ama s#o*e to my
brother!
>- do ha)e some interest! &o+e)er/ - ha)e not deided on +hether - +ant
to beome a soldier!?
>1ell/ that2s to be e8#eted! $ou2re still a .unior high student rightL?
&is +ording different from yesterday/ - felt that he had some ulterior
Page 87/219
moti)esBalthough that may be a bit harsh!
>Nust reently!?
>$ou should be around 12/ no/ 13 rightL "hough/ you2re a #retty ool
ustomer!?
>- am 13!?
At the 'a#tain2s 7uestion/ my brother ga)e a safe ans+er! - ouldn2t hel#
feel a sense of sur#rise/ but - immediately #ut it do+n to my mis#laed
beliefs!
%y brother +as a honor student at shool! ;ot only in #rimary/ but e)en
in the .unior high he had .ust entered/ in e)erything unrelated to magi
he +as a #rodigy all the +ay!
&e ouldn2t really be said to be soiable e)en as flattery/ but he2s been
relied on in numerous situations by both lassmates and .uniors/ and
e)en one by a teaher!
-f he had been born into a family unonneted to magi!
-f he hadn2t been the ne#he+ of the $otsuba family head!
-f he +asn2t =*aa3sama2s son!
-f he +asn2t/ my brother!
@"here2s no #oint thin*ing about this/ is there!
-t2s the same as thin*ing/ +hat if - didn2t ha)e 4$otsuba2 %iya2s blood in
me!
1hile - +as lost in thought/ at some #oint/ it +as as*ed if +e2d li*e to
#artii#ate in the ro#e limbing training! =b)iously not me/ my brother!
>;o/ -2m not that good at magi!?
&earing him refer to himself in the first #erson 4-2/ my ba* tingled! 1as
that a aution from =*aa3sama/ to seem normalL
-t doesn2t really suit him@@no +ait/ that2s not the #ointM
><m/ ho+ did you *no+ about ;ii3sanL?
Again/ that strong a)ersion +hen attem#ting to s#ea* the +ord 4;ii3san2!
1hyL
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1hen it2s suh an indis#utable fat that this #erson is my brother!
>&o+ did you *no+ he +as a magiianL?
0ut sei6ing u# in a #lae li*e this +ould be too unnatural!
%ore than that/ this is im#ortant to me!
;ormally/ my brother does not +ear a 'A5! =f ourse/ he does not
arry traditional aids li*e harms or )R.ra either!
0oth =*aa3sama and - arried mobile terminal 'A5s/ so o)er these four
days/ the only one +ho ons#iuously dressed as and ould be told to be
a magiian should be Sa*urai3san!
5on2t tell me/ +e2re being obser)ed@@L
>@@Nust someho+/ - guess!?
'a#tain Ha6ama seemed to be sur#rised at being as*ed a 7uestion by
me/ and +ith a serious e8#ression ga)e a deidedly seemingly not
serious ans+er!
Nust someho+/ the he*2s thatL
-s he trying to dodge the 7uestionML
>-t2s not li*e -2m trying to hide anything here!?
33ML
At that timing/ almost as if he2d read my mind/ my fae stiffened!
>&a)ing seen ountless hundreds of mages/ it2s li*e - an read the air
about them no+! 1hether they2re magiians/ or not! 1hether they2re
strong/ or +ea*!?
-t2s no good/ - thought/ - an2t sto# the unrest from sho+ing on my
e8#ression!
>0y the +ay/ +hy +ould you as* suh a thingL?
"his is bad@@M
%y sensiti)e reation had aroused sus#iion!
()en though - had been told by =*aa3sama to *ee# my relationshi# +ith
the $otsuba under +ra#s!
>-2m sorry/ my sister has al+ays been sensiti)e about my #oor
Page 89/219
magi@@she2s more ner)ous than usual!?
33"o me +ho had lost my fous and didn2t *no+ +hat to do ne8t/ my
brother beame my shield!
>-s that so! $ou2)e a good sister!?
>"han* you! She is my #ride!?
>&aha/ you get along so +ell! -2m .ealous!?
- ould hear only biting sarasm in his +ords!!
0ut my brother/ had no suh intentions!
&e had only hel#ed me beause - had been in trouble!
-2m not so distorted as to not understand that!
0ut +hy/ +as he so onernedL
()en though my struggling for a re#ly/ +as no onern of his as a
Iuardian!
()en though *ee#ing the seret of the $otsuba held no benefit for my
brother!
()en though it2d only be me +ho +ould be solded!
So +hy +ould he o)er me as normal siblings +ould/ as a brother
#rotets his sister@@L
References
1. Lieutenant is not an air force rank.
Page 90/219
Chapter 10
2095A+ November 6t% , Yotsuba Main House+ra$ing
room
>Still/ a far greater enigma than e)er e8#eted!?
-n his on)ersation +ith "atsuya/ Ha6ama dro##ed a line seemingly
+ithout onte8t/ yet %iyu*i #i*ed it u# immediately!
>$ou understoodL?
>Nust +ho do you thin* - amL?
"atsuya/ bo+ing lightly +ith a +ry smile/ e8#ressed his a#ologies to
Ha6ama!
>- didn2t realise until - had been in)ited on site@@but barring the field
hos#itals on the front lines/ - had seldom sensed the smell of death so
densely before!?
At Ha6ama2s straightfor+ard e)aluation/ %iyu*i in)oluntarily raised her
eyebro+s!
At that li*ely unonsious hange in his sister2s e8#ression/ "atsuya
thought 4no +onder2!
>"hat2s beause this is the site of the infamous 4,ourth -nstitute2!?
>"he site of the deathly %agi Ability 5e)elo#ment ,ourth -nstitute
huh@@.ust loo*ing at the building here no+/ there2s no +ay to tell!?
5uring the rise of modern magi/ .ust as in other de)elo#ed ountries/
many researh and de)elo#ment institutions s#rang u# dealing +ith
magiians! 10 numbered institutes +ere set u#/ and no+ half of them are
still o#erating! "he remaining half/ as rights for magiians started to #i*
u#/ +ere losed do+n one by one for inhumane researh amongst other
reasons!
Amongst e)en these +as the institute +hose researh +as +his#ered to
ha)e disregarded human life and humanity itself/ the ,ourth -nstitute of
%agiian 5e)elo#ment/ or the 4,ourth -nstitute2!
5ue to the onfidentiality surrounding both the ,ourth -nstitute and it2s
Page 91/219
researh/ not e)en it2s loation had e)er been #ublily dislosed/ only an
announement that it +as to be shut do+n!
"he entre of the former ,ourth -nstitute/ +as loated right in the
basement of the $otsuba main house!
"he #roduts of the ,ourth -nstitute/ the magiians they de)elo#ed/ +ere
designated only +ith the number 4,our2Bthe $otsuba!
%agiians +ith the letter four in their family name/ aside from the
$otsuba/ are *no+n to inlude the 4$omo2/ 4Shihoudou2/ and
41atanu*i2/ but they are unonneted to the "en %aster &ouses and the
18 au8iliary houses!
>All their researh failities are in the basement after all! -t2s not .ust this
house/ but all the houses of this )illage +ere disguised #arts of the
,ourth -nstitute2s faulties!?
>So it seems! "he first time - *ne+ about it three years ago/ - +as 7uite
sho*ed as +ell!?
>1ell/ the ground failities are still used in order to test a magiian2s
#erformane/ and the martial arts gym es#eially sees muh use@@ the
smell of death the %a.or still senses/ are most li*ely no+ the bodies of
the magiians +ho didn2t ma*e the ut!?
>And so are the Iuardians of the $otsuba tem#ered/ literally side by side
+ith death! - see/ so that2s +hy you #eo#le need so little training after
.oining the military9 e)en the hildren are formidable!?
"he first time %iyu*i had heard/ she had atually blo*ed her ears!
;o+/ she is able to fae the truth!
0ut e)en no+/ the #ain +hih runs through her hest hasn2t disa##eared!
She +ill ne)er be able to get used to this #ain!
She herself ho#ed that the day she an sim#ly ae#t suh #ain/ +ill
ne)er ome!
References :
'our' and 'death' can have the same pronounciation in !apanese.
'"hi' can be read 'our' and '#eath' as well as '$hief' %e&emple ' "hiba(
Page 92/219
Chapter 11
2092A+ August 6t% , "#ina$a"nna Air 0orce base
Soon after our tour had begun/ the ro#e training ended!
After the ro#e training +as gra##ling! -t may ha)e been of interest for
those +ith affinity for martial arts/ but for someone li*e me +ho doesn2t
e)en gras# the differene bet+een *en#o and *arate/ - got bored rather
7ui*ly!
At this rate/ +ith us sim#ly s#etating/ there2s no +ay - +ill be able to
gras# my brother2s true abilities!
%aybe - ould sim#ly e8use myself early@@ no#e/ no good! -2m not
su##osed to se#arate myself from my brother/ and e)en if - did then it
defeats the #ur#ose of ha)ing ome here any+ay! ;ot to mention/ it
+ould sim#ly be too rude! -t2d be good if it2s someho+ #ossible to get
into a situation +here that #erson .oins in the training@@
"here2s no +ay he ould ha)e read my thoughts!
>Shiba3*un/ you2re #retty bored .ust +athing aren2t youL 1ant to ha)e
a goL?
1ith that in)itation from 'a#tain Ha6ama/ that #erson loo*ed o)er at
me!
>- guess so/ +e ame all this +ay so +hy not!?
Nust no+@@the fat that - +as bored/ did he see through meL
Poof/ the blood rushed to my head!
&o+ mean/ ho+ mean/ ho+ meeanM
1hy did he ha)e to go notie something he totally didn2t need to notieM
33that #erson didn2t so muh as ra* a smile/ yet here you are ha)ing
suh a hildish fit/ my inner )oie of reason admonished!
0ut my feelings ontinued to denoune him!
;i/ ;ii3san you idiot/ you should at least gi)e me a reason to get mad at
Page 93/219
youM
()en in my monologue/ the unomfortable sense of resistane at alling
him 4;ii3san2 didn2t om#letely disa##ear!
-n the first #lae/ truthfully s#ea*ing that term +ould ha)e been a more
a##ro#riate term of address for him/ or so it should be!
So .ust +hy@@L
-t seems - still don2t/ fully understand my o+n heart!
"he #artner alled u# for my brother/ +as a sergeant of medium build
loo*ing to be in his late t+enties or early thirties!
>Shiba3*un/ there2s no need to go easy! 0a* +hen he +as a student/
Sergeant "oguhi2s bo8ing s*ills +ere on the nationals le)el!?
()en +ithout magi/ he +as good enough for nationalsL
Sliding on his toes +ithout ste##ing/ losing the distane in small
inrements/ his stane felt more li*e *arate than bo8ing! - +onder if this
is =*ina+a2s bo8ing styleL =r is it the Air ,ore2sL
1hile - +as distrated by suh s#eulations/ the math +as o)er in an
instant!
"he time it ta*es to #roess thought! -n that one moment/ my brother
stru* out +ith his right arm!
"hat +as an image born from results!
1hat - really sa+ +as my brother someho+ im#ere#ti)ely suddenly
right ne8t to Sergeant "oguhi/ +ith his right arm e8tended!
"he Sergeant olla#sed +ithout a sound onto his *nees/ someho+ s#ared
from falling o)er any further than that!
>"oguhiM?
=ne of the +athing soldiers ran u# in a hurry/ and #roeeded to
administer D- thin*E first aid to the s+eating Sergeant!
Still standing +here he +as/ my brother lightly bo+ed!
5es#ite the fae he +as sho+ing res#et for the o##onent he had
Page 94/219
defeated/ it also ga)e off the im#ression he +as someho+ flaunting his
)itory!
>"his/ this is@@?
;e8t to me/ 'a#tain Ha6ama +as muttering! Gt! Sanada +as s#eehless/
staring +ith +ide eyes!
>'or#oral &aebaruM?
>SirM?
At the 'a#tain2s all/ a +ell s#irited soldier loo*ing to be in his mid 20s
ste##ed forth!
"he man +as slimmer than the Sergeant/ but there +as no im#ression of
frailty +hatsoe)er9 he had the image of a *nife forged through fire and
+ater/ hammered and +hetted/ until e)erything unneeded +as hi##ed
a+ay and all im#urities remo)edO sim#ly shar#!
>5o not e)en thin* of holding ba*! Io +ith your full #o+erM?
>$essirM?
Simultaneous +ith his ans+er/ 'or#oral &aebaru #ouned on my
brother!
"hat2s insaneM
"here2s no +ay you an math a soldier +ho has fought on the frontlines
against a 13 year old boyM
-ntending to shout out 4sto#M2! - o#ened my mouth!
0ut the atual +ords ne)er ame!
Sighs of admiration ould be heard oming here and there from the
audiene
"hat #erson +as fending off the 'or#oral2s onslaught +ithout any hint of
being in danger!
Punhes and *i*s sent out at a s#eed blurry to the eye/ +ere being
intere#ted at an e)en greater s#eed!
;ot by a little/ but by 7uite a bit!
>-t2s li*e he2s fought real battles before! "hat inter)al is the s#ae you2d
allo+ in ase the o##onent is holding something ba*!?
Page 9:/219
>Seems li*e it!?
- didn2t understand e)en half of the on)ersation bet+een the 'a#tain
and the Gt!/ but e)en my untrained eyes ould #erei)e that my brother
had the u##er hand!
"here +as no room for mista*ing the 'or#oral2s e8#ression!
()en as he atta*ed/ he +as des#erate!
AhM
"hat #erson ounteratta*ed!
0ut the 'or#oral +as no slouh either!
After intere#ting my brother2s #unhes right/ left/ right/ left/ from the
no+ e8#osed flan*/ a ounter33ML
- almost in)oluntarily losed my eyes/ but a #art of myself almly told
me 4there2s no need2!
"here2s no +ay that #erson +ould be ta*en out by atta*s of this alibre/
or suh!
"he moment it seemed that the 'or#oral had aught hold of my brother/
my brother had already sli##ed #ast to the 'or#oral2s side!
"hat #erson2s right hand e8tended/ and grabbed the 'or#oral2s right
slee)e near the to# of the elbo+!
$an*ing the 'or#oral my brother halted his o+n motion/ at the same
time turning 'or#oral &aebaru around so that his side +as e8#osed!
1ithout a sound/ my brother stru* out +ith his right elbo+!
1ith a groan/ the 'or#oral staggered for+ards t+o/ three ste#s!
"he 'a#tain2s shout of 4that2s enoughM2 +as the signal to end!
;o+ reei)ing treatment 'or#oral &aebaru and that #erson shoo* hands/
as #eo#le ro+ded around them!
As the #raise sho+ered do+n/ the 'a#tain ut in admist the throng!
-n the ga# left in his +a*e/ - follo+ed after the 'a#tain!
>1inning against 'or#oral &aebaru is 7uite the feat! &e2s one of the
strongest in the unit/ you *no+L?
Page 96/219
"he one +ho said this +as Gt! Sanada!
>- truly didn2t e8#et this degree of s*ill! 5id you reei)e some form of
s#eial trainingL?
'a#tain Ha6ama s+e#t o)er my brother +ith diserning eyes!
>;o/ nothing s#eial in that sense! -n terms of my strength/ there2s a do.o
at our mother2s #lae/ and - train there!?
>&ou@@?
1hile he didn2t seem om#letely satisfied/ the 'a#tain nodded/
a##earing to say 4- +on2t #ry any further for no+2!
>0ut at this rate/ the honour of the =nna Airborne 'or#s +ill be
rushed@@+ill you onsent to one more mathL?
-nstead of #rying/ the 'a#tain said something rather selfish! "he one
+ho had in)ited my brother to #artii#ate +as the 'a#tain himself! And
yet/ no+ that his men had been defeated he +ent and said something li*e
4losing honour2!
Saying that he must ha)e a math in suh a selfish +ay/ .ust ho+ far is
this going to goL
- tried to gently refuse the 'a#tain2s offer!
Sine my brother is my esort/ - had the right to refuse! - thought that!
>Please/ allo+ meM?
0ut - +as one ste# too slo+!
-nterru#ting me/ a )oie - *ne+ alled out! -t +as a )oie - had heard
reently!
>Gane 'or#oral &iga*iBif this is for the sa*e of re)enge/ - +ill ha)e to
refuse you!?
>-t is not re)enge/ it is )indiationM?
&o+ is that any differentL -t2s the e8at same thingM
"hin*ing he +asn2t suh a bad guy/ +as my mista*e!
>&umm@@+ell Shiba *un/ it2s as you heard/ are you +illing to ha)e a
math +ith himL Gane 'or#oral &iga*i is still young/ but he2s no less
e8#eriened than &aebaru!?
Page 97/219
Cefusing suh an offer +ould by no means be unreasonable! "here is no
benefit to doing this!
>- ae#t!?
5es#ite my thoughts being so/ that #erson +ent ahead and onsented to
the 'a#tain!
Gane 'or#oral &iga*i rouhed slightly/ raised both hands/ and loo*ing
e8tremely obser)ant faed that #erson!
5es#ite bending o)er a bit/ the Gane 'or#oral +as still taller than my
brother!
-t loo*ed li*e a boy +as about to be atta*ed by a bearBthat2s +hat the
the sene resembled!
Nust by loo*ing/ it feels li*e being rushed under #ressure!
0ut that #erson sim#ly slo+ly shifted from left to right/ balaning on the
left foot then the right/ +athing im#assi)ely his o##onent +ho +as
+aiting for a hane!
"hat )olatile atmos#here under +hih it +as diffiult to breath/ did not
ontinue for )ery long!
Gane 'or#oral &iga*i2s body seemed to s+ell for a moment!
"he ne8t instant/ the Gane 'or#oral2s body turned into a annonball and
tore to+ards my brother!
So fast@@M
1ith a huge lea# my brother dodged the harge/ but his stane olla#sed!
,ast as lightning/ the Gane 'or#oral stru* again!
Colling along the floor/ that #erson someho+ managed to dodge the
ta*le!
- +as absolutely stunned at Gane 'or#oral &iga*i2s s#eed! 0ut there
+as no +ay that e)en this +ould ma*e a suessor andidate to one of
the "en %aster &ouses/ the $otsuba/ sho+ an e8#ression of sur#rise!
><sing magi/ isn2t that utterly o+ardlyML?
- lashed out at 'a#tain Ha6ama!
;ot e)en - had notied +hen he turned on the s+ith to his 'A5! -t had
Page 98/219
been +ell disguised! 0ut the fat that he +as using magi itself/ +as not
something +hih ould be hidden!
"he Gane 'or#oral2s s#eed right no+/ is being dri)en by self3
aeleration magiM
At my #rotest/ 'a#tain Ha6ama sim#ly turned his head and loo*ed at
me!
"he ans+er/ ame from the diretion the 'a#tain +as still half turned
to+ards!
>"hat2s enough/ %iyu*iM?
%y brother2s +ords/ +ere a double sho* to me!
%y brother/ had gi)en me an order!
%y brother/ had alled me 4%iyu*i2!
>"here had ne)er been a rule that the use of magi +as not allo+ed!?
%y brother flatly asserted so!
Addressing me +ithout a title/ alling me %iyu*i +ithout honorifis/
though it +as all aording to =*aa3sama2s instrutions/ the deision to
re#ro)e me itself +as om#letely my brother2s deision!
%y brother/ of his o+n +ill/ rebu*ed my +ishful thin*ing!
At that/ rather than feeling anger or resistane/ a strange numb/ tingling
sensation +as born inside my heart!
>&iga*i/ lose in +ith areM?
;e8t to me/ no+ that - had fallen silent/ 'a#tain Ha6ama thre+ out
ommands!
As if - had .ust a+o*en/ - notied!
"he air surrounding my brother/ had hanged olour!
-t felt li*e the light +as dimming!
-t +as ob)iously an illusion!
%y brother +as e8erting suh a #ressure that an onloo*er +ould ha)e
Page 99/219
their )isual field onstrited!
%y brother hanged his stane!
&is right #alm faing the o##onent/ he e8tended his right arm straight
out!
&is left hand su##orted his right elbo+!
-s this/ the #osition for my brother2s non3systemati magi@@L
"he musles of Gane 'or#oral &iga*i2s +hole body seemed to s+ell
again!
"his time/ right at the moment my brother should ha)e di)ed out of the
+ay +ith both feetBat that instant!
,rom my brother2s right hand/ a torrent of #sions #oured forth!
"he #sion +a)e s+e#t through Gane 'or#oral &iga*i2s body/ and as
they did his harge slo+ed +ith a sna#!
"his is@@M Iram 5emolitionM
"he raging storm of #sion #artiles foribly o)er+helmed the self3
aeleration magi a##lied to the body/ and at the same time shoo* the
onnetions bet+een the mind and the body! Against a #erson s*illed
enough to ontrol his body not through eletrial ner)ous im#ulses but
rather diretly through his onsiousness/ the barrage of e8ternal foreign
#sions +re*ed e)en greater ha)o!
-t +as almost li*e/ Gane 'or#oral &iga*i had forgotten ho+ to ta*le!
As the Gane 'or#oral thre+ himself defenelessly at my brother/ my
brother sim#ly mo)ed aside and dealt one blo+!
&is bul*y body/ s#inning around one/ +as blo+n a+ay in an almost
omedi fashion!
%y brother +al*ed o)er to the side of Gane 'or#oral &iga*i/ s#ra+led
out on the ground loo*ing at the eiling!
"he Gane 'or#oral sim#ly lay there +ith his large hest hea)ing u# and
do+n/ sho+ing no sign of rising!
Page 100/219
Page 101/219
&olding out his right hand/ my brother +as e8#ressionless!
After .ust a moment2s hesitation/ the Gane 'or#oral too* that hand +ith
a grin!
&e #ulled on my brother2s hand!
5on2t tell me/ a tra#ML
"hat +as .ust me thin*ing too muh!
5es#ite their differene in body +eight/ Gane 'or#oral &iga*i +as able
to #ull himself u# and stand +ithout dragging my brother to the ground!
>33-t2s my loss! <tterly! - understand +ell no+ that inident the day
before yesterday +asn2t .ust me being aught off guard!?
&e +asn2t s#ea*ing in suh a loud )oie/ but for some reason - ould
hear Gane 'or#oral &iga*i2s +ords learly!
>Allo+ me to introdue myself again! - am Gane 'or#oral Nose#h
&iga*i/ =nna Airborne/ Sa*ishima Air 5efense 'or#s/ of the ;ational
Air ,ore in =*ina+a! 1ill you tell me your nameL?
>- am Shiba "atsuya!?
>=H/ "atsuya! Nust all me Noe! 5o you still ha)e a +hile in =*ina+aL
-f you2re e)er bored/ gi)e me a all! Although - may not loo* li*e it/ -
*no+ 7uite a fe+ #eo#le around here/?
>"hat2s enough/ Noe! 1e2re still in the middle of training!?
'a#tain Ha6ama alled out +hile laughing/ and reating as if sho*ed
Gane 'or#oral &iga*i stood to attention!
&mm@@ so he2s a subordinate +ho2s treated rather affetionately! -
su##ose that means/ he2s trusted@@L
&a)ing to hange my o#inion of this guy o)er and o)er is starting to
beome #ainful!
-n the first #lae it2s not li*e he2s someone -2m liable to meet often +ith/
and sine he2s someone -2m not li*ely to see again it shouldn2t really
matter to me +hat *ind of guy he is!
>-2m sorry for ha)ing as*ed so muh of you! 0eause of it/ it seems li*e
some of my subordinates ha)e had it rather rough as +ell! 1ill you
aom#any us for teaL -2d also li*e to in7uire about that 4tooate2 .ust
Page 102/219
no+!?
"ooate/ is #robably referring to my brother2s non3systemati magi!
%y feeling of unease +ent u# greatly/ but it +as im#ossible to refuse
suh an in)itation in this situation!
>So/ that #sion +a)e really +as Iram 5emolitionL?
>1as that really allL - belie)e there +as also some ontinental Anient
magi/ 4"endan2 in there as +ell!?
1hile tehnially they had in)ited us to tea/ +hat +as ser)ed instead
+as offee!
Sitting on one side is my brother and -!
=n the other side is 'a#tain Ha6ama and Gt! Sanada!
A offee brea* +ith four #eo#le!
Someho+/ the atmos#here feels a little strange!
'a#tain Ha6ama is tal*ing +ith my brother!
Gt! Sanada is also tal*ing +ith my brother!
As that #erson2s little sister/ - sim#ly sat in the ba*ground as #er my
instrutions!
&ere my brother is the #rotagonist/ and -2m .ust an aessory!
>Bfrom +hat -2)e seen Shiba *un/ you don2t arry a 'A5 around
rightL?
1hen they say the name Shiba/ they2re referring to my brother! - am
4Shiba *un2s little sister2!
>1hat are you using as an aidL?
"his is my first time e8#eriening suh a thing!
-t2s +eird/ yet not unomfortable!
>- do use a s#eialised 'A5/ but generally s#ea*ing it doesn2t really
ha)e the right feeling@@-2m bad +ith magi that re7uires a 'A5 to
ast/ after all!?
>=hh/ - see! -f you2re so omfortable +ith mani#ulating #sions li*e that
already though/ - don2t see ho+ using 'A5s ould #ossibly #resent a
Page 103/219
#roblem for you!?
"he to#i has already shifted from my brother2s non3systemati magi to
his 'A5!
>Shiba *un/ +ould you li*e to try the 'A5 -2m de)elo#ingL?
>Gt! Sanada de)elo#s 'A5sL?
>%y .ob is the de)elo#ment of magi e7ui#ment in general/ inluding
'A5s! "his one in #artiular is a #rototy#e 'A5 featuring artridges as
storage!?
- had the sudden feeling that my brother2s eyes +ere shining! -t +as a
fairly modest reation in om#arison to most #eo#le/ but for my brother
to sho+ so muh interest in something +as e8tremely unusual already!
>- +ould li*e to!?
"his is #robably the )ery first time/ -2)e seen him e8#ress his desire so
learly!
1e +ere ta*en to a #lae - don2t thin* +as in the base/ a lean and tidy
laboratory!
,or me/ +ho had been ertain that military bases +ere all dirty/ drab
#laes/ - +as not 7uite able to ontain my feelings of sur#rise! "he faint
smiles '#t! Ha6ama and Gt! Sanada +ore +hen they loo*ed o)er at me/
+as most li*ely beause of that!
%y brother loo*ed around in admiration/ or im#ression!
-t feels li*e today/ -2m seeing many sides of this #erson for the first time!
&o+e)er muh - had thought that this #erson +as indifferent to
e)erything/ e)en he must ha)e things he2s interested in@@
- +onder then/ .ust +hat does he thin* of meL
"hat 7uestion/ +as suddenly floating in my mind!
"he ans+er ame automatially!
5es#erately/ - fought against the sha*ing +hih threatened to +ra* my
body/ stiffening myself as muh as - ould!
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>@@%iyu*i/ are you feeling un+ellL?
%y body/ so so lose to trembling/ suddenly sto##ed at the sound of my
brother2s )oie! ;ot only my body/ e)en my heart almost sto##ed! "he
moment he alled my name/ %iyu*i/ had felt li*e he +as ans+ering the
the 7uestion - had been as*ing myself! Gi*e he +as oldly/ indifferently
affirming the ans+er - already had in my heart!
0ut my brother2s )oie didn2t seem oldBfor some reason it felt li*e it
+as filled +ith om#assion!
>Bno/ -2m fine! - guess -2m .ust a little tired! -f - sit do+n a +hile/ -2m
sure -2ll reo)er in no time! -s it alright if - go sit in that hair o)er
thereL?
As*ing the 'a#tain/ - +as allo+ed to sit do+n on a hair by the +all!
;o+ se#arated from my brother2s side/ - felt a little better!
%y brother +as holding a large #istol sha#ed 'A5/ and being instruted
by Gt! Sanada!
At the sight of my brother my earlier doubts reared their ugly heads
again/ ballooning/ and - leaned hea)ily ba*!
;o matter ho+ muh - sha*e and sha*e/ - annot erase them from my
onsiousness!
Nust +hat does my brother/ thin* of me@@L
- ha)e no onfidene it2s lo)e!
"here2s no +ay it ould be fa)our!
-t may be sim#ly/ that -2m hated!
-f - didn2t e8ist/ if only - didn2t e8ist/ my brother the honour student/ the
elite athelete/ #ossibly soon a full3fledged military magiian/ ould li)e
his o+n life!
$et/ right no+/ loo*ing a+ay from my brother/ as if letting go of his
hand/ as if being sha*en off/ +as something infinitely sarier!
Page 10:/219
>Bthe de)ie has aeleration and mo)ement om#ound se7uenes
inbuilt/ gi)ing the 7!62mm bullets a ma8imum range of 16 *mB>
>Bthat2s ama6ing! Still/ the atual #ratialitiesB>
;o+ holding a large3aliber rifle 'A5 and hatting a+ay ha##ily/ my
brotherPs )oie ame aross inoherently!
-n the same room/ unable to shut my eyes or blo* my ears/ - +as fored
to bear the haunting dar* louds misting my mind in silene!
A thought drifted by the ba* of my head/ +ishing this +ould all end
soon!
All the +hile/ to #re)ent my selfishness from a##earing in my
e8#ression/ - maintained a hollo+ #o*erfae as hard as - ould!
PStri*ing at a distaneP by #ro.eting your *i/ +ithout #hysial
ontat! Hinda li*e a &adou*en!
Page 106/219
Chapter 12
2095A+ November 6t% , Yotsuba Main House+ra$ing
room
<#on the sound of more *no*ing at the door/ %iyu*i turned around!
>%erely being a $otsuba Iuardian isn2t anything s#eial! %y o+n
oneit +as abrubtly brought to a lose by $anagi3san/ and -2m still
unable to +in against my master yet!?
"atsuya and Ha6ama ontinued the story %iyu*i +as remembering!
>- don2t belie)e you held any oneit from the beginning! Also/ -2m
unable to +in against him either as +ell!?
-t seems %iyu*i had only been s#aing out for a short #eriod of time!
Still/ to her/ it felt li*e she had realled a great many things!
"he *no*ing ame again/ stronger this time!
1hen %iyu*i let them in/ +ith a #olished 4e8use me2 a young butler
entered
Cather than young/ he +as more sim#ly still a youth! &e did not seem to
be muh different in age from "atsuya!
5es#ite that/ not allo+ing a hint of irritation or im#atiene to sho+ on
his fae/ he +as +ell trained indeed!
>- am )ery sorry!?
All of a sudden/ the youth began to a#ologise!
>"he business +ith our earlier assoiate is rather #rolonged@@ould
you #lease +ait .ust a +hile longer/ my lady re7uests!?
%y lady/ refers to $otsuba %aya!
She has ne)er married! "he term 4my lady2 is therefore tehnially
inorret/ but neither %iyu*i/ Ha6ama or "atsuya #ossess orreting
on)entional nomenlature as a hobby!
,or that matter/ e)en if they did/ for the sa*e of #oliteness su##lying a
more aurate term +as out of the 7uestion!
Page 107/219
>-t is not a #roblem!?
Auerying %iyu*i and "atsuya )isually/ Ha6ama ans+ered the youth2s
re7uest!
>"han* you )ery muh!?
"he youth did not bother )erifying "atsuya and %iyu*i2s onsent!
Setting aside "atsuya/ not e)en as*ing %iyu*i/ +as #robably beause as
a relati)e/ she +as onsidered one of the $otsuba!
"hat is not inorret!
"atsuya did not for a moment onsider himself a $otsuba/ but the same
annot be said for %iyu*i!
As muh as she is able to re.et being the eldest daughter of Shiba
"atsurou/ she annot re.et being the daughter of Shiba %iya!
"herefore she/ against her o+n desires/ annot re.et being the niee of
$otsuba %aya!
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Chapter 13
Common Era 2092, August 8 !"#na$a% &acat#on 'ouse
,rom the first day/ the =*ina+a )aation had had a turbulent
atmos#here9 yesterday/ tran7uility had been reo)ered! Cight no+ on this
day/ the time is also #assing 7uietly!
Although you ould all a boring summer )aation a #roblem/ - +ould
not +ant to endure a )aation +here - +as so +orn out from diffiulties!
At last/ after our arri)al in =*ina+a on the fourth/ +e +ere able to en.oy
our holiday in the South to the fullest!
&o+e)er/ - had doubt that Ani +as inluded in 41e2!
"he urrent time is 1O00 #m! -nstead of ta*ing an afternoon na# right
no+/ - am reading in my room! Sa*urai3san found a rare #a#er magi
te8tboo* for me and - am indolently )ie+ing it at my des*!
333it is good to be indolent! After all/ - #robably +ould be unable to
understand all of it any+ay!
=nly the most tehnial )olumes on magi are #rinted on #a#er/ and
e)en high shool students ha)e trouble getting a hold of them9 it +ould
be the height of hubris to thin* that -/ a mere middle shool student/
ould understand it by only reading it one!
&o+e)er/ that #erson .ust might be able to do it!
- reei)ed the im#ression that that #erson/ in short Ani/ had in his o+n
room a +or*station +here he had been enthusiastially ty#ing something
related to 'A5s on his *eyboard! "he 'A5s +ere the t+o gun sha#ed
ones he had reei)ed from Gt! Sanada the day before yesterday!
At first/ they used the +ord 4lend2 as they tal*ed/ but in no time/ it
beame 4gi)e29 - feel li*e there +as a ross e8amination about 4is this
o*ay/ doesn2t it belong to the national defense fore2! @@he said it +as
an in)estment for the future/ and it +as not the ase that - ould not
understand +hat he +as antii#ating! &o+e)er/ unfortunately/ his
in)estment is #redetermined to be a total loss! 0eause that #erson is my
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4Iuardian29 he +ill ne)er be any *ind of soldier!
"hat is no reason to refuse +hat an be alled a gift ho+e)er/ it is only a
#rototy#e after all! "here is no +ay it has any meaning beyond a
sou)enir gi)en to a )isitor that has a #romising future!
;o+ that - thin* of it/ that #erson seemed to really li*e reei)ing this
#resent!
"he day before yesterday/ yesterday and today/ he fiddled +ith the 'A5
system +hene)er he had free time! 333'an he do some *ind of 'A5
tuning/ - ha)e ne)er seen him do it/ still until no+ he has ne)er sho+n
me his ombat #ratie either! "he reason for that might be beause he
had no free time to rest!
- +onder if he has lost interest in itL
'ould fiddling +ith a 'A5 really be )ery interestingL
1ell/ e)en if you all it tuning/ he is #robably only at the le)el of using
s+ithes at assigned le)els ho+e)er@@!
0efore - reali6ed it/ - +as already standing in front of the door of that
#erson2s room!
<mm/ +hat did - ome here forL - #robably +ant something/ right!
-n my onfused state of mind/ my left hand that +as raised in order to
*no* on the door seemed li*e it belonged to someone else!
5ue to my onfused state of mind/ my left hand fro6e on the brin* of
*no*ing on the door!
Someho+ - feel as if - am #laying the #art of a buffoon +ithout an
audiene for my antis! ()en +orse/ a third rate buffoon!
- sighed and lo+ered my hand!
At that moment/ - +as about to turn on my heel and lea)e/ ho+e)er/ -
+as a little too late!
"he out+ard s+inging door o#ened +ith a soft lin*!
"he door +as o#ened in a +ay that too* in onsideration the fat that
there might be someone standing in front of it9 than*s to that - did not
end u# +ith my nose stru* by the door li*e a harater in a #oorly
+ritten sla#sti* omedy s*it/ but - had no leisure to #ut u# a #retense
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and flee!
>5o you need somethingL?
Ani +as ating as if he *ne+ - had been standing there333in essene/ he
*no+s it no+ right but333he as*ed that u#on sho+ing his fae!
>uh/ umm/ er@!!?
>yes?
Ani is +aiting #atiently on a re#ly from my inoherent self!
Although - all it +aiting it annot be diserned from his #o*er fae9
still/ he is +athing me! Ani2s om#osed ga6e inreased my
be+ilderment!
Jer/ is it alright if - ome inLJ
-n this situation/ - had unfortunately beome a bit hysterial that is to say
- +as o)erome by a sense of #eril9 before - +as om#letely
o)er+helmed/ - regrettably tried to foribly terminate it! After -
arelessly s#o*e/ - thought P+hat are you going to do after you enter the
roomMLP ho+e)er/ that +as +ay too late!
At that time/ my fae had #robably turned red! Ced faed and
so+ling333although - ne)er intended to be glo+ering at him/ but3333in
res#onse to me +ho +as staring at him fi8edly/ that #erson naturally
+idened his eyes but dis#layed no other sign of disturbane! &e #ushed
the door a+ay and in)ited me inside!
As usual his room +as #lain33that is to say there +ere not many things in
it!
1ithin that deserted interior/ the funtional +or*station made its
#resene *no+n +ith a loud )oie!
>;o+/ +hat e8atly do you needL?
- ould not ans+er Ani2s 7uestion!
At that time/ my onsiousness +as dra+n to the blatant ode dis#layed
at the +or*station that +as onneted to a half disseted 'A5! the
monitor +as rammed +ith an enumeration of numbers and letters!
5oesn2t this room loo* .ust li*e a 'A5 de)elo#ment lab@@@
"o be honest/ - lost my ner)e! &o+e)er/ the ne8t +ord Ani s#o*e s+iftly
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dre+ my onsiousness ba* to him!
>=.ou3sama?
>5on2t all me =.ou3sama?
-n res#onse to me +ho had yelled/ Ani fro6e in sur#rise!
,or this #erson to loo* li*e he +as at a loss for +ords is really unusual/
but - do not thin* it strange!
After all/
%y )oie .ust no+ +as li*e a +ail!
"he )oie sounded as if - +as about to burst into tears!
>uh@!!?
>@@@!?
>um/ er@!!that2s rightM -f you do not get austomed to s#ea*ing to me
normally no+/ you might sli# u# une8#etedly later on some+here else/
rightL?
Ani2s e8#ression s+ithed from 4sur#rise2 to 4sus#iion2!
"he mistrust in his ga6e rushed me/ but - +hi##ed out a really bad
e8use through sheer +ill#o+er!
>So #lease all me/ %i3%iyu*iM? &o+e)er/ that +as as far as - ould go!
1hen at last - finishing s#ea*ing that +as my only thought as - s7uee6ed
my eyes shut!
Gi*e a hild afraid to be solded/ - gras#ed at the #loy of losing my
eyes and bo+ing my head!
Although - did not *no+ +hat - feared/ - +as indeed li*e a hild +ho
unonditionally feared a #arent2s disa##ro)al!
>@!!got it/ %iyu*i! -s that allL?
Ani2s re#ly +as gentle!
-t +as not his usual adult li*e formality9 he s#o*e asually as if he +as
s#ea*ing to a friend!
Ani #robably s#o*e to #eo#le other than me li*e shool friends and
underlassmen in that tone of )oie and informal language!
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Ani +as ga6ing at me +ith gentle eyes +hile s#ea*ing to me in a gentle
manner!
>@!!that is all?
- am indeed about to burst into tears this time!
-t is all - an do to hold ba* my tears!
>(8use me/ - am going ba* to my room?
Sine - did not ha)e the endurane to do it for long/ - esa#ed Ani2s
#resene!
"a*ing refuge in my o+n room/ - buried my fae in a #illo+!
After all/ - had unfortunately been a+are of it!
"hat gentleness had only been an at! ()en the asual +ords that a
brother +ould naturally diret to+ard his sister in a normal sibling
relationshi# +ere only the out#ut that ame from old alulation!
- had no e)idene to ba* my unfortunate onlusion!
0ut/ sine - am that #erson2s sister!
-t is only at these times that - an feel the bitterness of ommuniating
through the bonds of siblings as - try to *ill the sound of my +ee#ing!
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Chapter 14
2092A( August 11th !"#na$aA#rforce )ase * &#++a
"he t+o days after that #assed by normally!
"hat #erson follo+ed me around as al+ays/ and - treated him the same
as al+ays!
- thought -2d try being nier to my brother! Qno/ - still thin* so!
- thought that if - did so/ something might be hanged!
0ut it only ser)ed as a onstant reminder that habits/ one ingrained/
annot be so easily orreted!
$esterday/ and the day before/ - again as al+ays/ treated him selfishly!
"here are se)en days left of our t+o +ee* )aation! -n those se)en days/
- +ill most li*ely treat him the same again and again! - annot o)erome
myself!
@@if it +ere one +ee* ago/ - +ouldn2t e)en ha)e notied!
Nust +hat/ is ha##ening to me!
- don2t understand myself! - don2t understand +hat it is - desire!
-n a state of melanholy/ - su##osed - had to #ass this day as +ell +ith
suh thoughts louding my mind!
0ut/ ha##ilyBsaying so may be far too im#udent yet/ it seemed that
+ould no longer be the ase!
- no longer ha)e the lu8ury of suh thoughts!
Nust as - +as finishing brea*fast/ emergeny alerts started blaring from
all the de)ies and e7ui#ment around!
"he ones issuing the alarm +ere the armed fores!
-n other +ords/ an atta* by a foreign #o+er!
- stared intently at the sreen/ as if to de)our it!
>An in)asion is under+ay from the 1est sea?
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>"here has been no delaration of +ar?
>"he atta* fore is a fleet of ballisti missile submarines?
>'urrently/ they are semi3submerged and atta*ing the Herama -slands?
At that flood of unfamiliar +ords #ani threatened to o)er+helm me!
"he only +ords +hih stu* +ere 4ballisti missile submarine2! 1as the
submarine +e enountered on our ruise a harbinger of this e)entL
>Please allo+ me to on)ey this to %aya3sama as soon as #ossibleM?
Sa*urai3san ould not hide her im#atiene as she made her re7uest/
>$es/ #lease do!?
And as she nodded/ neither ould =*aa3sama hide her ner)ousness!
- thought/ no +onder!
- myself ertainly hadn2t onsidered that +e2d suddenly find oursel)es in
the middle of a +ar +ith no +arning!
"he "F anhor from earlier +as ma*ing re#eated alls for e)eryone to
4#lease stay alm2/ although he himself didn2t e8atly loo* the #iture of
om#osure either!
=f ourse! Saying something li*e 4don2t #ani2 in a situation li*e this is
far more ludirous!
"he reason - +asn2t truly #ani*ing/ +as beause - sim#ly didn2t ha)e
that sense of reality! - thin* - sa+ e)erything as if it +ere someone elsePs
#roblem/ and *e#t myself in a sort of esa#ism!
0ut@@+hat about this #ersonL
%y brother/ reading in silene from a small terminal ra#idly srolling
+ith data far more detailed than the "F re#orts/ seemed to ha)e
mis#laed his human emotions suh as agitation and tension else+here!
-n a alm atmos#here/ seeming as if onsidering all this a mere
intelletual e8erise/ if someone had alled him a om#le8 android -
might ha)e e)en been inlined to agree +ith them!
5oes my brother not feel that this is really ha##ening/ the same as meL
=r does he really/ sim#ly not feel anything at allL
Page 11:/219
As - stared/ my brother made an 4ohL2 fae!
Nust as - +as thin*ing J+hat is itLJ/ my brother too* a ommuniation
terminal out from the breast #o*et of his summer .a*et!
>$es/ this is Shiba@@no/ - should be than*ing you for the other
day@@to the base/ you sayL?
,rom his res#onse/ - guessed that the ones on the line must be our reent
a7uaintanes from the 5efense ,ores/ the 'a#tain and his s7uad! 0ut
the base should be in a state of +ar at the moment/ +hat ould it
#ossibly beL
>- a##reiate the offer/ but@@no@@yes/ -2ll try tal*ing +ith my
mother@@alright/ -2ll ontat you later!?
As he finished the all/ it +as no longer .ust me staring at my brother!
"urning to =*aa3sama +ho +as seated on the ouh/ my brother stood
u# and bo+ed!
>%adam!?
,aing his real mother/ that #erson addressed her so!
1hy at suh a time does that #ain ome ba* to me/ as if s7uee6ing my
heart!
"his #ain +hih - had ne)er felt before one +ee* ago!
>1e ha)e reei)ed an offer from 'a#tain Ha6ama at =nna Air ,ore
base/ to shelter in the base!?
>(hML?
-n)oluntarily/ - let out a sound!
&e2s only met us t+ie/ and truly only one/ so +hy@@L
<nbelie)able things +ere #iling u# one after the other/ so that my
emotions +ere almost saturated/ but the sur#rises didn2t sto# there!
>%adam!?
Sa*urai3san held out a ordless )oie ommuniation unit/ a so alled
4handset2!
>-t2s a all from %aya3sama!?
"his time not e)en an 4eh2 ame out!
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A all from AuntL
"o =*aa3samaL
=*aa3sama and Aunt are t+ins/ and generally s#ea*ing it2s not too
unusual for them to all but@@that =*aa3sama and Aunt don2t get
along terribly +ell/ is an o#en seret amongst the $otsuba!
"hey don2t o#enly ome to blo+s/ but their relationshi# is some+hat
li*e the 'old 1ar!
1hih +as +hy .ust earlier/ +ithout e)en =*aa3sama ontating
her@@
0efore my eyes/ a different sort of ner)ousness a##earing on her fae/
=*aa3sama too* the headset!
>&ello/ %ayaL @@yes/ it2s me! @@- see! - guess you2)e been using
your influene@@ but/ +ouldn2t mo)ing be dangerousL @@-
su##ose@@alright! "han*s!?
After finishing tal*ing/ =*aa3sama handed the headset ba* to Sa*urai3
san!
>%adam! 1hat did %aya3sama ha)e to sayL?
"a*ing the headset/ Sa*urai3san as*ed that natural 7uestion!
>She has arranged for us to shelter +ith the 5efense ,ores!?
>"hen/ the all "atsuya3*un reei)ed .ust no+!?
>"hat +ould be it/ it seems!?
>0ut/ +ouldn2t mo)ing be dangerousL?
>"hatPs +hat - said/ but?
@@+hyL 1ouldn2t a military shelter be sturdier and safer than a #ri)ate
oneL
>Although +e are not in an offiial state of hostilities/ against an
o##onent +ho +ould launh a sur#rise atta* li*e this/ e8#eting them to
om#ly +ith all the rules of +ar +ould be too muh of a lea# of faith!?
>"hat@@- guess so@@?
Seeing =*aa3sama and Sa*urai3san/ then my brother2s grim e8#ression/
it2s li*e -2m the only one +ho doesn2t understand the situation! As*ing
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them to e8#lain e)erything bit by bit +ould be demeaning ho+e)er@@-
guess -2ll .ust *ee# 7uiet for no+!
>Although it +ouldn2t ha)e been too diffiult/ she did ma*e the effort/ so
let2s try doing as %aya says! "atsuya?
>$es!?
%y brother/ +ho had been left standing all the +hile/ reated +ith a
sna#! @@sine the #erson himself +asn2t ma*ing a dissatisfied fae/
surely there +as no reason for me to be feeling this!
>'ontat the 'a#tain and tell him/ +e ae#t! Also/ re7uest a #i*u# if
#ossible!?
>'ertainly!?
-t almost seemed to me as if e)erything #etty +as being #ushed onto my
brother/ but/ -2m sure that +as .ust me o)erthin*ing things!
Someho+/ - had #redited this!
"he soldier +ho ame to ta*e us to the base/ +as none other than Gane
'or#oral Nose#h &iga*i!
>"atsuya/ sorry to *ee# ya +aitingM?
>Noe/ than*s for oming all this +ay!?
>'2mon man/ there2s no need to be so formal!?
Gane 'or#oral &iga*i ga)e a bright heerful smile!
%y brother in ontrast loo*ed slightly reser)ed/ but +as still far more
e8#ressi)e than usual!
;o matter ho+ you loo* at it/ the attitude he direted to this Gane
'or#oral +hom +e had .ust reently met +as far friendlier than that he
e)er had to+ards our family!
=*aa3sama2s furro+ed bro+ +as no doubt in disa##ro)al to+ards this
rude beha)ior!
-t ouldn2t #ossibly be that she +as dis#leased that my brother +ould
o#en u# more to others than his o+n relati)es rightL
1hether notiing =*aa3sama2s dis#leased e8#ression/ or Sa*urai3san2s
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im#atient manner/ Gane 'or#oral &iga*i sto+ed the familiar attitude
and/ sna##ing to attention/ ga)e a salute!
>0y order of '#t! Ha6ama/ - am here to #i* you u#M?
>"han* you for your efforts! Please ta*e us there!?
>%a2amM?
As the Gane 'or#oral deli)ered his message in a some+hat more
enthusiasti manner than stritly neessary/ Sa*urai3san re#lied +ith a
bit of a +ine!
Gane 'or#oral &iga*i sho+ed no sign of notiing!
@@truth be told - had +ished - +ere more +orried earlier/ but no+ -
+as able to at least understand a bit better +hy they +ere onerned
about getting to the base!
"he roads +ere flooded +ith e)auating i)ilians/ the blaring of the
stu* military )ehile2s horn lost amidst the ruible of haosB+as a
sene - didn2t see!
As if the island +ere 7uietly holding its breath/ the only )ehiles on the
roads +ere dar* toned military ones!
"he atmos#here/ rather than a state of alarm/ seemed more li*e a state of
martial la+! Qalthough -2)e only e)er seen both in )ideos before/ so -
don2t e8atly *no+ the truth!
Ciding in a 5efense ,ores ar/ +ithout one being sto##ed at a
he*#oint/ +ithout one oming under atta* from an enemy/ +e
reahed the base une)entfully!
An hour had already #assed sine the atta* began/ and des#ite being
ta*en by om#lete sur#rise by the yet unidentified enemy/ the ;a)y and
Air ,ore seemed to be managing to hold them off at the shore!
<nless you had intel from the atual island in 7uestion/ you2d ha)e no
+ay of *no+ing anything +as atually ha##ening and sim#ly ha)e to
ta*e the military2s +ord for it!
Sur#risingly/ +e +eren2t the only i)ilians +ho had been e)auated to
the base!
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Although it +asn2t 7uite in the hundreds/ the number of #eo#le here
seemed #retty lose!
-n addition to us/ fi)e other i)ilians had been guided to this
underground shelter!
-t2s none of my business/ but - an2t hel# +ondering that onsidering the
threat of enemy atta*/ is it really o*ay to in)ite suh a large number of
unrelated and useless #eo#leL
Perha#s/ e)en +eBe)en -/ +ill end u# ha)ing to fight!
- annot .ust rely on Sa*urai3san! =*aa3sama/ still reo)ering/ +as
seated on a ouh/ and it +ill be Sa*urai3san2s duty to defend her!
<ntil today - ha)e ne)er had the e8#eriene of battle/ but my ombat
magi abilities ha)e been .udged to be no less than those of a gro+n
magiian!
"hat +as Sa*urai3san2s .udgement/ so it2s reliable enough!
$et that alone +asn2t enough to dis#el my an8ieties/ and subtly/ -
glaned o)er at the neighboring seat!
%y brother had sat do+n on the hair ne8t to mine!
;ormally he2d al+ays stand .ust a bit aside or behind me/ but no+ +e
+ere sitting ne8t to eah other so as to not dra+ any attention!
-n his breast #o*et/ t+o 'A5s +ere hidden and ready for use at any
time!
-2m unsure if this #erson has anything +hih ould be onsidered
4ombat e8#eriene2 either/ but unli*e me/ he has had #lenty of
e8#eriene *illing #eo#le!
-t +asn2t some #altry number li*e fi)e or ten either!
- had not )erified suh senes +ith my o+n eyes/ but sine there2s no
benefit in lying to me about it/ it2s definitely the truth!
-n su##ort of that e8#eriene/ my brother maintained #erfet om#osure!
&is eyes didn2t +ander ner)ously/ nor did his body tremble!
Goo*ing at my brother/ my an8iety melted a+ay .ust a little!
=ne more@@thin*ing that/ - loo*ed o)er again!
Page 120/219
,or some reason/ our eyes met!
(hL (hL 1haL 1hyL
>Are you alright/ %iyu*iL?
@@M
As agreed three days ago/ that #erson alled me 4%iyu*i2!
<nli*e that time/ not #retend3friendly/ but a soft/ gentle )oie!
>-2m right here!?
@@that2s/ heating@@M
- don2t *no+ +hat e8#ression - should ma*e!
- don2t *no+ +hat e8#ression -2m ma*ing right no+!
&eyM Iet a gri# meM "his is .ust the sus#ension bridge effetM Gi*e a
horror houseM Sto*holm syndrome@
@is some+hat different from this situation/ but any+ay/ it2s all in my
headM
Seriously/ no+ of all times/ hitting on your atual sister is +ay too
ina##ro#riateM
&e himself #robably had no suh intention/ but that2s totally irrele)ant/
no rather/ that2s .ust infuriatingM
- glared at my brother!
5oing so my brother/ abru#tly rose from his hair!
(hL 1as - really/ ma*ing suh an un#leasant faeL
33atually/ as if not allo+ing my idealisti nai)ety to #roeed any further/
e)ents +ere #roeeding at a ra#id #ae! - found that out soon enough!

Page 121/219
Page 122/219
-t +asn2t .ust my brother +ho had suddenly stood u#!
=ne breath later/ Sa*urai3san also *no*ed aside her hair!
"he strangers seated +ith us/ +earing startled e8#ressions/ stared at
Sa*urai3san and that #erson!
>"atsuya3*un/ that +as@@?
>Sa*urai3san/ you heard it as +ellL?
>"hen/ there really +ere gunshots@@M?
>-t +asn2t a #istol but full auto/ #robably an assault rifle!?
@@ehL "hat means/ the enemy is hereML
1hyL
-sn2t this right in the heart of a military baseL
>5o you *no+ the situationL?
>;o/ from here is@@the +alls of this room/ a##ear to blo* magi!?
>$es@@it seems/ a traditional barrier magi has been ereted! ;ot .ust
this room/ but the entire building has been o)ered to #re)ent magial
reonnaissane!?
>1e an still use magi .ust fine +ithin the room ho+e)er!?
Sa*urai3san sho+ed agreement to my brother2s +ords!
- had had no idea@@
>&ey/ y3you guys are magiiansL?
<ne8#etedly/ a man sitting a little a#art from us alled out to Sa*urai3
san and my brother! &e +ore +ell ut lothes/ and a##eared to be a man
of status! "he ones sitting +ith him +ere li*ely his family!
>$esL?
At that sudden )oie/ Sa*urai3san ans+ered in a dubious tone! "he man
ontinued in a rather #om#ous manner/ although - thin* it +as mainly
bra)ado!
>"hen/ ha)e a loo* at +hat2s going on!?
@@the he*L
-t2s li*e he2s tal*ing to some em#loyees!
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"hat2s so@@M
>@@+e are unaffiliated +ith the base!?
Sa*urai3san also re#lied in an offended tone!
<nder duress it seems one2s true nature sho+s itself/ but there is no
obligation to engage +ith total strangers/ es#eially ones +ho hold no
interest to you/ she +as #robably thin*ing!
&o+e)er/ Sa*urai3san2s natural #oint +as lost on this man!
>"hat2s irrele)ant! $ou lot are magiians rightL?
>$es/ - said +e +ere!?
"his man +asn2t e)en listening to Sa*urai3san2s +ords!
>"hen isn2t it your natural obligation to ser)e humansL?
@@M
;o +ay/ for #eo#le to still say suh things +ith suh old
on)ition@@
;ot to mention/ right to a magiian2s fae@@M
>5id you really mean thatL?
%enae re#t into Sa*urai3san2s )oie! &er eyes +ere already narro+ed!
()en that man flinhed slightly/ but his rant didn2t sto#!
>-3in the first #lae/ magiians are 4things2 reated to ser)e 4#eo#le2! So
it shouldn2t matter +hether you2re military or not!?
%y sho* and anger +ere too strong for +ords!
"his man had .ust uttered the uns#ea*able!
0ut the sad truth is/ there are still numerous non3magiians +ho thin*
suh things!
>- see/ yet e)en assuming that +e are indeed reated e8istenes?
Ce#lying in my #lae +as my brother +ho had until no+ let Sa*urai3san
do the s#ea*ing!
&is tone +as neither u#set nor angry/ but merely old and ynial!
>1e are under no obligation to ser)e you!?
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>1haML?
>%agiians/ as e8istenes +ho ser)e soiety and #ubli order/ are not
re7uired to follo+ the +hims of one un*no+n indi)idual!?
"o ser)e soiety and #ubli order is a #hrase in the 4'harter of the
-nternational Assoiation of %agi2 +ell *no+n e)en to non3magiians!
=f ourse/ this man li*ely *no+s it as +ell!
>$3you im#ertinent hildM?
&ene/ this reation!
"hat man yelled red faed at my brother!
Goo*ing at my brother2s eyes/ they +ere filled +ith ontem#t and #ity!
>&onestly@@as an adult/ aren2t you ashamed to at li*e that in front of
your hildrenL
Although they had used the same +ord 4hild2/ the meaning +as
om#letely different!
"he un*no+n man loo*ed ba* at his family +ith a start!
&is family +as loo*ing ba* at him!
&is o+n hildren/ seeing his hildish outburst/ stared at him in ontem#t!
"o the trembling man2s ba*/ my brother deli)ered the ou# de grSe!
>$ou seem to be misunderstanding something@@in this ountry/ more
than 80T of magiians ame about through lineage and anestry! ()en
inluding #artial treatment/ the number of biologially 4made2 magiians
does not e)en reah 20T!?
>"atsuya!?
0ringing matters to a lose +as =*aa3sama! She most li*ely didn2t ha)e
any suh intentions though!
S#ea*ing in a languid )oie from the sofa/ =*aa3sama alled my
brother2s name! %y brother too* his eyes off the trembling man2s ba*!
>1hat is itL?
>Io see and re#ort on the situation outside!?
As usual/ my mother ga)e instrutions in an indifferent tone!
Page 12:/219
0ut unusually/ my brother fro+ned!
>@@more than *no+ing the situation outside is the #ossibility that
harm may befall you in here! -n my urrent state/ - annot #rotet
%iyu*i from a remote loation!?
>%iyu*iL?
-n a old )oie/ =*aa3sama ut through my brother2s ob.etions! &er
eyes/ frigid/ narro+ed!
>"atsuya/ do you remember your #laeL?
=nly her tone remained ourteous9 her )oie trembled along +ith her
ba*! %y brother alled me %iyu*i/ beause - had +ished it! $et hearing
=*aa3sama2s soft im#erati)e )oie/ - ouldn2t e)en s#ea* u# in his
defense!
>B%y a#ologies!?
%y brother a#ologised +ith a +ord/ and didn2t s#ea* u# any more!
>@@"atsuya3*un/ lea)e this #lae to me!?
0rea*ing into that a+*+ard atmos#here/ Sa*urai3san s#o*e u#!
Gosing interest/ =*aa3sama loo*ed a+ay!
><nderstood! -2m going!?
0o+ing in =*aa3sama2s diretion/ he left the room!
;either my brother/ nor =*aa3sama/ so muh as s#ared one glane at the
man2s family as they loo*ed on +ith frightened eyes!
- an hear sounds li*e firera*ers oming from outside!
=f ourse/ there2s no +ay they2re ha)ing a festi)al out there!
"he sound of shooting is audible e)en to me no+!
And it2s not .ust gunshots +hih are getting loser!
A number of footste#s a##roahed the room/ and sto##ed outside!
Sa*urai3san ste##ed in front of =*aa3sama and -!
&er braelet 'A5 +as harged +ith #sions/ ready to de#loy magi
immediately!
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-t2s diffiult to maintain a ready state for a #rolonged #eriod of time li*e
this9 Sa*urai3san2s tehni7ue really is 7uite something!
- an only see her ba*/ but she +as #robably glaring shar#ly at the door!
>(8use meM - am P,' Hin.ou/ Airborne seond s7uadM?
Although maintaining her alert state/ - ould tell Sa*urai3san2s tension
dereased slightly! - +as also relie)ed to hear )oies on the other side of
the door!
-t seems li*e they2re soldiers from the base!
Standing behind the door +hen it o#ened +ere four young soldiers! "hey
all seemed to be seond generation Geft 0loods/ but - +asn2t #artiularly
onerned! -t +as .ust the nature of the base2s loality!
"heir mahine guns being tinged +ith heat +as #robably a result of
rushing here +hilst e8hanging gunfire +ith the enemy!
>1e are here to ta*e you to an underground shelter! ()eryone/ #lease
follo+ us!?
"hey +ere e8#eted +ords/ yet - hesitated! -f - lea)e no+/ -2ll beome
se#arated from my brother!
>-2m sorry/ but one of us +ent out to see the situation outside!?
0efore - ould s#ea*/ Sa*urai3san tal*ed to P,' Hin.ou!
Sure enough/ the P,' fro+ned!
>(nemy fores ha)e #enetrated dee# inside the base ho+e)er! -t2s
dangerous to remain here!?
"o some e8tent/ this +as e8#eted as +ell!
>"hen/ #lease feel free to ta*e .ust those #eo#le along for no+!?
&o+e)er/ =*aa3sama2s +ords/ +ere om#letely une8#eted!
>- +ill not sim#ly abandon my son!?
Sa*urai3san and - e8hanged a silent glane!
Although her +ords are om#letely natural if you thin* about it/ a sense
of disomfort remained!
>0ut@@?
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>$ou/ Hin.ou3*un +as it! Please go ahead and ta*e those #eo#le along/
+e +ill remain here!J
"he man from earlier ame for+ards to see +hat +as going on/ and the
four soldiers/ no+ loo*ing grim/ began tal*ing to eah other in
undertones!
>@@about "atsuya3*un/ ouldn2t +e ontat 'a#tain Ha6ama later and
get him to meet u# +ith usL?
-n that ga#/ Sa*urai3san s#o*e to =*aa3sama in a lo+ )oie!
>-2m not +orried about "atsuya! "hat +as .ust for fae!?
=*aa3sama2s re#ly +as returned under her breath!
- +as fored to s#end great effort to #re)ent my *nees from *no*ing
together!
1hy does =*aa3sama/ to her true son/ at so indifferent@@L
>"hen +hyL?
>-ntuition!?
>-ntuition/ you sayL?
>$es! -ntuition that these #eo#le are not to be trusted!?
-n an instant/ Sa*urai3san2s alertness flared to the ma8!
- also forgot all my grie)anes!
Setting her a#art from others/ earning her the name 4%istress of Gethe2/
=*aa3sama2s 4intuition2!
=*aa3sama2s s#eialty magi lies not in #ere#tion nor #redition magi/
but is a mental interferene magi/ and as 4mental2 magi users are
hy#othesised to be losely lin*ed +ith the 4A*ashi Ceord2/ they
#ossess e8eedingly insightful intuition@@although there are
e8e#tions/ suh as me!
At that time/ the four soldiers also finished their onsultation!
>1e are )ery sorry/ but +e annot lea)e you in this room! Please at
res#onsibly/ and ome +ith us!?
"he +ords +ere the same as before!
0ut/ the feeling that their attitude has suddenly beome threatening/ is
Page 128/219
surely .ust my #reone#tion rightL
>5i*M?
A ne+ harater brought ra#id de)elo#ments to the sene!
P,' Hin.ou/ u#on hearing that )oie/ immediately o#ened fire on the
s#ea*er/ Gane 'or#oral &iga*i!
"here are no +indo+s in the orridor +alls so - annot tell if he +as hit/
but it +as ertain that the )oie .ust no+ had been Gane 'or#oral
&iga*i/ and it +as also ertain that P,' Hin.ou had been firing at him!
"he man2s family began to sream!
P,' Hin.ou2s om#anions ad)aned into the room/ their mu66les aimed!
Sa*urai3san immediately began an ati)ation se7uene/ but a 4noise2
suddenly filled my head/ li*e srathing glass/ and the magi formula2s
onstrution faltered!
"his is/ a Psion +a)eL 'ast NammingML
&olding my ears and turning around/ - sa+ that one of the four +ore a
brass ring!
=*aa3sama +as luthing her hest and slum#ing o)erM
"his is bad@@M
,rom the start/ =*aa3sama had e8treme sensiti)ity to Psions! -n addition/
she +as no+ no longer young/ and her Psion +a)e resistane had fallen
as of late!
"he Psion +a)es from 'ast Namming no+ ad)ersely affeted her body
as +ell!
- ha)e to sto# itM
>5i*M AlM %ar*M 0enM 1hyL?
%y #alms still held to my ears/ - heard Gane 'or#oral &iga*i2s )oie
faintly!
"han* goodness/ so he +asn2t hit@@
>1hy/ are you betraying usM?
>Noe/ rather/ +hy are you so loyal to Na#anM?
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0et+een single shotsBso mahine guns an fire single shots as +ell -
thought/ although honestly - ould are less right no+BP,' Hin.ou
bello+ed in return!
>&a)e you lost it/ 5i*M -sn2t Na#an our homelandM?
>Goo* at ho+ Na#an has treated usM ()en though +e .oined the army/
e)en though +e +or*ed for the sa*e of Na#an/ +e2re still .ust 4Geft
0lood2s to themM 1e2re outsiders/ no matter ho+ muh time #assesM?
>$ou2re +rongM 5i*/ that2s .ust +hat you thin*M =ur #arents +ere
un7uestionably foreigners! 'om#ared to the guys +ho ha)e li)ed here
for generations/ it2s natural for them to treat us a bit li*e strangersM And
yet the militaryM "he unitM =ur su#eriors and our omrades/ treat us as
brothersM Ae#ted us as friendsM?
>Noe/ that2s beause you2re a magiianM 0eause they see )alue in you/
the military guys sho+ you a good faeM?
>5i*/ are you really saying suh a thingL Are you really saying that as a
Geft 0lood you2re treated as an outsider/ and as a magiian - li)e a
se#arate e8istene from you guysL Am - not your omrade/ 5i*M?
"he sound of gunshots faltered!
And/ the 'ast Namming Psion +a)e +ea*ened!
A haneM
Nudging from this instability/ the Antinite user is a non3magiian +ithout
a magi field! Nust beause you4re #ushing a bunh of Psions/ and are
using a general form of 'ast Namming you an2t e)en ontrol #ro#erly/
thin*ing you an *ee# me/ the andidate for the ne8t $otsuba head/
do+n fore)er is a big mista*eM
- annot use a 'A5! "he time ta*en to initiate an ati)ation se7uene
+ould be too muh!
"he only magi - an use then/ is that!
"he mental interferene magi - inherited from =*aa3sama!
-t2s different from =*aa3sama2s magi/ +hih interferes +ith mental
struture/ but li*e =*aa3sama2s magi/ it ats u#on the target2s s#irit!
-t2s a magi +hih free6es their soul!
Page 130/219
So as to not in)ol)e unrelated #eo#le in the effet/ - too* aim only at the
one +earing the Antinite ringB
And ati)ated my mental free6e magi/ 4'oytus2!
"he 'ast Namming sto##ed!
- *ne+ that the #erson had 4sto##ed2 as +ell!
"his +as the third human - had 4sto##ed2 in this +ay!
"hey aren2t *illed/ but that +hih is fro6en +ill ne)er again melt/ that
+hih is stilled +ill ne)er again mo)e9 the same as death!
"o hold ba* my guilt/ - ground my teeth together!
-n doing so/ )aluable time +as lost!
"hat +as my +ea*ness!
So therefore/ this result +as +ell deser)ed!
- *ne+ he +asn2t alone!
- *ne+ there +ere numerous mu66les #ointed in our diretion!
As Sa*urai3san ati)ated her magi/ those triggers +ere #ulled at the
same time!
"he magi Sa*urai3san had been forming dissi#ated +ith no effet!
=ne s+ee# of those mahine guns drilled me/ and =*aa3sama/ and
Sa*urai3san/ full of holes!
"he #laes -2m hit are/
;ot so muh #ainful as/
&ot!
%y +hole body is/
'old!
- understood that flo+ing out of me +as not only my blood/ but also my
life!
Page 131/219
- am/ going to die@@
- had al+ays thought that +hen you die you2re su##osed to feel things
li*e regret or attahment/ but sur#risingly - an2t thin* of anything!
-f - ould ha)e .ust one regret/ it +ould be/ that - had +anted to
a#ologise to that #erson #ro#erly!
-f - didn2t e8ist/ that #erson ould ha)e li)ed a more normal life!
&e ould ha)e been free!
-2m sorry/ ;ii3san!
-2m so sorry/ =nii3sa@@
>%iyu*iM?
-2m hearing things!
-2m thin*ing about my brother/ so my mind on)eniently fabriates my
brother2s )oie for me/ - thought!
- mean/ there2s no +ay my brother +ould all my name +ith so muh
emotion/ in suh a des#erate )oie!
As if he didnPt +ant me to go!
- fluttered my eyelids o#en +ith diffiulty/ and greeting me +as the sight
of an o)erast s*y/ disa##eared +alls/ rebels no+here to be seen/ and/
my brother/ +ith his left hand strethed out to+ards me!
An o)er+helming 4something2 +as released from my brother2s left hand!
-t o)ered my dying body/ easily #enetrated my barrier of 5ata
,ortifiation/ and flo+ed into me!
%y brother2s 4heart2 en)elo#ed me!
- ould thin* of no other +ay to desribe it!
-t read my body2s e)erything/ and remade e)erything ane+!
%y body/ 4me2 myself/ +as being rereated!
0y my brother2s +ill/ by my brother2s strength!
Page 132/219
%erely alling it magi ould not desribe its #o+er/ its e87uisiteness/
its audaity yet deliay!
;o/ +ithout a doubt/ this is 4magi2!
"his is something truly +orthy of the a##ellation 4magi2!
- felt li*e - ould see the Iod of 5eath/ in the distane/ turning a+ay!
Absolutely hel#less and seeming rather )e8ed!
=f ourse/ that must ha)e been a halluination!
"he Iod of 5eath in my halluination seemed rather human/ and
+ithout thin*ing/ - ga)e a little laugh!
"here +as no longer any sensation of blood +elling u# in my throat at
all!
>%iyu*i/ are you alrightML?
%y brother2s an8ious fae filled my no+ lear field of )ie+!
"his is the first time -2)e seen suh ra+ emotion on this #erson2s fae!
>=nii3sama@@?
,or some reason/ that +ord #assed smoothly through my li#s!
"here +as no feel of stuttering at all!
>"han* goodness@@M?
-tPs fine to tremble!
-tPs fine to get flustered e)en more!
- mean/ that #erson is tightly and firmly embraing me!
330ut -/ as if this +ere only natural/ shamelessly felt that being in =nii3
samaPs arms +as +here - belonged!
"hat must be +hy/ +hen =nii3sama embraed me/ - had refle8i)ely
grabbed the hem of his shirt!
=nii3sama loo*ed at me +ith +ide o#en eyes/ then softening them/
stro*ed my head!
JAh!!!!!!J
1ithout thin*ing/ my )oie lea*ed out!
Page 133/219
Page 134/219
At that =nii3sama ga)e a deidedly teasing smile/ then loo*ed a+ay as if
embarrassed33 his fae tightened!
&e +as e8#ressionless not in the sense of la*ing emotion/ but in the
sense that he seemed to be fully onentrating on something!
As if he +ere des#erately remembering something!
-n his line of sight +ere/ e)en no+ on deathPs door/ the #rofiles of =*aa3
sama and Sa*urai3san!
J=nii3samaMJ
1ithout ans+ering my all/ or #erha#s his fous +as suh that he
ouldnPt e)en afford to do so/ =nii3sama #ulled out a 'A5 +ith his left
hand!
An utterly inredible torrent of Psions stirred in =nii3samaPs body!
=nii3sama +as onstruting a )ast Psion -nformation Aide a#able of
holding unbelie)able amounts of data!
&is inde8 finger #ulled the trigger of his 'A5!
-t seemed as if =*aa3samaPs body +as being su*ed into =nii3samaPs left
hand!
"hat +as an illusion of ourse!
- donPt *no+ +hat hePs doing/ but - do *no+ +hatPs ha##ening!
- ould guess orretly/ beause the e8at same thing had ha##ened to
me!
=nii3sama too* all the data onfiguring =*aa3samaPs body/ o#ied it into
his magi #roessing area/ and after #roessing o)er+rote =*aa3samaPs
#hysial information!
"he gunshot +ounds disa##eared!
"he blood s#lattering the floor and soa*ing her lothes disa##eared!
-n a rush/ - ran u# to =*aa3samaPs fallen body!
Although #ale/ sure enough/ she +as breathing!
"he same state as .ust before she +as shot!!!!!! ;o/ this is!!!!!! %a*ing it
as if she +ere ne)er shot in the first #laeL
Page 13:/219
=nii3sama #ointed the 'A5 in his left hand to+ards Sa*urai3san!
-n a s#eed inom#arable +ith =*aa3samaPs turn/ he 7ui*ly and
smoothly om#leted the Psion -nformation Aide!
-s he getting used to it!!!!!!L
After .ust three tries/ =nii3sama has already mastered this ultra3high
le)el magi a#able of om#letely restoring a #ersonPs bodyM
- trembled in a+e/ yet at the same time my heart oolly regarded this as
only natural!
33- mean/ this #erson is my =nii3sama after all33
%y hest +as full of #ride!
All of my ignorant foolishness/ sattered to the +inds!
1ith a fae saying P- donPt belie)e itP/ Sa*urai3san loo*ed do+n at her
o+n body! =*aa3sama had not a+o*en/ but her breathing +as stable! She
+asnPt faint but +as rather merely slee#ing so there +as no #ressing
+orry/ the Army surgeon +ho had hurried o)er said/ and - ga)e a sigh of
relief!
J- am sorry! ,or an u#rising to ha##en here is om#letely my fault! "his
+onPt be able to hange anything/ but if there is anything you +ant
#lease say! As a soldier of the ;ational 5efense ,ore/ - +ill do
+hate)er is +ithin my #o+er!J
=nii3sama/ ne8t to me/ turned to fae 'a#tain Ha6ama!
Seeing the 'a#tainPs bo+ed )isage/ he said P#lease raise your headP!
-t seemed the reason =nii3sama had been able to rush o)er at the minute
had been than*s to the hel# of '#t! Ha6ama and Gt! Sanada! "hose
rebels li*ely intended to *idna# us as hostages/ and loo*ing ba* +e had
managed to esa#e that due to Gane 'or#oral &iga*iPs inter)ention!
33their real target had been that man/ and +e had sim#ly been aught u#
in the situation! &e +as an e8euti)e in a munitions om#any/ and both
him and his family +ere no+ guarded in a se#arate room! "hat means
the military/ by ha)ing us share a room +ith that man/ +ere res#onsible
Page 136/219
for our deaths! -tPs also an indis#utable fat ho+e)er that it +as than*s to
the time &iga*i3san bought/ that =nii3sama +as able to ma*e it in time!
0ut/ if it +erenPt for =nii3samaPs magi/ there is no doubt that =*aa3
sama/ Sa*urai3san and - +ould ha)e died!
(motionally/ this ouldnPt be o)erloo*ed!
J"hen first of all/ #lease tell us the e8at situation!J
- didnPt intend to demand anything!
-Pm sorry/ but - +ouldnPt ha)e allo+ed Sa*urai3san to ta*e the lead either!
()en if =*aa3sama had been a+a*e/ in this ase - +ould ha)e had her
remain silent!
"his is a right for =nii3sama alone!
J-s the enemy the Ireat Asian AllianeLJ
J1e ha)e no onlusi)e e)idene yet/ but that is most li*ely the ase!J
J-tPs a lie that +eP)e sto##ed them at the oast/ isnPt itLJ
J"hat is so! =n the 1est oast of ;agoshi/ submerged enemy troo#s
ha)e already made a landing in fore!J
!!!!!!"hen the submarine that time +as in #re#aration for thisL
J"he enemy na)y holds su#remay o)er the +aters of the Heramas! -n
addition/ from ;aha to ;ago/ guerrillas in ollusion +ith the enemy are
disru#ting the mo)ement of #ersonnel!J
!!!!!!"hat sounds #retty bad!
J0ut all is not lost! "he number of guerrillas +as not that great from the
beginning! 'ontrol has been regained in 80T of areas! "he internal
rebellion in the Army +ill soon be shut do+n as +ell!J
J"heir #ur#ose of buying time to seure the landings is already done/ so
their use is at an end! Gi*e tossing a #iee of garbage/ - belie)e the Ireat
Asian Alliane ouldnPt are less about their loss!J
At =nii3samaPs dis#assionate #oint/ '#t! Ha6amaPs fae t+isted sourly!
J;e8t/ #lease #rotet my mother/ sister and Sa*urai3san in a safe #lae!
-f #ossible/ some+here safer than the shelters!J
J!!!!!!1ePll ta*e them to the Air 5efense 'ommand and 'ontrol 'entre!
Page 137/219
"he armour there is t+ie as thi* as the shelters!J
!!!!!!- +as sandalised! "he 'ommand and 'ontrol 'entre o#erated by
the military +as far better #roteted than the shelters they had e)auated
the i)ilians to! "hen again this is a military base after all/ so - guess
thatPs .ust ho+ things +ere built!
JGastly/ #lease lend me an Armour Suit and infantry *it! 1ell/ - say lend/
but - +onPt be able to return the e8#endable su##lies to you!J
J!!!!!!1hyLJ
- also ould not hel# feeling uneasy about this re7uest!
1hy/ =nii3sama!
And +hy/ did you not inlude yourself in your earlier re7uest!
Goo*ing into =nii3samaPs eyes/ trying to disern his true intentions/ -
gas#ed!
1ithin his eyes/
%a*ing mere rage seem lu*e+arm/
0urned all onsuming hellfire!
J"hey dared to raise their hand against %iyu*i! "hey must rea# their .ust
re+ard!J
Amongst all those +ho heard that )oie and felt their blood run old/ for
'#t! Ha6ama to *ee# his om#le8ion unhanged/ s#o*e )olumes for his
ourage!
J5o you intend to go aloneLJ
J"his is not a military o#eration! "his is #ersonal!J
J- donPt mind that in #artiular! -t is im#ossible for humans to fight a +ar
se#arate from emotions! ()en a fight for re)enge/ as long as it is
ontrolled/ is no #roblem!J
=nii3sama and '#t! Ha6amaPs eyes met!
Cather/ they +ere glaring at eah other!
J1e annot allo+ the slaughter of non3ombatants and the surrendered/
but you ha)e no suh intention any+ay rightLJ
J- do not intend to gi)e them the grae of surrender!J
Page 138/219
J"hat is fine! =ur mission is the re#ulsion of the in)aders or their utter
destrution! "here is no need to offer surrender!J
'#t! Ha6ama is a different *ind of #erson to =nii3sama/ but his resol)e is
not one +hit less!
JShiba "atsuya3*un! 1e +elome you to our line of battle!J
=nii3sama/ sho+ed no hint of gratitude!
J- do not intend to follo+ the ommand of the army! 1hat - fight for/
and +hat you fight for/ are different things! 0ut +e share a ommon
enemy/ and if +e share a ommon goal of annihilation/ then let us fight
side by side!J
Gi*e a steel edge tem#ered by a legendary raftsman/ the air around
=nii3sama +as old/ shar#/ meriless!!!!!!At suh an =nii3sama/ - ould
only stare in a+e!
JFery +ell! Sanada/ find him an Armour Suit and gearM Airborne/ +e
mo)e in 10MJ
JSa*urai3san/ #lease loo* after my mother and sister!J
Standing/ =nii3sama said so to Sa*urai3san/ then +ithout +aiting for her
re#ly follo+ed after Gt! Sanada!
"hat time/ the faint smile he +ore +hen he loo*ed at me +as definitely
not an illusion!

J<m/ are you sure this is alrightLJ
As - +athed my brotherPs ba* reeding/ Sa*urai3san ste##ed u# to me
and began tal*ing!
J1hat is itLJ
-t seems/ as if my thought #roesses had been sabotaged or esa#ed
altogether9 - had not mo)ed my attention for a +hile!
J&o+e)er s*illed "atsuya3*un is/ fighting a +ar!!!!!! ;e)ermind rushing
straight to the front lines/ isnPt that far too dangerousLJ
JMJ
Page 139/219
Sa*urai3sanPs +his#er/ rang in my ears li*e a loud alarm lo*!
"hatPs rightM 1hat am - s#aing out so almly forL =nii3sama is going to
+arM
J%iyu*i3sanMLJ
Sa*urai3sanPs )oie floated behind my ba* as - ran!
=nly her )oie hased me!
She annot afford to lea)e =*aa3sama!
-Pm sorry!
- a#ologised to her in my heart!
Gea)ing =*aa3sama behind is #ainful/ but right no+/ - ha)e to sto# =nii3
samaM
- ran +ith that one thought in mind!
,ortunately/ he had not yet gone that far ahead/ and - aught u# to him
+ithout getting lost!
J=nii3samaMJ
&e might not turn around! "hat fear flashed through my mind but it +as
a needless +orry!
=nii3sama said something 7uietly to Gt! Sanada in front of him/ then
halted and faed this +ay!
Sanada3san sto##ed a +hile ahead! &e #robably did so +ith our
onsideration in mind!
J%iyu*i/ +hat is itLJ
At him naturally/ in a natural tone alling me P%iyu*iP - began to
dreamily gla6e o)er again/ but this isnPt the time for that!
J=nii3sama/ um/J
- suddenly realised that - must not/ under any irumstane/ begin saying
P#lease donPt goP o)er and o)er!
"hatPs far too muh li*e the *ind of thing a heroine +ould say to sto# her
lo)er in some romane mo)ie Dor no)el or manga or +hate)erE or
something!
Page 140/219
;ot to mention bringing in the +hole Pforbidden lo)e bet+een brother
and sisterP mess!
J%iyu*iLJ
As - stood suddenly lost for +ords/ =nii3sama loo*ed at me in a #u66led
manner!
%y hee*s must ha)e been bright red!
J!!!!!!Pl3#lease donPt go!J
()en so/ itPs not li*e - an .ust not say it then! - ha)e to sto# him!
JPlease donPt do something so dangerous as fighting the enemy army! -
donPt belie)e therePs any need for =nii3sama to do something so ris*y!J
- said it!!!!!!M
,eeling a sense of aom#lishment/ - thought Pthis should be fineP!
,or =nii3sama to sha*e his head at my +ords33 to sha*e his head at all/
+as something - had ne)er one onsidered!
J'ertainly/ therePs no need! - am not going beause therePs a need/ but
beause - +ish to/ %iyu*i!J
1hih +as +hy my brotherPs re#ly +as suh a sho* to me!
Sho*ed at the denial/ and sho*ed at his +ords almost im#lying he
+anted to *ill #eo#le!
0ut my body/ rather than trying to distane itself from him/ reahed out
and aught his slee)e!
1ith a lumsy smile/ he too* hold of my hand gras#ing onto his .a*et/
and gently #ulled it a+ay!
JAs - said earlier/ - am going for re)enge against those +ho ha)e hurt
you!J
Goo*ing into my eyes/ =nii3samaPs e8#ression +as almost embarrassed!
J;ot for your sa*e/ but for the sa*e of my o+n feelings!J
1hile saying so/ =nii3samaPs #u#ils!!!
J-f - donPt/ - +onPt be able to rest!J
Seemed to be telling me that e)erything +as for my sa*e!
Page 141/219
J"o me/ the only thing - an feel is truly #reious is/ %iyu*i/ you alone!J
"hat/ +asnPt my mista*e!
JSorry for being suh a selfish brother!J
"hat/ +asnPt my oneit!
=nii3sama softly released my hand/ and maintaining his some+hat
embarrassed e8#ression/ ga)e me a laugh!
%y entire fae must ha)e been burning red!
&o+e)er/ realling something troubling in =nii3samaPs +ords/ -
furro+ed my bro+!
J'an feel/ is #reious!!!!!!LJ
Nust no+ =nii3sama hadnPt said Pis #reiousP/ but Pan feel is #reiousP
rightL
-tPs sim#ly a slight differene in +ording/ and may not ha)e any
#artiular meaning behind it but!!!!!! ,or some reason/ -Pm an8ious!
As those +ords subonsiously sli##ed from my mouth +hih +asnPt
e)en a 7uestion/ =nii3sama ga)e a +ry smile +hih seemed to say Pyou
got meP!
&is e8#ression seemed to be laughing/ yet rying!
"here +as nothing li*e tears/ not to mention - ha)e ne)er e)en one seen
=nii3sama ry/ yet someho+ - ould sense that to =nii3sama this +as a
matter fraught +ith #ain and full of sorro+!
J- am sorryMJ
So - a#ologised! - had )o+ed that - +ould ause =nii3sama no more
sadness/ and yet again -!!!!!!thin*ing so/ - bo+ed lo+!
"+o slender hands sli##ed through and #arted my long hair/ aressing
my hee*s! =nii3samaPs hands/ slim yet far bigger than mine/ strong and
firm!
&is hands gently lifted my head/ and - loo*ed u#!
"here +as no fore in them/ yet - ould ne)er resist! Cather/ faster than
my head ould resist/ my body om#lied +ith =nii3samaPs +ill!
J;o!!!!!!- su##ose itPs about time you *ne+! -f #ossible/ - +ould ha)e
Page 142/219
#referred that you ne)er found out but!!!!!! As our motherPs daughter/ and
that #ersonPs niee/ that +ould ha)e been a fleeting dream in any ase!J
=nii3samaPs +ords +ere aimed at me/ yet it seemed as if he +asnPt
tal*ing to me/ but reminding himself!
J=nii3samaLJ
J"herePs no time at the moment/ and - donPt belie)e this is something that
should be heard from me! So %iyu*i/ #lease go and as* our mother! "he
ans+er/ to the 7uestions you ha)e right no+!J
J,rom =*aa3sama!!!!!!LJ
"o me +ithout time to ollet my unertainties/ sim#ly blan*ly re#eating
his +ords ba* at him/ =nii3sama ga)e one more smile/ this time strong!
J%iyu*i/ donPt +orry! $ou are the one thing #reious to me! "herefore/
in order to ontinue #roteting you in the future/ - +ill definitely ome
ba* safe!J
"here +as no deeit in =nii3samaPs +ords!
"here +as no sense of omforting!
J-Pll be alright!J
Sheathing his smile and tightening his e8#ression/ his ga6e un+a)ering/
As if it +ere a true and undeniable fat/
J"here is nothing in e8istene +hih an hurt me in the truest sense!J
- belie)ed that there +as nothing at all +hih ould harm =nii3sama!
=nii3sama mo)ed his hands from my hee* to my head/ and stro*ed my
hair!
&e ran his hands o)er my no+ slightly messed u# hair/ laughing all the
+hile/ then mo)ed to ontinue after Gt! Sanada!
"his time/ for real/ =nii3sama headed to+ards the battlefield!

"hen again/ as youPd e8#et/ - had no idea +here this 'ommand and
'ontrol 'entre #lae +as!
Page 143/219
- had no hoie but to return to that room +hih has lost its +all!
'ome to thin* of it/ ho+ did the +all disa##earL
=nii3sama and Sa*urai3san had said that a barrier +hih blo*ed magi
had been inor#orated/ meaning that the hanes it had been destroyed
by magi +ere lo+/ yet the ross setion +as so surgially #reise that it
+as hard to imagine any other +ay!
Although -Pm #retty sure they +ouldnPt lea)e me behind/ - ouldnPt hel#
being an8ious and returned to the room at a trot!
Ah!!!!!!
J-Pm sorry for *ee#ing you +aiting!J
,irst - a#ologised to =*aa3sama/ +ho greeted me!
As im#ortant as it is to reo)er her strength/ therePs no +ay she an
sim#ly be arried on a strether/ so thin*ing about it/ itPs only natural that
shePd be a+o*en by some means!
0eause of my o+n selfish disretion and abandonment of =*aa3sama/
+hih resulted in foring them to +ait/ - bo+ed lo+ not to esa#e her
anger/ but out of true regret!
J"herePs no need to a#ologise/ %iyu*i3san! $ou +ent to sto# "atsuya
going off as he #leased/ didnPt youLJ
=*aa3sama ans+ered +ith a smile!
<u!!!!!!ShePs #retty mad!!!!!!
JSo/ +here did "atsuya goL - donPt see him around!J
J"hatPs/ um!!!!!!=nii3sama +ent to hel# the military fight the enemy!J
J=nii3samaLJ
=*aa3sama raised an eyebro+!
Cefle8i)ely - thought 4oh dear2/ but - didn2t one thin* of orreting
myself!
=*aa3sama didn2t re#ro)e me either!
-nstead of blame/ she sim#ly ga)e a long sigh!
>5oing things his o+n +ay as usual@@that hild truly is defeti)e!?
Page 144/219
&er +ords +eren2t denouning/ they +ere forsa*ing!
;ot resignation/ but abandonment!
- didn2t e)en ha)e to as* +ho she +as tal*ing about!
Cather than indignation/ - felt a##alled!
,or a mother to be so utterly indifferent onerning her o+n son! !
>1ell/ +hate)er! "hings seem to ha)e +or*ed out this time/ so let him
do as he +ants@@ "han*s for +aiting! Please ta*e us no+!?
=*aa3sama s#o*e to the soldier +aiting to guide us!
;o/ things didn2t 4someho+2 +or* out!
"he only reason -2m ali)e/ the only reason =*aa3sama +as sa)ed/ +as
beause of =nii3sama!
$et to that 4someho+2/ - +as unable to say a +ord in dis#ute!
(ntering the 'ommand and 'ontrol 'entre/ +e had #assed through no
less than fi)e blast doors!
=n a floor around the si6e of four lassrooms +ith no +indo+s and no
+alls onneted diretly to the outside/ around 30 o#erators sat in front
of three ro+s of onsoles in one hall/ +hile o##osite the large +all
mounted sreen +as an entrane leading to eight single me66anine
rooms!
1e +ere lead to one of the single rooms +ith a glass front!
>- don2t sense any ameras or +ireta# sur)eillane! -t seems li*e this is
one of the rooms high le)el offiers and e8euti)es in the %inistry of
5efense use +hile on ins#etion!?
After e8amining the room/ Sa*urai3san informed =*aa3sama!
- ha)e no idea +hat she did or ho+ she did it/ but her findings are
al+ays reliable!
"hat means it2s o*ay to tal* about serets in here!
Page 14:/219
>"he glass in front isn2t .ust ordinary glass either! "hey ha)e the same
thing in the "o*yo %etro#olitan Polie 5e#artment! -t2s a#able of
#ro.eting anything from the monitors in the 'ommand and 'ontrol
'entre!?
Sa*urai said so +hile +athing the des*to# monitor and o#erating the
onsole!
>=*aa3sama/ there2s something thing -2d li*e to as*!?
-n the meantime/ - deided to ta*e the #lunge/ and as* =*aa3sama about
the matter from before!
>(arlier/ =nii3sama had said that the only thing +hih he an onsider
#reious is me/ but@@+hen - as*ed him +hy he didn2t say 4is #reious2
but rather 4an thin* is #reious2/ he said - should as* you/ so@@?
>- see! "atsuya said that!?
Gistening to my 7uestion +ith a fro+n/ =*aa3sama said that +ith a bored
e8#ression!
>- su##ose it2s about time you *ne+!?
=nii3sama had said the same thing! Nust thin*ing about +hat this big
seret +as/ - stiffened +ith tension!
>0ut/ before that@@%iyu*i3san/ sto# alling "atsuya 4=nii3sama2! -
don2t really mind in #ubli #laes and the li*e +here the #resene of
others an2t be hel#ed/ but +hen alone +ith only the $otsuba/ you
should not be treating "atsuya li*e your brother!?
=*aa3sama didn2t re#ro)e me in a strong tone/ but sim#ly as if regaling
me +ith an undeniable truth!
>$ou are the one +ho +ill follo+ after %aya and beome the head of the
$otsuba! -f you2re seen de#ending on the utter failure that is your
brother/ it ould beome a huge minus in the future someday!?
>"hat +ay of s#ea*ing is@@M?
- instinti)ely forgot my restraint/ and harshly rebu*ed my mother!
As tense and listening arefully as - +as/ no matter ho+ muh they +ere
=*aa3sama2s +ords - sim#ly ould not let them go unans+ered!
>'alling your o+n hild an utter failure li*e thatM?
Page 146/219
>- also thin* it2s unfortunate/ but it2s the truth so it an2t be hel#ed!?
>"hat2s +rongM 1ith his #o+er/ =nii3sama sa)ed meM?
>"hat thing earlierL "rue/ if he an2t at least dis#lay at least that le)el
of@@still/ that is all he an do!?
At my heartfelt ob.etion/ =*aa3sama ans+ered in a )oie older than -
had e)er heard u# to no+!
-t +as a )oie +hih had abandoned all ho#e!
>-f "atsuya has told you to ome to me/ then - don2t #artiularly mind!
1here to begin@@?
As my mother remained dee# in thought/ +ithout +arning the +indo+
ta*ing the #lae of an entire +all hanged the #ro.eted senery!
"he room full of frantially +or*ing o#erators hanged to a bird2s3eye
)ie+ loo*ing do+n on the earth!
-n that )ie+ - sa+ =nii3sama/ ha)ing .ust dro##ed from the s*y!
- loo*ed o)er at the one +ho had brought that u#/ Sa*urai3san!
Sa*urai3san +as +ordlessly +athing meB+athing me and =*aa3
sama!
"hat she didn2t intend to s#ea* a +ord +as ob)ious at a glane!
- also understood that she *ne+ many things that - did not!
33=*aa3sama didn2t so muh as glane at the sreen no+ sho+ing =nii3
sama!
>"atsuya +as born defeti)e as a magiian!?
=*aa3sama didn2t loo* at me either!
>-t2s not that - feel no res#onsibility for bearing suh a hild/ but the
unhangeable fat +as that "atsuya +as a ho#eless ase as a magiian!?
"hat didn2t mean she had losed her eyes!
Page 147/219
Page 148/219
>,rom the time he +as born/ "atsuya ould use only t+o ty#es of
4magi2! 5eom#osition of (idos/ and reonstrution of -nformation
0odies! 1ithin the one#t of these t+o ategories "atsuya has de)ised a
)ariety of tehni7ues he an use/ but ho+e)er far you ta*e them/ +ith
.ust those t+o/ it is im#ossible to alter -nformation 0odies as a true
magiian should!?
&er eyes sim#ly stared into nothingness!
>%agi are the tehni7ues +hih modify -nformation bodies/ and thus
hange #henomena! &o+e)er tri)ial the hange is/ to be able to ma*e
the hange at all is magi! 0ut "atsuya is unable to do that! All he an do
is brea* an -nformation 0ody do+n/ and rereate it ba* in an earlier
state! "hat is not magi in its truest sense! "hat hild/ +ho +as born
+ithout the talent to use magi in the true sense of the term in altering
-nformation 0odies/ is un7uestionably a defeti)e magiian!?
Perha#s/ +hat =*aa3sama +as loo*ing into/ +as her o+n heart@@
>1ell/ that reonstrution ability did end u# sa)ing us/ but stritly
s#ea*ing that #o+er is not 4magi2!?
- did not refute her +ords!
0ut/ - thought!
-f that isn2t magi/ then .ust +hat/ should that #o+er be alled!
-f it is to be gi)en a name other than 4magi2/ then doesn2t that only
lea)e the +ord 4mirale2L
>0ut/ +e the $otsuba are magiians +ho stand amongst the "en %aster
&ouses/ and therefore one +ho annot use magi annot be a $otsuba!
"hat hild/ unable to use magi/ ould not li)e as one of the $otsuba! So
%aya and -/ se)en years ago/ #erformed a ertain o#eration on him!
Although truth be told/ the moti)ation behind that e8#eriment +asn2t
that alone@@?
(8#erimentL =*aa3sama/ on =nii3samaL
>"he Artifiial %agiian Plan! A #ro.et to im#lant/ in the onsiousness
of a #erson +ho isn2t a magiian/ a man3made magi o#eration area and
thus gi)e him the abilities of a magiian!?
Artifiial %agiian Plan! "hose +ords rang ominously in my ears!
Page 149/219
>As a result of undergoing that mental reonstrution surgery/ that hild
ended u# losing his emotions!?
%ental reonstrution surgeryL Gost his emotionsL?
>;o/ rather than saying emotions it may be better to say urges! Strong
anger/ dee# sorro+/ intense .ealousy/ grudges/ hatred/ hungering
a##etite/ se8ual lust/ blind lo)e! Suh 4beside oneself2 im#ulses +ere
lost/ +ith one single e8e#tion/ and in e8hange "atsuya obtained the
ability to use magi!?
"hat means@@
><nfortunately/ the artifiial magi o#eration area is mar*edly inferior in
#erformane to that of a natural one/ and he ould only end u# being
used as a Iuardian!?
- +on2t belie)e it/ - thought!
"here2s no +ay that ould be/ - thought!
>"he one +ho #erformed that 4surgery2@@+as it you/ =*aa3samaL?
1hile thin*ing so/ - ouldn2t hel# but as*!
"he large 4+indo+2 no+ sho+ed =nii3sama/ surrounded by +ell3built
adults/ ma*ing ontat +ith the enemy landing fore!
>1ho else ould do it but meL?
%y sinerest +ish/ that she +ould deny it/ +as not to be!
- really should ha)e *no+n!
"he %agi =#eration Area is not a #hysial area in the erebrum/ but
rather is a diret mental funtion!
Adding an artifiial %agi =#eration Area +ould therefore entail
altering the mental struture!
"hat +ould be im#ossible +ithout =*aa3sama2s magi/ 4%ental
Struture -nterferene2@@
>@@1hy/ +ould you do thatL?
>-2)e already told you the reasons! Get2s ans+er something more
im#ortant you +ish to *no+!?
Page 1:0/219
33Ah/ - see@@
-2)e also notied!
- realised!
-n that e8#eriment/ it +as not only =nii3sama +ho ended u# losing some
of his emotions!
- don2t *no+ +hether it2s a side effet of that magi/ a sense of guilt or
some other different mental effet but/
,or the first time/ - felt terror at this thing alled 4magi2!
"his 4magi2/ +hih ould so ruelly alter the human heart!
=n the sreen/ =nii3sama #ointed a large #istol sha#ed 'A5 at the foe!
0efore him/ enemy after enemy faded to dust!
>"he one e8e#tion that "atsuya didn2t lose@@Ans+er me that!?
>"he one im#ulse left to him/ is brotherly lo)e!?
33Please sto# already/ =*aa3sama!
>Go)e to+ards his sister/ in other +ords you/ and the desire to #rotet
you!?
33- don2t +ant to hear any more!
>"hat is all he has left/ his one true emotion!?
0ut that +as not allo+ed to me!
&olding my t+o hands in front of my mouth +as an instinti)e ation!
-t may ha)e been a onditioned refle8!
"here +asn2t really a need for it though!
- +as so sho*ed/ to the e8tent - ouldn2t let out a ry!
>"atsuya himself *no+s +ell! "hat2s +hat he means by 4an thin* is
Page 1:1/219
#reious2! &e thin*s of me sim#ly as his 4mother2/ and the natural
#arent3hild attahment +hih should go +ith it does not e8ist! "he only
one he an hold dear in his heart is/ %iyu*i/ only you! 0a* then/ he
sim#ly sa)ed me inidentally! =r #erha#s/ merely beause he determined
if - +ere to die then you +ould be sad!?
>5id =*aa3sama@@intentionally hoose for this to ha##enL?
()en though - +as s#ea*ing myself/ it felt li*e - heard someone else
tal*ing! -t felt li*e a me +hih +as not me +as mo)ing my body and
as*ing 7uestions!
>- ob)iously didn2t #lan things out to that e8tent! &o+e)er/ - did thin*
that if a#aity +as left only for one emotion/ then it should be affetion
direted to+ards you! "atsuya +ill be s#ending far more time +ith you/
after all!?
>5id you say that to =B ;o/ that #ersonL?
>=f ourse - e8#lained! "hat hild still has #lenty of ommon sense!
&a)ing no #arental affetion is tri)ial in any ase/ so there2s no need to
+orry about it!?
1hen she said that/
,aintly/
- felt - ould glim#se =*aa3sama2s suffering that she ould not lo)e her
hild!
>-s there anything elseL?
>;o@@than* you )ery muh!?
A #art of me/ felt that - shouldn2t ha)e as*ed!
A #art of me/ also felt truly glad that - did as*!
"o s7uarely fae a #ainful #ast/ and #ainful truths/ yet unflinhingly loo*
for+ards to the #resent and the future!
"he sreen sho+ed =nii3sama/ ad)aning resolutely into a desolate
+asteland!
;either shell nor bullet ould reah him!
"an*3li*e things #ointed their turrets at =nii3sama/ and )anished along
+ith the re+ inside!
Page 1:2/219
=nii3sama ontinued +ithout hanging #ae!
0ut the soldiers ad)aning +ith =nii3sama did not mo)e the same +ay!
"o not be left behind by =nii3sama/ they ran as if flying from o)er to
o)er/ shooting guns and magi all the +hile!
AhM
=ne of the soldiers +as hit!
Seeing the battlefield from a amera in the s*y/ it2s li*e +athing
something right from a mo)ie!
1ithin the sreen/ before - ould e)en begin feeling sho*/ =nii3sama
+as #ointing the 'A5 in his left hand at the fallen soldier!
1hen did heL
"here +as barely any time to e)en turn his ne*!
-n the ne8t moment/ the soldier began running on the sreen again as if
nothing had ha##ened!
An enemy turret s#at fire!
-t didn2t reah!
=nii3sama raised his right hand!
"he enemy form disa##eared! -t +as almost li*e a mo)ie S,U!
Allied soldiers fell!
=nii3sama raised his left hand!
Nust +ith that/ the fallen soldiers rose unsathed and ontinued the fight!
1hat +as sho+n on that sreen +as to me/ +ith a far greater gras# of
magi than not only the general #ubli but most magiians/ li*e a mo)ie
Page 1:3/219
+ith an e8tremely #oor sense of reality!
0ut those +ould be the irres#onsible thoughts of a bystander!
"o the soldiers fighting alongside =nii3sama/ it +as a fortune beyond
their +ildest ho#es! Any in.uries/ e)en fatal ones/ +ere healed
immediately as if merely +a*ing from a dream!
"o the enemies fighting against =nii3sama/ he +as terror inarnate! A
nightmare +ho raised their foes/ and obliterated all before him lea)ing
only shado+s and dust!
Gi*e an A)atar/ =nii3sama strode aross the battlefield!
All beause - had gotten shot!
"hat +as something dereed se)en years ago/ from the time he +as only
si8!
&o+ an -/ #ossibly ma*e it u# to him!
1hat an - do/ to e)er ma*e it u# to him!
()en this life no+/ is something - o+e om#letely to him!
1! "+o3fator "heory of (motion
Page 1:4/219
Chapter 15
2095A+ November 6t% , Yotsuba Main House+ra$ing
room
-t had been one +ee* sine they #arted at "sushima base!
=n that day/ "atsuya had been dismissed earlier/ and beyond +hat +as
a)ailable to the general #ubli/ *ne+ no more about the final outomes
of the battle than anyone else! &a)ing the o##ortunity to reunite +ith
Ha6ama here/ he tried as*ing )arious 7uestions/ but it seemed there +ere
many #arts un*no+n e)en to Ha6ama!
(8hanging information +ith Ha6amaBalthough all that "atsuya ould
#ro)ide ould not be said to #ossess ertainty beyond the boundaries of 4
rumors2B"atsuya/ dee# in thought/ suddenly turned to fae the door!
"ension re#t do+n %iyu*i2s s#ine!
,rom her brother2s e8#ression/ she *ne+!
At last33
>(8use me!?
After a formal *no*/ the door +as o#ened +ithout +aiting for a re#ly!
0o+ing deferentially this time +as an elderly butler! Fisibly different
from the youth earlier/ this man learly #ossessed a high #osition!
&o+e)er/ he said no more!
5es#ite the fat that sim#ly o#ening the door shouldn2t be the e8tent of
this man2s .ob!
0ut neither "atsuya and %iyu*i/ nor Ha6ama either felt any sus#iion!
Cather/ they +ere thin*ing similarly/ that the only one fit for this role
must be this elderly man!
>"han* you for +aiting!?
,or behind the elderly man/ stood the figure of the &ead of this &ouse!
>- truly am )ery sorry! =ur #re)ious guest sim#ly +ould not lea)e@@
Page 1::/219
+hile he had gone far #ast our a##ointed time/ +e ouldn2t sim#ly thro+
him out or suh@@?
>Please do not be onerned! 1e *no+ that you are )ery busy!?
Ha6ama returned %aya2s bo+/ and at length they both sat do+n!
>%iyu*i3san/ my a#ologies to you as +ell!?
At that/ %iyu*i also sat do+n slo+ly!
&o+e)er/ she said not a +ord to "atsuya!
&e sim#ly remained standing ne8t to the sofa %iyu*i sat in!
-n a##earane/ he mirrored e8atly the butler +ho no+ stood ne8t to
%aya!
1hite #orelain teau#s +ere set do+n before three #eo#le!
-t +ent +ithout s#ea*ing that those three +ere %aya/ Ha6ama and
%iyu*i!
%aya be*oned the t+o to their tea/ and after ta*ing a si# herself/ ut
straight to the #oint!
>"he reason - ha)e alled you here today is beause there are some
matters stemming from the reent military inident in $o*ohama +hih -
+ould li*e to tell you!J
J"o meLJ
%aya the i)ilian +as saying that she had things to tell/ not as*/
onerning military matters to the military man Ha6ama! =f ourse he
+ould re#eat that!
J$es/ and to "atsuya3san and %iyu*i3san as +ell!J
Saying so/ %aya ga)e a meaningful laugh!
1ithout e)en ha)ing to loo* bored as she said so/ her e8#ression made it
#lain that her truly #ressing matters +ere for "atsuya and %iyu*i !
JA +ee* ago/ the -nternational %agi Assoiation onluded that the
blast +hih obliterated the VhWnhai ;a)al Port +as not in )iolation of
the harter forbidding the use of Pradiation emitting +ea#onsPJ!
PCadiation emitting +ea#onsP +as an abbre)iation for P+ea#ons +hih
ontaminate the en)ironment +ith residual radioati)ityP/ a term mainly
Page 1:6/219
used by the -nternational %agi Assoiation +hose #ur#ose is
#re)enting the use of +ea#ons +hih emit and lea)e behind radioati)e
residues as +ell as the national magi assoiations affiliated +ith them!
"he +ord P+ea#onP +as used/ but the lause also inluded any magi
+hih +ould result in radioati)e ontamination! "he term itself +as
rare outside the Assoiation/ but des#ite being some+hat of a
traditionalist magiian/ Ha6ama ne)ertheless naturally *ne+ about it!
JAs a result/ the #unishment motion submitted to the Assoiation +as
re.eted!J
%iyu*iPs tense e8#ression tensed e)en further for a moment/ then
rela8ed!
J- +as not a+are a #unishment motion had been for+arded!J
Ha6ama re#lied in a bland tone! %iyu*i *ne+ that there +as no +ay
Ha6ama hadnPt at least onsidered the #ossibility/ but didnPt s#ea* a
+ord!
J$ou do seem rather rela8ed! $ou had no onern about the #ossibility
of a #enal detahmentLJ
0y ontrast/ %aya hit ba* +ith a diret 7uestion!
%agiians +ere administered by the state/ +ea#ons of the state/ and as
suh belonged to the state!
()en #ri)ate magiians +ere forbidden from ating in any +ay +hih
might go against the national interest! -n this res#et/ globally/ the rights
of magiians +ere signifiantly limited in om#arison to those of non3
magiians!
0eause of that/ the -nternational %agi Assoiation had no military
fore of its o+n! "he magiians belonging to the -%A +ere not of a
sale any+here a##roahing a fore!
-n return/ the -%A alled for the oo#eration of eah member state in
order to im#lement multinational teams! -f this Pmystery bombP had
resulted in the formation of a #enal detail/ those )arious ountries +hih
+ished for a deline in Na#anPs national #o+er +ould ha)e sent their o+n
#o+erful magiians along as +ell! As someone in)ol)ed in the military/
that +as not a negligible onern!
Page 1:7/219
J- +as fully a+are and onfident that there +ould be no residual
radiation!J
Ha6ama didnPt say that she should ha)e been +ell a+are as +ell! -t +as
so ob)ious there +as no need to do so!
Sure enough/ %aya hanged the sub.et!
J"hen +ere you a+are that the P&ea)enly IeneralP +as #resent +ith and
#erished alongside the fleetLJ
JGiX $XndYLJ
At %ayaPs ne+s/ Ha6amaPs #o*er fae olla#sed!
Ha6amaPs +ide eyes as he as*ed ba* +as unfeigned!
J$es/ one of the thirteen internationally a*no+ledged Strategi 'lass
magiians! "he Ireat Asian Alliane is trying to *ee# a rather tight lid
on information ontrol ho+e)er!J
Although there +as no suh thing as #ri)ay +hen it ame to Strategi
'lass magiians/ %aya laughed!
As she said/ Strategi 'lass magiians/ indi)iduals +ielding #o+er
om#arable to +ea#ons of mass destrution/ +ere of great interest to
many ma.or #o+ers and of greater interest to their magiians! Aside
from gimmi*s li*e Antinite/ the only true ounter to a magiian +as
another magiian/ and as suh/ *ee#ing enemy Strategi magiians in
he* +as a ma.or ob.eti)e of military magiians!
"hirteen Strategi 'lass magiians had been delassified for the sa*e of
national #restige/ and amongst these so alled P"hirteen A#ostlesP the
only one +ho had managed to *ee# a modium of serey +as the
<;SAPs Angie Sirius!
=f ourse Na#an +as no e8e#tion in *ee#ing e8tensi)e tabs on the
"hirteen A#ostles and the "en ,amilies/ +ith the inlusion of Angie
Sirius of +hom besides her name33 to be #reise her ni*name and
odename33 not e)en her real fae +as *no+n/ and de)oted great effort
to that field!
J1ell +ith that/ - guess the P"hirteen A#ostlesP is no+ the P"+el)e
A#ostlesP!J
%aya smoothly summari6ed that ma.or u#hea)al in international
Page 1:8/219
military balane +ith one easy sentene!
"his +as onfidential information +hih e)en Ha6ama had not been
informed of!
J-t seems the go)ernment is loo*ing to a#itali6e on this and +ring as
many ma.or onessions from the Ireat Asian Alliane as #ossible! "he
'hief of Staff had re7uested the -tsu+a be sent out/ and the -tsu+a
om#lied! %io3san is aom#anying them to the fleet in Sasebo!J
J5id she board a +arshi#LJ
<ntil no+/ %iyu*i had res#etfully maintained her #osition as a listener/
but at this she instinti)ely s#o*e u#!
J$es!J
&o+e)er/ %aya did not re#rimand her! "his ne+s +as astonishing
enough that suh a reation +ould not be unreasonable!
-tsu+a %io +as the only Strategi 'lass magiian the Na#anese
go)ernment had #ublily dislosed/ one of the P"hirteen A#ostlesP!
As far as had been onfirmed/ +ith the e8e#tion of "atsuya/ she +as the
only Na#anese Strategi magiian!
A trum# ard of the Na#anese military!
&er magi PAbyssP +as a#able of reating a s#herial de#ression +hih
an e8tend from a fe+ tens of meters to se)eral *ilometers! Amongst
%o)ement Systemati magis it #ossesses its o+n lassifiation/ ,luid
'ontrol! Fessels aught +ithin the magial 6one at sea slide do+n the
stee# +alls of +ater/ tumbling about/ then u#on anellation of the
magi are s+allo+ed u# by massi)e +a)es as the sea returns to a
hori6ontal #lane! "he hemis#here an be reated u# to a *ilometer in
de#th/ easily athing submerged submarines as +ell!
"his is a strategi lass magi theoretially a#able of eradiating entire
fleets +ith a single blo+/ ho+e)er9
PAbyssP an also be in)o*ed u#on subterranean ground +ater/ #otentially
allo+ing it to olla#se )ast s+athes of strutures as +ell!
J!!!!!!Still/ that +ould be a onsiderable strain on her body +ouldnPt itLJ
J-Pm sure theyP)e fatored that in! 0oth the Staff and the -tsu+a! "hey
Page 1:9/219
#robably onsider this too big to miss!J
At %iyu*iPs +orried 7uestion/ %aya ga)e an absentminded ans+er!
-n ontrast to -tsu+a %ioPs #o+erful magi/ her body +as 7uite +ea*!
-t +asnPt 7uite a##arent until around her mid teens/ but from the age of
20 she +as fored to use a motori6ed +heelhair to mo)e around! -t
+asnPt that her legs +ere afflited suh that she ouldnPt +al*/ but
beause e)en the slightest e8ertion +as e8hausting! After graduating
from uni)ersity/ it +as said she rarely e)er left the -tsu+a house!
"he -tsu+a +ere urrently one of the "en %aster &ouses/ but in fat that
+as largely based on the fat that they had the Strategi 'lass magiian
%io! ,or her to be aboard a +arshi# that +ould li*ely see battle/
ho+e)er brief that #eriod of time +as/ ould only be said to be a gamble!
JNust as +e had ne+s of GiX $XndYPs mo)ements/ it seems our
mobili6ation of %io3san has not gone unnotied! Again this is as of yet
unonfirmed/ but +e ha)e reei)ed a re#ort that 5otor 0e6obra6o)
arri)ed in Fladi)osto* today!J
&earing that name/ Ha6amaPs e8#ression +as mo)ed again!
J33"he P-gniterP -gor Andree)ih 0e6obra6o)LJ
J$es/ that )ery 5otor 0e6obra6o)! &a)ing +itnessed the reent e)ents
off the Southern Horean Peninsula/ their military leadershi# a##ears to
ha)e reonsidered the effeti)eness of large sale magi!J
1hile he didnPt let out a sound/ "atsuya +as .ust as sur#rised!
-gor Andree)ih 0e6obra6o) +as a sientist in the So)iet Aademy of
Siene/ yet at the same time/ a Strategi 'lass magiian of the ;e+
So)iet <nion!
&e +as not a lassified Strategi magiian li*e "atsuya/ but rather li*e
%io +as a state reogni6ed member of the "hirteen A#ostles! &is
Strategi magi P"uman 0ombaP D;ote O Z[\]^3_`\_]O %ist 0ombE /
+hilst one ste# outlassed by the <;SAPs Angie SiriusP P&ea)y %etal
0urstP in #o+er/ +as said to #ossess the greatest destruti)e radius of the
"hirteen!
<ntil no+/ ountries had only demonstrated their Strategi magis
+ithout a##lying them for atual ombat use/ but in the most reent
Page 160/219
onflit four Strategi magiians/ inluding "atsuya/ had been
mobili6ed!
J-tPs li*ely the Ireat Asian Alliane has reei)ed similar intel33J
JPeae should be established in the near future thenLJ
J- belie)e that +ould be the ase!J
-n that #ause/ %aya loo*ed at Ha6ama +ith a smile! 5es#ite the fat she
+as in her mid 40s/ that smile ombined a youthful uteness and adult
se8 a##eal +hih made her seem no older than 30!
Suh harm +as +asted on Ha6ama ho+e)er/ as he silently +aited for
the ne8t +ords!
J!!!!!!=ur history from sine three years ago/ +ill be settled +ith this!J
"he slight olor of frustration +hih flitted #ast %ayaPs fae as she
resumed her tal* ouldnPt ha)e +holly been "atsuyaPs imagination!
J"he disa##earane of VhWnhai ;a)al Port has attrated the attention of
numerous ountries! "he ause of that +as unmista*ably due to Strategi
lass magi/ and a not inonsiderable number of them are beginning to
#robe around as to .ust +ho the o#erator +as! -t is most li*ely some of
them +ill lin* this +ith the annihilation of the fleet the Ireat Asian
Alliane dis#athed three years ago! -t +ould be a )ery undesirable
outome to us for "atsuya3sanPs identity to ome out ho+e)er!J
J- fully agree!J
Seeing Ha6amaPs nod/ %aya ga)e a broad smile indistinguishable
bet+een real and fa*e!
;o/ itPs li*ely that her smile this time +as sinere!
J-Pm glad you understand! "hen to be on the safe side/ -Pd li*e you to
refrain from ontat +ith "atsuya3san for a +hile as +ell!J
%ayaPs negotiation +ith Ha6ama +as steered to obtain the most
satisfatory result for the $otsuba!
-tPd be too muh to say that he +as led around/ but the onession that
"atsuya +ould no longer be alled to battle +ith the Ireat Asian
Alliane for this onflit +as unmista*ably %ayaPs #ae!
Page 161/219
"hen again the terms li*e P+ill you om#ly +ith this )erbal ontratP and
P+ill you abide by all as#ets of this )erbal ontratP are things +hih
li*ely +ould ha)e 7uestion mar*s in #arenthesis after them!
;o+ %aya +as alone +ith "atsuya in the dra+ing room! After +ra##ing
things u# Ha6ama naturally leftBhe +as .ust as busy after allBand
%iyu*i had )aated the room at %aya2s diret order!
"hen des#ite ha)ing e)en instruted her attendant to lea)e/ %aya didn2t
ut diretly to the hase!
She sim#ly sat for a +hile si##ing tea from her u# +ith a loo* of
dissatisfation/ as "atsuya sat do+n in silene faing her!
-n silene/ in other +ords/ +ithout as*ing or +aiting for #ermission!
&is a##earane as he leaned ba* in his hair +aiting for her +ords +as
absent from all a##rehension or fear!
Ilaning at that a##earane/ %aya returned her u# to its sauer!
>"he last time +e faed eah other li*e this +as three years ago huh!?
"here +as no hint of hubris in her )oie or e8#ression!
>"his is the first time - ha)e been alled out li*e this/ =ba3uea!?
>- +onder!?
At "atsuya2s usual ynial rather than res#etful air/ %aya also ado#ted
a more informal attitude than before!
>'ome to thin* of it/ this is the first time +e2)e s#o*en alone!?
>$es!?
"hat2s not to say their ra##ort +as 4friendly2!
"he light glinting in their eyes +as too strong for that!
>So +hat is it you +ished to s#ea* aboutL?
>5on2t be in suh a hurry! 1on2t you ha)e some teaL?
>-f you start going around gi)ing me tea/ your entourage is going to start
saying some annoying things!?
At "atsuya2s all too andid remar*/ %aya let out a breath!
>&onesty isn2t al+ays a )irtue you *no+!?
Page 162/219
>Cemonstrations for the sa*e of another are al+ays #ainful to hear!?
"heir banter fle+ ba* and forth li*e ra#id *eystro*es!
%aya didn2t anger/ but rather ga)e an a##ro)ing nod!
>An unreser)ed om#anion is also good one in a +hile!?
>-s it disagreeable to youL?
>"he relationshi# bet+een us is that of ne#he+ and aunt! "here is no
need for suh onerns!?
After those +ords re#lied in a tone indisernible from her true feelings
or a sim#le fabade/ %aya #i*ed u# the bu66er on the table!
"he faint hime of a handbell rang out/ yet neither the door nor the +alls
of this room +ere #artiularly thin!
5es#ite that not a minute later a soft *no* rang from the door/ meaning
that the room must ha)e been monitored in some +ay9 ne)ertheless
"atsuya did not hurry to stand!
>5id you all for meL?
"he elderly butler from earlier returned to the sene! ()en seeing
"atsuya2s leisurely seated a##earane/ he didn2t bat an eyelid!
>&ayama3san/ some more tea for me #lease! And the same for "atsuya3
san as +ell!?
>'ertainly!?
&ad it been Ao*i/ he no doubt +ould ha)e gone #ale and started yelling
at "atsuya! ,orgetting e)en that he +as in the #resene of %aya!
0ut there +as no +ay a onfidant #ermitted e)en to 4ea)esdro#2 at the
side of his master/ +hate)er the a##earane or reasons/ +ould e)er be
#rone to suh #etty outbursts!
"he reason "atsuya +as so rela8ed also stemmed from that!
;ot to mention that it +ould ha)e been im#ossible to 4smooth things
out2 any+ay!
0eause it +as )isible +ith a glane that "atsuya held no submissi)eness
to+ards %aya +hatsoe)er!
1hile +aiting for the tea/ %aya didn2t utter a +ord!
Page 163/219
"atsuya li*e+ise +as in no hurry!
41on2t you ha)e some tea2 basially meant 4+e2ll tal* o)er tea2! -t
+asn2t #artiularly e8erting to figure suh a thing out/ and only a hild
+ould ma*e a fuss about +aiting for suh a #eriod of time!
At length after ta*ing a si# from the u# butler &ayama brought/ %aya
finally seemed to be in the mood!
>"han* you for your efforts in this e)ent/ "atsuya3san!?
&earing that tone/ no one +ould ta*e those +ords at fae )alue!
>;o/ there2s no suh thing!?
"atsuya li*e+ise +as under no delusion that he +as being #raised!
>&o+e)er/ it2s something troubling for the $otsuba!?
>- am sorry!?
Sure enough/ she began )oiing om#laints +ith a theatrial sigh/ and
"atsuya ga)e a formal a#ology! ;ot that he did anything laudable li*e
fall #rostrate to the ground or rub his forehead against the table or
anything!
>@@1ell/ - *no+ that you +ere sim#ly follo+ing orders! Although -
had +anted to as* %a.or Ha6ama if there really +as a need to go so far!
1ell/ there2s no #oint fretting o)er the #ast!
>-2m sorry for the trouble!?
"atsuya2s a#ology this time +as slightly more sinere! %orality aside/
"atsuya also #ersonally felt that +hat ha##ened +as a little o)er*ill! Q
atually not 4a little2 but loser to the #oint of e8essi)e/ mindless
destrution!
>%ore im#ortant no+ are the #roblems from here!?
>-s there anything onrete so farL?
%aya did not gi)e an immediate ans+er to "atsuya2s 7uestion!
Cather she losed her eyes/ too* a si# of tea/ then slo+ly loo*ed u#!
5iretly into "atsuya2s eyes!
"atsuya didn2t meet her ga6e/ instead lifting his u# to his mouth in the
same +ay as his aunt!
Page 164/219
>"he Stars are mo)ing!?
&er +ords as she resolutely maintained eye ontat held the #o+er to
free6e "atsuya2s mo)ement for .ust a moment!
>%eaning that Ameria itself is mo)ing/ huh!?
&a)ing at last reahed this #oint/ %aya and "atsuya finally lashed head
to head!
-t +as im#ossible to om#are the +eights behind them!
=n the one hand %aya had the entire might of the $otsuba at her ba*/
+hile defending "atsuya +ould li*ely be %iyu*i alone!
$et the steel in "atsuya2s eyes did not lose an inh to the #ressure %aya
e8uded!
>,or no+/ the Stars ha)e sim#ly begun their o+n in)estigation! 0ut they
ha)e already gras#ed that the e8#losion +as aused by a magi +hih
on)erts mass into energy! "hat narro+s do+n the identity of the
o#erator onsiderably! 33S#eifially/ enough to #in#oint you and
%iyu*i3san as one of the sus#ets!?
At %aya2s information/ "atsuya ould only sha*e his head!
>@@"hat2s 7uite the ama6ing ability to gather information!?
>"heir re#utation as the most #o+erful fore of magiians in the +orld
isn2t .ust for sho+!J
>;o/ the one - +as #raising +as you =ba3ue!?
"here +as no re#ly!
%aya fell silent as if dee# in thought!
>1hilst - admit that they are li*ely the most #o+erful fore out there/
the intelligene the <;SA Stars2 has managed to #roure is almost real3
time! &a)e you onsidered the #ossibility of a s#yL?
>@@- an2t say! <nfortunately!?
>1ell of ourse!?
As if he had someho+ +or*ed out %aya2s res#onse/ "atsuya nodded
+ith a straight fae!
,or a moment %aya seemed rather resentful/ but as e8#eted
Page 16:/219
immediately regained her smile!
>@@-n any ase/ you must be areful of your surroundings! "he Stars
are not li*e the soft o##onents you ha)e gone u# against until no+! -f
they determine that you are a threat to the hegemony of the <nited
States/ it is #ossible that they ha)e the a#ability to ta*e you do+n!?
>%eaning that if the li*elihood of the $otsuba getting in)ol)ed rises too
high/ - an e8#et assassins from a different diretion! -2ll bear that in
mind!?
"he aunt and ne#he+ stared at eah other!
"here +as no longer e)en the hint of a smile u#on their fae!
>-t2s a bit early to be thin*ing that far!?
>$ou belie)ed that - +ould arri)e at that onlusion in this #lae/ +hih
+as +hy you sent %iyu*i outside +as it notL?
"atsuya2s +ording hanged slightly!
%aya did not )erbally ans+er his hallenge!
Cather/ her ans+er ould be found in her loo*ing a+ay!
>"atsuya/ dro# out of shool!?
1hen she finally s#o*e/ it +as not a re#ly but rather a ommand!
>5ro# out of shool/ +hyL?
>"o lie lo+ here in this house for a +hile! "he Iuardianshi# of %iyu*i3
san +ill be transferred to another!
>- belie)e the seletion of Iuardian +as a matter for the esorted to
deide!?
>()erything has its e8e#tion!?
>1ell/ fair enough@@0ut - refuse!?
-f there had been another in the room/ they +ould ha)e shi)ered at the
sudden dro# in tem#erature!
;ot a #hysial dro#/ but rather due to the inredible tension!
>-f - suddenly dro# out at this time/ - belie)e it +ould be as good as a
onfession that - +as the magiian +ho destroyed the fleet of the Ireat
Asian Alliane!?
Page 166/219
>"he reason is irrele)ant!?
>- su##ose!?
"here +as no longer a trae of e8#ression u#on either %aya or "atsuya2s
fae!
>$ou are disobeying my diret orderL?
>"he only one allo+ed to order me is %iyu*i alone!?
"he tension reahed its #ea*!
1ithin that #eriod of urgeny/ as if time had sto##ed/
"he +orld turned to 4;ight2!
-t +as not mere dar*ness!
,loating +ithin the dar*ness/ shone a brilliant sea of stars!
"he roof of the dra+ing room beame a moonless/ starlit night s*y!
"he stars flo+ed/ beoming rays of light/
33and the sent of blood suddenly filled the room!
-n the ne8t moment/
1ithout a sound/
"hat indoor 4;ight2 shattered!
Ce)ealed +ithin +as the tableau of the aunt and ne#he+/ still staring at
eah other +ithout hange!
&o+e)er the sense of tension +hih had one surged bet+een them/ had
faded +ith the olla#se of 4;ight2!
>B-t seems you +ent rather easy on me!?
>=f ourse! $ou2re my ute ne#he+ after all!?
%aya smiled at "atsuya2s mutter!
Page 167/219
;o +ounds remained on either of the t+o/ and the sent of blood had
faded!
>Still/ e)en allo+ing for that you did +ell! And so/ this time - +ill #ermit
you your selfishness!?
>"han* you )ery muh!?
>-t2s fine! "a*e it as a treat for brea*ing my magi!?
1ordlessly/ "atsuya rose!
At his light bo+/ %aya shoo* her hands in a flutter!
"atsuya left the room!
"here +as not a )oie raised in hallenge to sto# him from any+here!

After "atsuya had left the dra+ing room %aya had been left lost in
thought alone for a +hile/ but at length she e8haled strongly and #i*ed
u# the bu66er one more!
>5id you allL?
>-2d li*e a hange of senery! Please #re#are tea in the solarium/ and
bring %iyu*i3san and "atsuya3san along!?
"he butler &ayama sho+ed u# immediately/ and %aya ditated her
+ishes!
>'ertainly!?
&ayama bo+ed/ then +ithout ma*ing eye ontat 7ui*ly leared u# the
u#s!
As he arried out %aya2s instrutions/ then #re#ared to lea)e the room/
>1ait a moment!?
%aya sto##ed him!
>&ayama3san/ there is something you +ant to as* meL?
,inally loo*ing o)er at his mistress/ &ayama bo+ed res#etfully!
>"here indeed is! 1ith your #ermission@@?
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&ayama had formerly ser)ed the #re)ious $otsuba &ead and +as no+
ontinuing his ser)ie under %aya! 1hile he only a##eared slightly #ast
middle age/ he +as atually o)er 70 years old!
"here +ere many things in this house he +as able to say that others
+ould shrin* ba* in fear from!
>-s it really alright to lea)e "atsuya3dono li*e thatL?
Also/ unli*e the others/ he did not see "atsuya as a 4fa*e2! &is o+n
magi ability +asn2t of a #artiularly high le)el/ but ha)ing seen
ountless magiians o)er the years his )enerable e8#eriene rated
"atsuya highly!
33a magiian one should be +ary of!
J-t2s fine! Ah/ - *no+ full +ell +hat it is you2re onerned about!
'ertainly/ that hild +ill betray the $otsuba at any time!?
>@@my a#ologies!?
>Nust as - onfirmed earlier/ my magi is a bad math3u# against that
hild2s unusual talent! -f it ame to a serious fight/ it is highly li*ely -
+ould lose!?
%aya2s magi +as 4%eteor Stream2! "he Na#anese name is
re#resentati)e of the a##earane of the magi/ but the (nglish name
4%eteor Gine2 is more re#resentati)e of the nature of the magi!
"his magi +hih had emented %aya2s #lae as one of the most
#o+erful magiians in the +orld/ earning her the names 45e)il of the
,ar (ast2 and 4Aueen of ;ight2 is a 'on)ergene ty#e Systemati magi
+hih ontrols the distribution of light in its area of effet! -ts #o+er is
es#eially am#lified in a losed s#ae suh as rooms or tunnels!
"he a##arent #roess of this magi first forms ountess tiny balls of light
floating in the dar*ened area/ +hih are then shot out as rays!
"he atta* a##ears li*e a sho+er of lasers/ but the #o+er of %eteor Gine
has no onnetion +ith the energy of the light! ()en the amount of light
is irrele)ant!
"he essene of the magi lies in foring the redistribution of light/ +here
the oordinates for light to be in are set as little balls and lines are then
dra+n bet+een them!
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Anything in the #ath of the s#ae the light #asses through is modified as
the light is transmittedO regardless of the hardness of the ob.et/ heat
resistane/ #lastiity/ or resiliene/ a hole is drilled through! ;ot e)en
highly trans#arent glass holds an o#tial trans#areny of 100T/ and
annot esa#e the e)ent modifiation that 4light has #assed through2 and
therefore 4a hole +as made2!
Goo*ing at the logi behind this magi/ rather than the #henomenon
itself/ it an be onluded that the magi interferes +ith the strutural
information of the ob.et )ia the distribution of light/ diretly )a#ori6ing
solids and li7uids +ithout affeting heat or #ressure9 in other +ords a
ty#e of deom#osition magi +hih deom#oses into gas! Sine it2s
defined as a 4ray of distributed light2/ it annot be defended against )ia
blo*ing/ refleting or refrating! Sine the light doesn2t ome from any
#artiular diretion/ it annot be shielded against by magi either! ()en
if one +ere to o)er themsel)es +ith a s#herial shield in all diretions/
it annot alter the mo)ement of #hotons and the #henomena 4light has
beome a line2 +ill still be #rodued/ resulting in a hole!
Nust as it2s im#ossible to defend against by magi +hih shields against
#hysial #henomena/ it2s almost im#ossible to defend against %eteor
Gine +ith anti magi! Sine it2s mediated )ia the #hysial #henomenon
alled light/ #re)enting it #urely )ia anti magi suh as interferene o)er
an area is e8tremely diffiult! -f one2s interferene strength in the single
element 4distribution of light2 annot e8eed %aya2s/ 4%eteor Gine2 is
unsto##able! As 4distribution of light2 is %aya2s innate magi/ interfering
+ith it is far too high a hurdle! And one the magi has been ati)ated/
e)en if you try and ause interferene in the area of effet/ the
#henomena re+riting effet that 4light has mo)ed2 has already ta*en
#lae!
;ot e)en the Phalan8 of the Nuumon.is/ +hih #erfetly ombines
defense against #hysial fores +ith defense against magi/ an hold
against it! 5ue to that %aya stands in)inible in a fight bet+een
magiians/ and is regarded as one of the 4strongest magiians in the
+orld2!
&o+e)erBas 4%eteor Gine2 o#erates by indiretly affeting the
strutural information of an enlosed s#ae/ it deisi)ely loses out to
Page 170/219
"atsuya2s ability to diretly interfere +ith strutural information! "he
magial barrier through +hih light #asses rafted by 4;ight2 )ia
interfering +ith the strutural information is easily shattered by
interferene +hih diretly affets the strutural information!
>- an2t e)en say it2s unli*ely - +ould be *illed by him! 0ut ho+e)er
muh "atsuya is able to betray the $otsuba/ he +ill ne)er be able to
betray %iyu*i! And %iyu*i +ill ne)er o##ose the $otsuba!?
>%iyu*i3sama is dee#ly de#endent u#on "atsuya3dono though! Should
the time e)er ome that "atsuya stands against the $otsuba/ - annot
thin* that she +ould e)er o##ose him!?
&is bro+ furro+ed in onern/ &ayama refuted the +ords of his
mistress!
0ut there +as no sign that %aya +as disturbed!
>-t2s fine! ()en +ithout brain+ashing/ it2s not #artiularly diffiult to
#ush someone2s thoughts in a #artiular diretion! $ou don2t need an
e8#lanation do you/ &ayama3sanL?
"here +as #ity in the smile no+ u#on %aya2s li#s!
>%iyu*i +ill ne)er be able to esa#e from the res#onsibility she has
im#osed u#on herself! She +as raised by my sister to be li*e that/ after
all! And "atsuya +ill ne)er be able to do anything +hih auses %iyu*i
#ain!?
>@@but/ in order for that?
>$es! -tPs unfortunate for the other hildren +ho are andidates/ but it
annot be anyone e8e#t %iyu*i! So that "atsuya/ that monster/ +ill not
turn against us!?
>%iyu*i3sama must reei)e the #osition at any ost then!?
>"here2s no need to fret/ &ayama3san! - ha)e e)erything already #lanned
out!?
%aya smiled broadly!
1ith a dee# bo+/ &ayama left the room!
-t2s ommonly thought that the $o*ohama -nident of 209: +as the
e8tension of the in)asion of =*ina+a in 2092/ and their subse7uent
Page 171/219
defeat of three years ago Din other +ords/ their 4failed am#aign2EBan
attem#t to redeem themsel)es!
&o+e)er/ for the e)ents follo+ing the in)asion of $o*ohama to ome to
a lose in the same +ay as the 40attle of =*ina+a2 an only be alled the
irony of history!
Re*erences an2 3rans-ation Notes
1! O =ba3<e O arhai formal term of address for Aunt/ made by
ombining the .a#anese +ord for aunt D=baE +ith the honorifi )e! Still
used no+adays in the u##er ehelons of Na#anese soiety/ albeit
e8tremely rarely! -t arries immense res#et/ +hih an
be further inreased by the addition of P3samaP!
2! 5ono O An honorifi that lies bet+een P3sanP and P3samaP! 1hen
attahed to a name it roughly e7uates to PlordP or PmasterP!
Page 172/219
Chapter 16
2092 A+ August 44t% , "#ina$a1att-e*ie-2
"atsuya/ aom#anied by the =nna Airborne under the ommand of
Ha6ama/ had dri)en the in)ading enemy to the +ater2s edge!
;ormally/ it2d be 4"atsuya aom#anied the =nna Airborne2!
&o+e)er that single #etite magiian +ho stood alone at the head of a
solitary infantry #latoon/ his form hidden beneath a full3faed helmet
and Armoured Suit as he annihilated the enemy/ ould only be seen as
suh by both friend and foe ali*e!
"he battlefield +as an utterly one3sided slaughter!
$et at the same time/ it la*ed all the harateristis of a slaughter!
;o blood s#rayed!
;o bodies fle+!
"he stenh of burning flesh/ the e8#losions a#able of tearing men a#art/
+ere all absent!
"he entire battlefield +as dominated by an unanny silene!
"he bullets fired by the in)aders/ their grenades/ #ortable ro*ets9 all
dissol)ed in the air as they fle+ to+ards the defenders! Shells/ bombs/
and missiles9 all shared their fate!
"he enemy soldiers still stubbornly resisting/ still madly #ulling their
triggers also one by one blurred/ +ar#ed9 faded!
"he soldiers follo+ing behind "atsuya +ere no longer e)en firing no+9
they merely stared at the fantasy #laying out before them!
Seeing their omrades disa##ear one after the other/ the in)ading troo#s
e8#eriened the same disonerting mo*ery of reality!
"he instinti)e fear +hih should ha)e arisen from the sight of )iolent
death +as not stimulated/ and des#ite being eaten a+ay by unutterable
fears surrender did not ross their mind!
"hat +as .ust +hat "atsuya desired!
Page 173/219
-f the enemy had high le)el magiians on their side/ they had not
unilaterally been de#loyed yet! -t didn2t ha)e anything to do +ith the
Na#anese side/ but rather ould be said to ha)e stemmed from
arelessness follo+ing the suess of the in)aders2 initial atta*!
33all of +hih +as meaningless to "atsuya!
'urrently/ his s#irit +as one of fren6y!
All hesitane to+ards death and destrution had been remo)ed!
-t +as as if he no longer remembered murder as a taboo!
&e *illed and destroyed as easily as he +al*ed!
Cather/ he obliterated!
()en he ould feel onflit from suh +ide reahing slaughter! 0ut that
onflit ould not touh his immo)able heart!
"he sight of his sister on the brin* of death had im#ated him dee#ly to
the ore!
"he moment one #assed that threshold/ his magi +as as hel#less as
anything else! -t +as the first time he had attem#ted 4Cegro+th2 on
others/ but from #re)ious e8#eriene and the *no+ledge that his o+n
flesh and another2s flesh +ere all similarly 4matter2 he *ne+ that
restoration +as #ossible!
0ut not e)en his 4Cegro+th2 ould all someone ba* from death! Gife
and death +as an irre)ersible yli #roess/ the hanging of state from
4ali)e2 to 4dead2 being #urely intrinsi! 4Cegro+th2 ould restore a body
ba* to a #erfet state/ but the dead do not ome ba* to life! Suh an
inherent truth +as learer to none than "atsuya himself!
()en if the heart had already sto##ed/ the brain shut do+n/ the throat
torn o#en/ if that +as the e8tent of their in.uries then re)i)al +as still
#ossible! ()en an instantly fatal +ound/ as long as rebuilding the body
and restarting the irulation of blood +ould ha)e had e)en the faintest
hane of resusitating the #erson/ his 4Cegro+th2 ould be said to gi)e
the dead life!
0ut one the state of death had been established/ he +as hel#less!
-f he had not made it on time@@that fear had been enough to dri)e
e)en him into a #ani! "o "atsuya/ for +hom not e)en his o+n death
Page 174/219
ould indue 4true fear2Bmore aurately/ he had been de#ri)ed of suh
an emotionBthe fear of losing %iyu*i +as all the more am#lified for
there being no other fears to tem#er him and shoo* him strongly/ dee#ly/
and utterly! &o+e)er alm he a##eared/ he +as urrently seething +ith
rage!
-n the absene of any other emotions he +as sim#ly almly/
methodially retaliating +ithout hesitation!
-n a manner of s#ea*ing/ it +as a rational fren6y!
A madness dominated only by one #ur#ose!
Allo+ing the enemy no surrender/ his madness greedily de)oured the
li)es of all +ithin his #ath!
1hile the routed enemy frontlines ould only be said to be in a state of
olla#se/ their hain of ommand +as yet intat!
"he enemy ommander/ determining that holding a bridgehead +as no
longer tenable/ ordered a retreat out to sea!
"he in)asion fores fought to be first into the landing raft on the beah!
"o esa#e the gras# of the de)il e)en no+ ad)aning to+ards them ste#
by ste#!
;ot *no+ing that there also/ 5eath a+aited them +ith his sythe held
high!
,aed +ith the sight of the enemy fleeing and no longer
ounteratta*ing/ "atsuya halted!
Suddenly remembering their role/ the =nna Airborne assumed formation
and #re#ared to shoot!
$et faster than the ommand 4fireM2 ould be gi)en/ "atsuya ati)ated his
4#o+er2!
-t2s not that there aren2t magiians +ho +ould emit enough interferene
for it to be )isible!
A truly e8ellent magiian uses no more fore than absolutely neessary
to ahie)e the desired e)ent modifiation +ithout other+ise altering the
4+orld2/ +hile a magiian +ith e7ual #o+er yet inferior s*ill +ill
Page 17:/219
oasionally ause unintentional e)ent modifiations from time to time!
"he side3effets in this instane ho+e)er +ere #urely #hysial!
"he soldiers #ushing into the small am#hibious assault rafts/ as +ell as
the boats themsel)es disintegrated and sattered into the air! "he )isible
distortion +as aused by the boats2 sudden #rei#itation/ forming
gaseous layers of different densities and refrating light!
"he soldiers +ho had been srambling to board the ne8t raft sto##ed
mo)ing!
"he #atter of +ater ould be heard as they thre+ their +ea#ons into the
sea!
"he sound s#read/ as if a hain reation!
A +hite flag +as raised!
0y raising the na)al flag of the Ireat Asian Alliane at the same time/
they +ere e)idently ban*ing on #roteti)e status as P=1s!
0ehind "atsuya/ instead of the order to shoot/ the order to hold fire +as
gi)en instead!
Seeing that/ "atsuya raised his right hand to+ards the +hite flag!
>Sto# it/ you foolM?
A hand a##eared along +ith the )oie!
-n order to esa#e that hand/ "atsuya lo+ered his arm and t+isted
around!
&o+e)er his right arm/ +hih should ha)e esa#ed/ +as firmly gri##ed
by another hand s#routing from the left!
>"he enemy does not intend to fight any furtherM?
&e *ne+ that #erfetly +ell +ithout being told!
&e ould not see the fae of his a#tor due to the full fae helmet/ but it
+as a )oie he had not heard before!
At the least/ it +asn2t 'a#tain Ha6ama or Gt! Sanada!
-n any ase had Ha6ama attem#ted at any #oint to restrain him/ "atsuya
+ould ha)e had no intention of s#aring the enemy regardless!
<# to if the enemy +ere indeed trying to surrender/ e8terminating the
Page 176/219
enemy before a formal surrender +as established and hostilities #ro#erly
eased!
,ortunately/ there +ere still enemies +ho held +ea#ons in their hands!
>- said sto#M?
0ut "atsuya +as unable to #ull the trigger on his 'A5!
&is )ision suddenly s#un around/ and he lost the target oordinates for
deom#osition!
&e felt a strong im#at on his ba*! &e realised that he had been thro+n!
&e immediately made to rise/ and .ust as 7ui*ly realised that he +as
already being held do+n!
>Any more at this #oint +ould be mere buthery! - +on2t allo+ it!?
A handgun +as held to the nose of his helmet!
>'alm yourself/ S#eial Gieutenant! $anagi/ sto+ that gun!?
"atsuya reognised the )oie this time! &e also realled the designation
4S#eial Gieutenant2! Should the need arise to mobilise i)ilians into
atual ombat/ it +as a ran* gi)en for the sa*e of on)eniene! "he
)oie belonged to none other than 'a#tain Ha6ama!
>S#eial Gieutenant/ do you remember the onditions for your
mobilisationL?
;aturally/ he *ne+ those too!
&is head/ #re)iously boiling/ ooled do+n a little!
&is battle lust subsided/ and +ith it the desire to slaughter and destroy!
><nderstood!?
1ith that re#ly he sho+ed that he had unhoo*ed his finger from the
trigger of his 'A5/ as $anagi remo)ed the *nee he had #ressed to
"atsuya2s ba*!
K K K
At the surrender of the landing fore and their disarmament relief began
to s#read not only amongst Ha6amaPs troo#s but also amongst the
Page 177/219
soldiers sent to intere#t them9 des#ite being understandable/ it #ro)ed
to be #remature!
JA message from &AMJ
A ommuniations offier rushed o)er to Ha6ama! &is fae/ the helmet
remo)ed/ +as #ale!
JA detahment of the enemy fleet is a##roahing from AguniM "+o high
s#eed ruisers/ and four destroyersM
-tPs too late for intere#tionM "heir artillery is estimated to ome into
range in 20 minutesM 1e ha)e to get a+ay from the oast as fast as
#ossibleMJ
&is artiulation +as rather e8itable/ but that +as understandable gi)en
the situation!
JIet me a ommuniator!J
-n ontrast/ Ha6ama ga)e his order in subdued tones!
JSirMJ
"he soldierPs )oie +as far louder than neessary!
"he disarmed soldiers/ holding their breath/ loo*ed at their a#tain! "hat
none of them attem#ted to ma*e a brea* for it +as a disa##ointment to
"atsuya! -t may ha)e been that due to his undisguised bloodlust/ none of
the enemy soldiers +ere feeling #artiularly enthusiasti about ta*ing
their hanes!
J"his is Ha6ama! 'ould some tor#edo boats!!!!!!no antishi# airraft are
a)ailable eitherL 1hat shall +e do +ith the P=1s
thenL!!!!!!<nderstood!J
Putting do+n the ommuniator/ Ha6ama too* a dee# breath!
J-n 20 minutes time/ this area +ill fall +ithin range of enemy gunsM All
units ta*e harge of the #risoners/ and e)auate inlandMJ
"atsuya ouldnPt belie)e his ears!
1ith no trans#orts/ and the number of #risoners far outnumbering their
o+n troo#s/ .ust ho+ did he intend to ma*e enough #rogress in 20
minutesL
Ha6amaPs fae/ +ith his helmet remo)ed/ sho+ed no sign of agitation!
Page 178/219
&is determined )isage +as a mas* of iron!
()en +ithout (SP ho+e)er/ it +as e)ident that he found the order to
mo)e the #risoners a bitter #ill to s+allo+!
JS#eial Gieutenant/ return to base for no+!J
"hat terse instrution/ gi)en in that emotionless )oie only ser)ed to
su##ort "atsuyaPs onlusion!
=r at the least/ he thought so!
&e had said return/ but he meant esa#e!
J5o you *no+ the e8at #ositions of the enemy ruisersLJ
-nstead of om#lying +ith Ha6amaPs instrutions/ "atsuya in7uired +ith
his helmet still on!
J1e do indeed/ but!!!!!!SanadaMJ
0ut +hy/ Ha6ama didnPt as*!
Cather/ he alled o)er the one arrying the tatial information terminal!
J-Pm lin*ed to our maritime radar! Shall - transfer it to our S#eial
GieutenantPs )isorLJ
J0efore that!J
"atsuya interru#ted bet+een SanadaPs 7uestion to Ha6ama!
J5id you bring the armament de)ie +ith the e8tended range se7uenes
you sho+ed me on that dayLJ
Sanada raised his )isor/ and e8hanged a glane +ith Ha6ama!
Ha6ama nodded/ and Sanada loo*ed ba* at "atsuya!
J- donPt ha)e it here/ but if +e ha)e it lifted in by heli it an be here
+ithin fi)e minutesJ
JPlease bring it as soon as #ossible!J
At the latest/ Sanada +ould ha)e said/ but "atsuya ut him off +ith
rather ty#ially boyish haste!
"atsuya then turned to Ha6ama/ #ulled out a +ired ommuniations line
from his still fully enlosed helmet/ and held it out!
Ha6ama merely raised his eyebro+s but +ithout a +ord #ut his o+n
Page 179/219
helmet ba* on/ then onneted them by #lugging the +ire into his
terminal!
J- ha)e a +ay to destroy those shi#s!J
"his seret tal* he had been a##roahed +ith in the #resene of his
subordinates began +ith a bombshell!
J&o+e)er/ - donPt +ish for it to be seen by the troo#s! 'ould you lea)e
Gt! SanadaPs de)ie here/ then mo)e e)eryone outLJ
Ha6ama ould not see "atsuyaPs e8#ression!
Foies didnPt arry o)er )ery +ell along the +ired ommuniator either!
All he had to .udge +ith +as tone/ and the slight assoiation he had had!
J!!!!!!)ery +ell! &o+e)er/ Sanada and - +ill remain here!J
J!!!!!!understood!J
&o+ +ill you ommand the +ithdra+ing soldiers thenL "atsuya thought/
but immediately #ut out of his mind as none of his onern!
As Ha6ama ga)e the order to #ull out/ gi)ing ommand to the offier
+ho had restrained "atsuya before/ "atsuya a+aited the arri)al of the
armament de)ie!
K K K
"he heti +ithdra+al of the intere#tion troo#s +as dis#layed at large
u#on the sreens in the 'ommand and 'ontrol 'entre!
;aturally/ it +as being )ie+ed by %iyu*i and o as +ell!
As the soldiers began to fall ba* +ith their #risoners in to+/ three
figures sho+ed no signs of mo)ing!
%urmurs ran through the ommand room! 1ho are those idiots/ and
suh ould be learly heard e)en through the glass!
Seeing the )ideo feed/ %iyu*i gas#ed!
=ne of the three +as none other than her brother!
She *ne+ +ithout ha)ing to as*! 1ithout ha)ing to he* the -5 signal!
()en though his fae +as hidden behind a )isor/ she ould tell sim#ly
Page 180/219
from his si6e!
"he o#erators +ere frantially re#eating into their ommuniators
re7uests for e)auation! An offier +earing the ran* insignia of %a.or
+as des#erately alling for reinforements from a base some+hereB
#robably HyushuB to ome hel# them!
%iyu*i *ne+ that Sa*urai .ust by +athing her lenh her teeth as she
stared at that sene understood +hat she +anted to do/ +hat she +anted
to say/ and in *no+ing so too* her hand!
She thought that +as #atheti!
()en though she +as .ust 12/ she +as unable to form the +ords she truly
+anted to s#ea*! "he +ords 4go hel# my brother2/ +ords +hih +ould
ha)e ome naturally to any normal selfish #erson!
Sa*urai did not *no+ +hy "atsuya had remained in that #lae!
&o+e)er/ she ould ha6ard a guess!
&e #robably had a +ay to deal +ith that fleet of a##roahing enemy
shi#s!
<nder normal irumstanes that +ould be im#ossible/ but for him/ a
magiian +ho +as a diret desendant of the $otsuba and +ho e8elled
in ertain areas/ it +as suddenly not unthin*able!
0eause e)en though he ould not use normal magi/ he had sho+n that
he +as a#able of insane feats suh as magi a#able of +holly restoring
the human bodyBalthough that +as not true magi aording to %iyaB
and demonstrated it u#on Sa*urai herself!
-t +as indis#utable ho+e)er that as a 4magiian2 he +as sorely la*ing!
-f he +ere to sim#ly beome a ombat magiian as he +as no+/ he
+ould ne)er be able to o)erome barriers that #eo#le normally too* for
granted!
;ot to mention the bombs and bullets he had erased earlier/ +hether
indi)idually or se#arately/ had all needed to be identified first and
e)idently #ushed him to his limits .ust disabling the enemy atta*s! She
didn2t *no+ ho+/ and did indeed onsider it an ama6ing s*ill/ but if
"atsuya did ha)e a magi a#able of reahing +arshi#s do6ens of
*ilometres a+ayBand if he did/ that +ould ross into the realm of
Page 181/219
Strategi lass magiBin the #roess of asting/ he +ould not be able to
#rotet himself in the same +ay as before!
>%adam/ - ha)e a re7uest!?
"he moment she thought that/ +ithout herself being a+are of it/ those
+ords +ere already tumbling from her li#s!
>1hat is itL?
5es#ite the suddenness of it all/ %iya2s )oie ontained not a hint of
sur#rise!
&er tone suggested it +as almost as if she already *ne+ +hat Sa*urai2s
4re7uest2 +as!
>-2d li*e to go to "atsuya3*un!?
<ntil a moment ago %iyu*i had been glued to the sreen9 yet at this she
forefully +renhed her head around!
&er eyes/ staring at Sa*urai/ +ere +ide o#en!
>"hat is to say you +ish to go/ right no+/ o)er thereL?
%iya2s )oie retained its alm tone!
&er ability +as meant to entail mental interferene/ not mind reading!
'ould it be that@@Sa*urai shoo* suh on)enient useless thoughts out
of her head!
>$es!?
>&onami/ e)en though you are meant to be my guardianL?
1ithin that +as the im#liation/ 4and yet you intend to lea)e meL2!
At %iya2s 7uestion/ Sa*urai had no ans+er!
>@@-2m? >1ell/ - su##ose it2s fine!?
Sa*urai had been about to say 4-2m sorry2/ an a#ology +hih ould ha)e
been ta*en either +ay/ yet before that %iya nodded!
>-f those enemy shi#s are left to be/ there2s no telling ho+ muh longer
this base +ill remain safe! "atsuya intends to try do something about
them/ so go hel# him!?
>&uhL?
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"hat e8lamation +as refle8i)e!
Someho+/ it seemed %iya *ne+ +hat it +as "atsuya +as about to
attem#t! "hen again/ it might be only natural onsidering she +as his
mother!
>1hilst it2s #ossible in theory it2s ne)er been done in #ratie/ yet he2s
thought of it any+ay! &is intelligene is one of his strong #oints after
all!?
&o+e)er you loo*ed at it/ those +ere +ords of #raise!
-n s#ite of e)erything a mother +ill still al+ays be a#able of boasting in
her hild/ Sa*urai thought!
>"han* you!?
-2d li*e to belie)e so/ she thought/ as she bo+ed #olitely!
K K K
-n the #re)ious +orld +ar +hih had s#anned t+o deades/ the #rimary
armament of shi#s had shifted from missiles to flaming launhers!
D-nitially these had been alled railguns/ but as their si6e inreased their
names hanged!E
%odern shelling then is a ontinuous bombardment from these flaming
launhers! "he rate of fire is o)er+helmingly su#erior to that of
gun#o+der based +ea#ons/ and sine there2s no need to inlude
#ro#ellant or #ro#ulsion systems they ha)e far more destruti)e a#aity
than missiles! &o+e)er/ their range +as no better than/ or in some ases
inferior to/ that of traditional na)al guns!
,laming launhers em#hasise rate of fire/ and the reoil from e8tending
their range +hilst attem#ting to maintain that rate +ould lead to
signifiant ad)erse effets on the hull +hih annot be ignored!
"hus the ground atta* #o+er of a state3of3the3art modern +arshi# is
said to be o)er 10 times more effeti)e than that of shi#s a entury ago!
1ithin the range of flaming launhers/ e)en a single shi# an turn entire
distrits into a sea of flames!
"he launhers are effeti)e not only against urban areas/ but also
fortifiations! -f the t+o ruisers began raining fire/ the a)erage
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magiian +ouldn2t stand a hane!
"atsuya *ne+ it +as a rae against time! &e too* the maga6ine out from
the range e8#anding armament de)ie/ that large sni#er rifle +ith the
built3in s#eiali6ed 'A5/ and 7ui*ly began e.eting the bullets!
&e las#ed the bullets in his hands one by one/ as if #raying/ then
reloaded them ba* into the maga6ine!
Goo*ing on/ Ha6ama and Sanada had no idea +hat he +as doing! "hey
ould faintly feel that #o+erful magi +as at +or*/ but as to e8atly
+hat tehni7ues +ere being a##lied/ they ould not begin to guess!
-t +ouldn2t .ust ha)e been them +ho +ere stum#ed! -f any magiian
ould see through +hat "atsuya +as doing at this moment/ they +ould
be truly e8e#tional in e)ery sense of the +ord!
1hat "atsuya +as doing +as deom#osing eah bullet/ then rereating it
ane+!
0y the time he had om#leted that #roedure +ith eah bullet/ t+o
minutes had #assed!
>"ime until enemy shi#s ome +ithin rangeO ten minutes!?
As "atsuya finished u# the #re#arations on the armament de)ie/ Sanada
informed him of the grae #eriod left!
>"he shi#s are almost 30 *ilometres +est off the oast@@an it reahL?
>1e2ll .ust ha)e to see!?
"hat +as the only ans+er "atsuya had to Sanada2s 7uestion as he set the
armament de)ie2s ele)ation to 4: degrees!
1ind aside/ that +as the greatest range it +ould be #ossible to ahie)e!
-n that #osition/ "atsuya ati)ated the se7uene!
,rom the mu66le/ a #i#e sha#ed )irtual area began to radiate out+ards!
"his +as the magi 6one +hih +ould aelerate any ob.et #assing
through!
5es#ite the short time of the area2s reation/ Sanada nodded +ith
satisfation at the si6e the area had e8#anded to!
"he longer the length of the )irtual area the longer the aeleration
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effet +ould be a##lied/ and the greater the range e8tension! 1ith the
length it had no+ reahed/ 30 *m might .ust be +ithin their gras#!
0ut that +as not the only magi "atsuya a##lied!
0eyond the aeleration magi 6one/ yet another )irtual area +as ta*ing
sha#e!
>1hat in the@@ML?
"he aeleration magi 6one +as om#rised of three ation #roesses!
"he redution in inertial mass of anything entering the area!
An inrease in s#eed!
"hen the undoing of the initial #roess!
Nust ho+ far and ho+ fast the first ste# ould be ahie)ed +as de#endent
on the magiian!
"he area "atsuya +as a##lying no+ follo+ed the same #rini#les!
&o+e)er this time the initial hange in inertial mass +as set to #ositi)e/
the s#eed magnifiation remained the same/ and the #roess to restore
inertial mass had been disabled!
-n other +ords the region "atsuya added had ta*en the aeleration
magi Sanada designed and om#letely rearranged it into a region for
inreasing inertial mass instead!
All on the fly!
>- an2t belie)e it@@?
Sanada2s murmur +as dro+ned out by the boom of the sni#er rifle!
"atsuya2s eyes seemed to hase that su#ersoni bullet +hih should
ne)er ha)e been seen!
At length he shoo* his head/ disa##ointed!
>@@it2s no good! -t ould only reah 20 *m!?
Nust ho+ had he follo+ed it2s tra.etoryL
1hile he sounded indifferent/ he must ha)e been disa##ointed dee#
do+n! Perha#s he +as berating himself for his o+n +ea*ness!
>1e an only +ait for them to ome +ithin 20 *m!?
Page 18:/219
&earing that/ Sanada #aled!
>0ut by then/ +e2ll be +ithin range of enemy fire as +ellM?
"he effeti)e range of ruiser mounted flaming launhers is some+here
around 1:320 *m! A launher2s range is al+ays de#endent u#on .ust ho+
+ell the shi# an handle the reoil/ meaning range is limited by the si6e
and sha#e of the shi#9 regardless of differenes in manufaturer/ range
an almost al+ays be #redited .ust by the lass of shi#!
20 *m and under +ould definitely fall +ithin range!
>- *no+! 0oth of you/ #lease head ba* to the base! ,rom here/ - an
handle things by myself!?
>5on2t say suh foolish thingsM $ou2re oming as +ell!?
"his +as the #lae the enemy had seleted as a bridgehead/ in other
+ords9 it +as +here the onflit +ould be deided!
-t +as almost ertain the enemy +ould launh the deisi)e atta* here!
-f one ouldn2t engage the enemy shi#s from beyond their range/ one a
shootout began the hanes of sur)i)al here a##roahed nil!
>-f the enemy shi#s are not brought do+n/ the base +ould be in danger!?
Along +ith his family/ still inside!
>"hen at the least/ mo)e from here!?
0oth of them understood #erfetly +ell +hat it +as "atsuya +as
onerned about/ +hat it +as he +anted to #rotet!
>;o good! "here2s no more time to loo* for another )antage #oint!?
&o+e)er he re.eted Sanada2s #ro#osal/ for reasons *no+n only to
himself!
>'ould +e #ossibly intere#tL?
Gistening silently in to the on)ersation bet+een the t+o until no+/
Ha6ama s#o*e u# in a de.eted tone!
>-m#ossible!?
"he ans+er +as .ust as e8#eted/ and nothing more!
>"hen/ +e +ill remain here!?
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1hat +as une8#eted +as the re#ly!
"o "atsuya/ Ha6ama2s res#onse .ust no+ +as inonei)able!
>@@if - fail/ you +ould beome ollateral damage!?
>"here is no #lan +hih is +ithout fail/ and there is no battlefield
+ithout the danger of death! 1hile )itory and defeat may be deided by
tatiians/ li)ing and dying +ill al+ays be deided by soldiers!?
'almly/ +ithout hubris/ Ha6ama said so!
"hat famous #assage/ from the &aga*urea/ +as all that +as needed to be
said! *%+y ,amamoto -sunetomo. on the way of the samurai.(
=ffshore/ #lumes of +ater eru#ted!
"he enemy +as ranging their guns!
1ith nothing left to say "atsuya/ Ha6ama/ and Sanada remained silent!
"he e8at #osition of the enemy +as being transmitted into "atsuya2s
)isor!
1ind s#eed/ diretion/ and other fators +hih +ould affet shots
srolled by in strings of numbers!
"atsuya #ositioned the armament de)ie!
A stane for tra.etoryB#rioritising distane/ and lea)ing hits to lu*y
hane!
Allo+ing for bullet dro# and flight time/ the enemy +as already +ithin
range!
"atsuya triggered the )irtual magi areas/ and then #ulled the trigger
four times in suession!
(ah time he mo)ed the mu66le slightly/ om#ensating for error due to
the e)er shifting +ind!
-n the first #lae/ this had been a shot +ithout muh ho#e! &o+e)er
muh hane fa)oured them/ the odds +ould still fall u#on the enemy at
best! Q&e had done this +illingly +ith that *no+ledge from the
beginning!
"atsuya follo+ed the flight of the four bullets in his head!
"o be #reise his a+areness/ through the #roessing of his subonsious/
Page 187/219
hased the data of the bullets in the dimension of information!
0y his o+n hands/ using the magi he alone ould +ield/ he had
deom#osed then rebuilt the bullets!
&o+e)er far a+ay they fle+/ he +ould not lose sight of their information
struture!
=f the four shots he had fired/ "atsuya reei)ed the information that one
of the bullets had fallen into the entre of the enemy fleet!
"atsuya tra*ed the e8at #osition of that bullet +ith e)erything he had!
Ha6ama and Sanada/ a+are that "atsuya +as fousing on some large
sale magi distaned themsel)es so as to not disturb his onentration!
All that +as left for them to do +as +hat they ould +ith their o+n
magi!
"he enemy had already found their range!
"he ne8t sal)o then/ +as right on target!
,iring from a lo+er ballisti tra.etory than "atsuya had/ their fire
arri)ed before "atsuya2s!
As a user of Anient magi/ Ha6ama2s ability to interfere +ith ob.eti)e
strutures +as not high! Cather/ it +as lo+!
And Sanada/ +ho tehnially +asn2t e)en a magiian but rather a magi
engineer/ had high ob.eti)e interferene yet la*ed s#eed!
At this rate/ before "atsuya ould destroy the enemy fleet/ this #lae
+ould be33
>-2ll o)er youM?
As ordinane fell li*e rain/ a figure burst through s#eeding in on a
motorbi*e!
"he rider/ lad in a female Armoured Suit/ flung a+ay the bi*e as
bla6ing Psion light eru#ted from her body!
'onentrating as he +as on his magi a orner of "atsuya2s heart felt
sur#rise at hearing that )oie/ yet gladness!
Page 188/219
Sur#rise that Sa*urai had left his mother!
And gladness beause he *ne+ that under her mighty shield/ he ould
fous on his o+n magi +ithout fear!
Augmented %agiian/ 4Sa*ura2 series!
"heir harateristi +as defensi)e magi against #o+erful ob.eti)e and
heat based atta*s!
1hile they ould not use highly tehnial multi3s#etrum magi suh as
the Nuumon.i2s 4Phalan82/ in the single field of defense against ob.eti)e
heat based atta*s they +ere unri)aled in Na#an!
And amongst them/ Sa*urai &onami sho+ed e8eedingly gifted
#erformane!
-t +as beause of that she +as hosen to #rotet the one #reious
magiian +ho alone +as a#able of mental struture interferene magi/
$otsuba %iya!
"he shells/ aimed dead on/ instead dro##ed into the sea!
;ot a single shot +as able to reah land anymore!
A magi +hih ri##led momentum +as being in)o*ed in ra#id
suession se)eral hundred metres offshore!
As he +athed that s#etale +ith his na*ed eyes/ his minds eye ro)ing
o)er the s*y found the bullet in the midst of the enemy fleet!
"atsuya strethed out his right hand to+ards the +est/ and foribly
unlenhed his #alm!
"he bullet bro*e do+n into energy!
-n that moment/ the mass on)ersion magi 4%aterial 0urst2 +as used in
anger for the first time!
0eyond the hori6on/ a flash ignited!
"he o)erast s*y refleted da66ling light!
Although sunset +as yet far off/ a shining star bla6ed on the 1estern sea!
Page 189/219
Page 190/219
A roar re)erberated! "here +ould be none here +ho mistoo* it for the
sound of thunder!
1ith no staggering/ all the fuel and e8#losi)es on board the shi#s had
ignited as one!
"he shelling eased!
An eerie rumbling a##roahed!
>"sunamiM "a*e o)erM?
As he shouted/ Ha6ama #i*ed u# Sa*urai/ +ho had suddenly olla#sed
#o+erless u#on the ground/ and began running!
Sanada/ no+ u#on the bi*e/ s+er)ed to line u# beside him!
"atsuya sat u#on the tandem seat!
Still running and arrying Sa*urai/ Ha6ama lea#t!
1ith theatrial arobatis/ he ame to stand u#on the handlebars! Cather/
this +ent far beyond mere arobatis!
-t ouldn2t be said that military bi*es la*ed horse#o+er/ as the learly
o)erloaded bi*e )aliantly #o+ered on!
As storms raged and +a)es lashed aross the hori6on/ "atsuya *nelt at
the to# of a hill!
0efore him lay the e8hausted figure of Sa*urai!
"atsuya2s fae/ +ith the helmet remo)ed/ +as unmista*ably filled +ith
grief!
>@@it2s alright/ "atsuya3*un! "his is life after all!?
&el#less in the fae of life +hih ould not be sa)ed/ rushed by
emotions that he should ha)e lost9 to him Sa*urai e8tended a +ea*/ yet
serene smile!
>-t2s not your fault! ,or Augmented magiians li*e us/ it2s only natural
that our life +ould run out sometime!?
"hat2s +rong/ "atsuya +anted to sream!
1hile it +as true that Augmented magiians had unstable lifes#ans
om#ared to the general #ubli/ her urrent ondition +as +ithout a
Page 191/219
doubt due to the sheer stress of using large 7uantities of magi
ontinuously o)er suh a short #eriod of time! ()en for a 4Sa*ura2 series/
the strain of denying the nonsto# )olley of so many guns +as too muh
to bear!
&o+e)er/ Sa*urai +ould not +ant him to say that!
Hno+ing so/ he ould only grit his teeth!
>"ruly/ it2s not your fault! ,rom birth it +as my role to be a shield/ and
it2s sim#ly that today that role ends!?
0ut it seemed that Sa*urai ould tell "atsuya2s thoughts!
>"hat is something that - deided/ not beause - +as ordered/ but of my
o+n free +ill!?
"atsuya frantially tried using 4Cegro+th2/ but soon realised it +as
futile!
()en though he ould re+ind material matter/ his #o+er +as hel#less to
turn ba* the lo* of life!
>1on2t you let goL?
Sa*urai murmured to "atsuya in a s+eet )oie!
>-/ +ho ne)er one had the hane to freely hoose in my life/ am finally
free to hoose ho+ - die! - +on2t let this hane #ass! - an finally
hoose to die not as a man3made tool/ but as a #erson!?
;e)er in his dreams had "atsuya thought Sa*urai arried suh dar*ness
in her heart!
0ut une8#etedly e)en to him/ there +as no sur#rise!
>So/ +on2t you let me goL?
At Sa*urai2s +ords/ "atsuya ould only nod silently!
1ith a loo* of #eae/ Sa*urai losed her eyes!
Iradually/ she sto##ed breathing!
;e8t to them/ Sanada began to hant sutras!
Ha6ama #laed a hand on "atsuya2s shoulder!
1hile arrying that hand/ "atsuya stood u#!
Page 192/219
"here +ere no tears in his eyes!
'uriously/ the feelings of sorro+ had lifted from "atsuya2s heart!
&earing Sa*urai &onami2s last +ords/ he +as on)ined there +as no
need to grie)e!
33"atsuya at that time did not *no+ that it +as atually #ossible to
on)ine grief a+ay/ and that it +ould be the one time he +ould do so!
Page 193/219
Chapter 17
Common Era 2095 November 6-Yotsuba Main House
'unroom
Possibly beause there ha)e been a lot inidents today that ha)e
reminded him of the e)ents of three years ago!
"atsuya thought about Sa*urai &onami/ +ho he hadn2t thought about in
a long time!
"he memories +ere laed +ith regret!
;e)ertheless/ he *ne+ he ould do nothing more than regret and
understand!
0esides/ if she hadn2t sarified herself/ "atsuya might not ha)e
onsidered #olishing his magi ombat s*ills or doing anything else +ith
the -nde#endent %agi3(7ui##ed 0attalion!
"his last time he had been able to end it +ithout anyone else being
sarified!
&is e8#erienes three years ago had not been in )ain! "atsuya ould
omfort himself +ith that!
And dediate a silent #rayer dee# in his heart to the +oman +ho nobly
sarified herself as a shield three years ago!
333"hat +as #robably +hat made the sho* unreasonably large!
<#on sight of the fae of the girl holding the tea and a*es/ "atsuya
ame dangerously lose to raising his )oie!
>@+ould you li*e somethingL?
>;o/ than* you!?
"he one +ho +as 7uestioned by that girl +as %iyu*i! &er sho* +as
sho+ing in a more e8treme fashion that "atsuya2s!
"hat +as not unreasonable!
"he fae of the girl in the ser)ant2s uniform and Sa*urai &onami2s +ere
li*e t+o #eas in a #od!
Page 194/219
"he girl and her fello+ ser)ant had not 7uite left +hen %aya sho+ed
herself in the sunroom!
&ayama did not aom#any her!
"his gathering +as #robably to be #ri)ate!
"atsuya +as #ermitted to ta*e a seat for that same reason!
>1hat is it %iyu*i3sanL $ou loo* li*e something ga)e you a sho*/
but!!!?
As she lo+ered herself to sit/ %aya 7uestioned %iyu*i +ith a +orried
e8#ression!
She a##eared to be a different #erson than the one +ho had had a
onfrontation +ith "atsuya9 it +as the normal fae of $otsuba %aya!
>;o@=ba3sama/ that girl .ust no+L?
>Ah/ %inami3hanL?
1hen she heard %iyu*i2s 7uestion/ %aya ga)e a slight nod of
understanding!
>&er name is Sa*urai %inami! A seond generation Sa*ura series/ the
girl is more than the geneti niee of the Iuardian +ho ser)ed your
mother/ Sa*urai &onami!?
0y seond generation she meant a #erson +ho had genetially modified
magiian as a #arent! And the #hrase Pmore than the geneti nieeP
#robably meant that &onami and the girl2s mother +ho also #ossesses a
first generation modified body ha)e the same 5;A!
"hat +as the reason their features +ere the s#itting image of eah other!
>"he girl is already 7uite s*illed! - thin* her #otential abilities are on #ar
+ith the Saegusa t+ins! - ha)e been thin*ing of training her to beome
%iyu*i3san2s Iuardian sometime in the future! Sine one she beomes
an adult there +ill be situations +here a female guard is neessary!?
%iyu*i by and large understood %aya2s offiial #oint!
'ertainly/ for %iyu*i +ho is female to ha)e only a male/ "atsuya/ as
guard auses inon)enient situations!
&o+e)er/ .ust a little +hile ago/ "atsuya +as informed of %aya2s true
Page 19:/219
#ur#ose9 fortifying an additional layer of #rotetion against some
#ossible moment in the future of ha)o and destrution! -f he +as being
told to use a girl +ith the same fae as 4&er2 as a tool/ then this ould
only end in onflit!
333At that moment/ he had no +ay of #rediting the ha)o and
destrution to ome!
Page 196/219
Chapter 18
Common Era August 45, 2092--"#ina$a-Na%a Airport
1hile listening to the announements of #lane arri)als and de#artures/ -
+as realling the e)ents of si8 days ago!
After Sa*urai3san +ent to be =nii3sama2s guard/ the #erson +ho
mani#ulated the sreen for us disa##eared9 so - ould only see +hat
ha##ened ne8t from the images streaming on the ne+s!
Suddenly/ at the +ater line a light brighter than the Sun eru#ted!
-n the middle of that light/ the enemy shi# )anished!
"he transformed terrain of the beah +as +ashed by brea*ing +a)es!
-t +as an Anthem of Fitory!
"hat +as the offiial re#ort shared +ith us and the +orld in general
after+ard!
1hat +as not shared +ith the +orld is the truth *no+n only to us/ +hat
+e +ere told is that the light that destroyed the enemy +as made by the
#o+er of =nii3sama!
"he transformation of mass into energy/ the enormous energy that
burned e)erything into nothing is the strategi lass magi 4%aterial
0urst2 +ielded by a strategi lass magiian! "hat indeed is the true
#o+er of =nii3sama/ the name of its true form!
"he one hailed as a hero for dri)ing a+ay the enemy is =nii3sama!
And also the sad e)ent only +e *no+ of! After+ard/ Sa*urai3san ne)er
returned!
At the .oint funeral ser)ie for the )itims/ the remated remains of
Sa*urai3san +ere in aordane +ith her +ill om#letely sattered into
the oean!
"he one +ho returned Sa*urai3san to %other =ean +as =nii3sama!
=nii3sama ne)er sho+ed #ain in his fae!
&e gently omforted me +ho bro*e do+n rying!
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=nii3sama might not be sad! =r else it might be that he ould not
beome sad!
;o/ it does not matter +hih one it is!
0eause - ha)e deided!
1hile +athing Sa*urai3san beome ashes/ - had an insight!
-/ at that time/ had died one!
- lost the life that =*aa3sama ga)e me9 - reei)ed a ne+ life from =nii3
sama!
"herefore/ all that - am belongs to =nii3sama!
>%iyu*i/ it is about time to get inside!?
>$es/ =nii3sama?
1hen =nii3sama alled out to me/ - stood u# off of the sofa in the
lounge!
=*aa3sama no longer ma*es a fae +hen - refer to him as 4=nii3sama2!
"he truth is that - thin* it #robably still #ains her! &o+e)er/ - no longer
+orry about =*aa3sama2s feelings onerning it!
As usual/ =nii3sama is handling all of our luggage and only he is in
ommerial lass/ but that no longer troubles me!
0eause after all =nii3sama says that he #refers it!
0eause =nii3sama2s +ishes are absolute!
- too* the hand of =*aa3sama +ho is not in #erfet #hysial ondition
and trailed after =nii3sama!
,or no+/ there are still +ords that are not s#o*en! 1ords that annot be
s#o*en!
;e)ertheless/ - ha)e already deided!
333=nii3sama/ no matter +here you go/ no matter ho+ far9 -/ %iyu*i/ am
going +ith you333
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E6tra-C%apter 7 8ntouc%ab-e-3%e Nig%tmare o* 2062
"he eldest daughter of the $otsuba 'lan/ $otsuba %iya/ ga6ed at the
+estern s*y from the +indo+ of her o+n room her hildish fae
louded! She is urrently 12 years old! She .ust beame a middle
shool student this A#ril/ yet the anguish on her fae is unsuitable
for her age!
She is fretting about her younger t+in sister +hose +hereabouts are
un*no+n/ $otsuba %aya! "hree days before/ she +as *idna##ed by
anonymous #er#etrators in "ai#ei +hih she +as )isiting as #art of a
ultural e8hange #rogram s#onsored by the Asian branh of the
-nternational %agi ,ederation! "hat this +as not a disa##earane
due to un*no+n reasons but rather a )iolent abdution +as ob)ious
to anyonePs #ere#tions! 0eause Saegusa Houihi/ +ho +as )isiting
"ai#ei +ith %aya/ is suffering from laerations and bro*en bones in
his right hand and right leg and the loss of his right eye due to his
battle during the *idna##ing!
HouihiPs ondition is still +orrisome! After all/ Houihi is not only
her younger sisterPs boyfriend but also her fianY! Cather than
Houihi +ho +as se)erely in.ured +hile esa#ing the abdutorPs
gras#/ her +orries +ere naturally more onentrated on %aya +ho
the *idna##ers had made off +ith! 0esides to be truthful/ she +as
gri##ed more by feelings of anger and bitterness to+ard Houihi
than feelings of +orry! &e bra6enly returned alone from his
o+ardie +hile her sister +as ta*en a+ay!
She understood that it +as not HouihiPs fault! "o re7uire suh a
thing from a mere fourteen year old boy +as ruel and from loo*ing
at the situation/ the riminals #laed more im#ortane on %aya! -t
ould be said that Houihi got entangled in %ayaPs *idna##ing and
left +ith one eye for all eternity! ;e)ertheless/ she +as not at an age
+here reason ould o)erome emotion! Sine the identity of the
abdutors had not been attained yet/ it +as all she ould do to *ee#
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her anger from bursting free!
<ne8#etedly/ she felt a fuss in the orridor! Aui*er than a *no*
ould be made/ %iya turned to+ard the door!
JPardon me!J
%ayaPs #ersonal maidPs )oie trembled +ith suh )iolene as it
#assed through the door/ it seem li*e she +as shrie*ing! "hese #ast
three days/ #ani*ed )oies and e8ited )oies ould be heard
throughout the mansion/ but there +as something a little different
about this tone om#ared to the others/ something li*e ho#e +as
mi8ed in it!
JPlease enter!J
As a re#ly/ %iya o#ened the door in the t+in*ling of an eye! ()en
so/ she did not do anything as )ulgar as rushing into the ro+d of
ser)ants em#loyed by the $otsuba family in the room! 0efore
rossing the frame of the door+ay/ she )igorously shoo* her body!
Still/ im#atiene ould not be *e#t off her fae and her feelings of
im#atiene returned at the same time!
J%aya3sama has been resuedMJ
<#on hearing those +ord/ %iyaPs mind +ent blan*! %iya ould not
remember +hate)er she did after that! 1hen she beame a+are of
herself again/ she +as a##roahing the head of the $otsuba ,amily/
her father/ $otsuba Ien6ou!
J=tou3samaM - ha)e been told that %aya has been found/ is it trueMLJ
-n the onferene room that the family elders use for meetings/ %iya
interrogated her father under the intent ga6es of the aunts/ unles/
and other elder relati)es!
J-tPs true! - ha)e .ust reei)ed +ord from Nuu6ou!J
J,rom =.i3sama of the HurobaLJ
As she heard that/ an e8#ression of #ure relief arose on %iyaPs fae!
Huroba is the branh family in harge of su#er)ising the intelligene
di)ision of the $otsuba 'lan! Huroba Nuu6ou in addition to being the
Page 200/219
head of that branh family is Ien6ouPs brother in la+! -f +ord had
ome from Nuu6ou then there ould be no room for doubt!
()en so %iya soon found a reason to feel indignant/ one again she
onfronted her father!
J1hy +as - not informedMJ
J- donPt understand +hat you mean! 5idnPt - .ust inform you as soon
as #ossibleLJ
J5o not try to fool me #leaseM - ha)e been told that %aya +as
resued today +hih means that as of yesterday at the )ery latest
you #robably *ne+ the riminalPs true identityM 1hy did you not tell
me thisMLJ
J0eause telling you +ould be meaningless!J
J1ha!!!!!MLJ
J"elling you +ouldP)e been meaningless! =r do you belie)e that you
+ouldP)e been able to hel# sa)e %ayaLJ
J- +ould ha)e!!!!!!J
%iya sna##ed her mouth shut +ith regret! 'ertainly/ she +as still a
hild9 %iya e)en understood that herself! ()en if she had been told
+here %aya +as being held/ she ould ha)e done nothing!
;e)ertheless due to her blood ties/ she felt that she should ha)e
been told the +hereabouts of her younger sister/ rightL A +hirl#ool
of bile s+irled +ithin %iyaPs heart!
J0eause - belie)ed not telling you +as for the bestJ
&o+e)er +ith her fatherPs ne8t +ords/ the bile +as #ushed aside by
a #remonition of dar* louds on the hori6on!
JAlthough/ - do not +ish to tell you this! %iya/ brae yourself!J
-t seemed li*e he had something a+ful to relate to her! Something
terrible had ha##ened to %aya! %iyaPs heart +as no longer
trembling from a #remonition but from a on)ition! An im#ulse to
o)er her ears assailed %iyaPs heart but/ as her father told her to she
girded her ner)es and #re#ared herself for her fatherPs ne8t +ords!
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J%aya +as found in Auan6houa!J %*/ city in china.(
J5ahanPs!!!!!J %*Literally 0reat 1an's or 0reat $hina's (
5ahan is a #ortion of the southern half of 'hina that 7ui*ly after
the +orld +as beset by a firestorm of outbrea*s of +arfare +as able
to brea* a+ay and establish itself as an inde#endent nation! "he
Ireat Asian Alliane has been dominating the northern #art of 'hina
ontinent and the Horean #eninsula sine t+o years before/ and has
ta*en #ossession of "sushima %/n island between 2orea and !apan(
half a year ago/ sine then Na#an and 5ahan although not formal
allies had shared a ommon enemy in the Ireat Asian Alliane and
had oo#erated militarily!
J%aya had been im#risoned in a researh laboratory #laed in
Auan6hou that is a subdi)ision of the Hunlunfang -nstitute!J
*-he 2unlun 3ountains have both a mythical and physical
e&istence.
%iyaPs fae 7ui*ly #aled! Hunlunfang -nstitute is 5ahanPs magiian
de)elo#ment grou#! "he e)il rumors of that #lae +ould not die
anymore than the ones about "he ,ourth -nstitute +hih the $otsuba
are no+ the atual masters of but are entirely different! "he ontent
of those rumors +ith regard to females is so bad %iya ould not
bear to hear them fully!
J%aya is suffering from dee# +ounds! "he damage to her body are
also se)ere but/ - am more +orried about the +ounds to her
s#irit!!!!!!!!J
"he tone of Ien6ouPs )oie +hih until then been le)el +hile he
s#o*e +ent +ild! Sounds similar to teeth grinding in anger and ries
of #ain +ere mi8ed in his +ords! A rage that ould not be a##eased
by teeth grinding/ a sorro+ that ho+ling in #ain +ould not abate!
"hat #rom#ted in %iya the feeling that the +orst +as yet to ome!
J%aya has been used as a human guinea #ig for e8#erimentation!J
J&o+ terribleMLJ
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J-t +as an e8#eriment in magiian manufature! -t +as not merely a
sientifi e8#eriment! "he truth isBJ
J"hatPs enoughMJ
;o matter ho+ #re#ared she had deided to be any more than this
+ould be unendurable for %iya! "o hear any more of +hat ha##ened
to her younger sister +ould be too muh!
She glared at her father +ith eyes full of tears! %iya +idened her
eyes and let tears flo+ from both eyes!
,rom both of her fatherPs hands blood +as flo+ing from his o+n
fingernails +hih he +as digging into his o+n flesh!
%iya a)erted her fae! After she did so she sa+ her unlePs fae!
,ury s+irled in her unles eyes! She loo*ed at the o##osite side! "he
#eo#le +ho are ousin to her father housed raging hatred in their
#u#ils!
J%iya/ there is something only you an do!J
JB$es!J
%iya too* numerous dee# breaths to alm herself! ()eryone is
outraged on her younger sisterPs behalf! -t +as a minor balm but it
allo+ed herself to reo)er her sanity!
J%aya is lo*ed inside herself! 1hile her eyes are o#en/ she does
not res#ond to anyonePs )oie! She does nothing out of her o+n +ill/
she does not e)en res#ond +hen +e treat her +ounds!J
%iya firmly ground her ba* molars! She did so to hold ba* the
urge to sream!
J%iya/ ta*e a+ay e)erything she felt for the #ast three days from
%ayaPs mind +ith your magiJ
%iya losed her eyes and too* one huge dee# breath!
J-f it is something that an be done/ - belie)e it is something - too
+ish to doJ
%iyaPs )oie +as flat +ith little emotion in it! 0y rushing her
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feelings/ %iya +as finally able to )oie a re#ly!
J0ut/ my magi is mani#ulation of the struture of self! "here is no
+ay to ta*e a+ay memories by hanging the struture of self!J
She had no #o+er to ta*e a+ay memories!
J;ot ta*e a+ay her memories! -f she +as a+are that her memories
+ere ta*en/ - doubt she ould maintain her sanity! 1hat +e +ould
ha)e in our midst +ould be li*e an ti*ing bomb that ould go off at
anytime!J
Although/ Ien6ou also understood that %iya ould not +i#e out
memories! Still/ he ordered her to do it!
J5onPt ta*e a+ay the memories/ se#arate the feelings from the
memories! "he memories of things #eo#le ha)e done themsel)es
naturally ha)e emotions attahed to them/ reonstrut Pthe
e8#eriential memoriesP into Pinformational memoriesP!J
5onPt ta*e a+ay the memory ta*e a+ay the sense of reality from it/
J0ut =tou3sama/ - annot do suh a #reision o#eration! Although -
ould transmute all Pthe e8#eriential memoriesP %aya #ossesses into
Pinformational memoriesP/ reonstruting only those three days into
Pinformational memoriesP!!!! mani#ulating PmemoryP in suh a +ay is
something that is im#ossible for me!J
%iya loo*ed a+ay as she ans+ered! "he rightness of +hat her father
ordered %iya understood +ith an auity beyond that of a hild! ,or
that reason/ her inability to do so +ith her #o+er )e8ed her!
J"hen hange all of %ayaPs Pe8#erienesP into PinformationP!J
J0ut thatMLJ
%iya stared at her father +ith disbelie)ing eyes! ;e)ertheless/
Ien6ou did not flinh e)en a little from the utmost ensure he
reei)ed from his daughter!
J%iya/ - understand your feelings! Sine -/ myself/ am a+are of the
regret and guilt - +ill feel by ta*ing a+ay %ayaPs reolletions!
()en so/ the +ay things are %ayaPs s#irit +ill definitely be
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destroyed!J
J!!!!!!!J
J"omorro+ %aya +ill arri)e at this mansion! Goo* at the %aya +ho
has returned to us/ %iya and deide! ;o matter +hat your deision
is/ - +ill bear all the res#onsibility!J
%iya bo+ed +ithout a +ord and left her fatherPs #resene!
-n the onferene room %iya left/ Ien6ou remained there
surrounded by the ga6es of the lan +ho remained!
()eryone ga)e Ien6ou a nod of a##ro)al/
J=ur ad)ersary is the entral administrati)e institute of 5ahanPs
magi researh! <nli*e the single ,ourth -nstitute +hih +e are the
#rodut of/ it has numerous researh laboratories/ so the first
#roblem is the differene in numbers!J
Ien6ou began +ith their definite disad)antages! 0efore AsiaPs
dissolution into ;orth and South/ the Hunlunfang -nstitute had been
the ne8us of all modern magi researh on the ontinent! 1ith the
Hunlunfang -nstitute attahed to 5ahan/ the Ireat Asian Alliane
had lost almost all of its e8#ertise in modern magi! ,or that reason
5ahan ould stand to toe +ith the Ireat Asian Alliane des#ite its
inferior resoures! -t ould be said that the Hunlunfang -nstitute is
the nuleus of 5ahanPs military #o+er!
J()en so/ - annot let the sa)agery direted at us #ass! Although +e
are +ea#ons/ +e are not sla)es! And - refuse to be li)esto*! 1e/
oursel)es/ are the masters of the laboratory that #rodued us!J
As Ien6ou sto##ed s#ea*ing/ all that +ere there again ga)e a nod of
a##ro)al!
J"his is a #ersonal grudge! - am the #arent of a daughter +ho has
been defiled/ this is my )engeane in order to leanse my bitterness!
;e)ertheless/ that is not all it is! - +ish to sho+ my mettle to the
foolish P;ationP +ho treats magiians li*e domestiated li)esto*!J
JIen6ou3dono!J
Page 20:/219
"he one +ho o#ened his mouth +as the eldest of his generation of
those assembled there/ Ien6ouPs unle!
J- do not onsider this matter as %ayaPs #ersonal tragedy! 1ith this
inident/ our entire lan of $otsuba is insulted right no+/ our honor
has been sullied!J
J-to*o3dono!J
%-his is the 4apanese term used address a cousin in respectful
manner.(
&is female ousin +ho +as younger than him by a deade +as the
ne8t one +ho +ished to orate!
J-/ too/ ha)e a daughter therefore9 -/ too/ do not thin* of this as
someone elsePs business! %y daughter is not e)en old enough to go
to shool but/ +hen - thin* of my hildPs future/ - annot o)erloo*
this meaningless tragedy!J
J1e are +ea#ons and assassins!J
A )oie rang out from near the lo+est ran*s!
J,or us to ma*e an a##eal to humanity +ould #robably be a foolPs
errand! ;o matter ho+ selfish it is/ ma*e no mista*e/ those +ho dare
to atta* us an mo* us from the de#ths of hell! 0ut/ you *no+ that
donPt youMJ
"he ga6es from the others ontained understanding and a##ro)al!
J'ommand us/ our %asterM Irant to me a #art in your honored
daughterPs re)engeMJ
JCestrain yourself/ Ien6ou3dono!J
"hat )oie e8#loded from ne8t to Ien6ou!
JA no)ie li*e you +ill end u# dying a dogPs death! Aniue/ first gi)e
me/ your younger brother/ your orders! - +ill sho+ those ruffians of
Asia hell!J
JIen6ou3dono/ our feelings are the same as yours!J
J()eryone +ho had anything to do +ith %ayaPs abdution must
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die!J
J"he magiians of Asia +ho ated as #a+ns for the ra#ist +ill be
annihilated!J
JPlease lea)e our go)ernment to me! - +ill silene those +ho hant
di#lomay and military oo#erationJ
Ien6ou made a dee# bo+ to all that had assembled in this #lae!
"hen/ he raised his head to #rolaim!
J"he enemy is the Hunlunfang institute and the 5ahan go)ernment!
1e +ill eradiate our enemies +ith the full #o+er of the $otsuba!J
K K K
J!!!!!!!! %aya!!!!!!!! %aya!J
"he )oie is alling me! - feel as if - ha)enPt heard this )oie in a
really long time but/ for some reason - did not feel as if - ha)e been
longing to hear the )oie!
- o#en my eyes! "he hos#ital room loo*ed familiar and if my
memory is orret that fae belongs to my elder t+in sister!
J;ee3san !!!!!!!! this #lae is treatment room in "he ,ourth -nstituteLJ
At the first +ord from %ayaPs mouth/ %iya rela8ed and at the same
time it her fae beame tearful!
J"hatPs orret/ %aya! &o+ do you feelL $ou donPt ha)e a headahe
or anything li*e that do youLJ
<#on being 7uestioned by her elder sister/ %ayaPs e8#ression
beame sus#iious!
J- donPt ha)e!!!!! a headahe! 0oth my mind and my memory are
lear!J
As %aya s#o*e the +ords/ my memory/ %iyaPs fae loo*ed
troubled!
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%iya loo*ed at %aya +ith fearful eyes/ %aya ga6ed ba* u# at her
+ith a fae of ama6ement!
J;ee3san/ -!!!! ha)e been ra#ed!J
%aya related this blandly and %iya a)erted her eyes!
JAnd my body has been messed +ith all o)er! ()en the inside of my
body has been disturbed! "here is no #lae in my entire body that
has not been fouled!J
%iya stru* her *nees +ith both hands +ith a sla##ing sound! As if
she +as afraid that her body +ould get u# off the stool and run a+ay
and +as restraining it from doing so!
J- remember all of it! 5es#ite that/ +hy - +onderL -t feels some+hat
unreal! Gi*e - am merely +athing a mo)ie thin*ing things li*e
horrible or #itiful e)en though it all ha##ened to me!J
%iya ould not raise her eyes!
J;ee3san!J
%aya did not ta*e her eyes off her elder sister!
J1hat +as done to meLJ
J;ee3san!J
J!!!!!$our memory has been transmuted!J
Perha#s/ she +as finally resigned to the tas*/ %iya began to s#ea*
+hile ga6ing do+n+ard!
J1ithin the #ersona/ there are )arious #roesses used to store
memory! "he memory of an indi)idual #erson is not a single unit!
Ii)en that/ the #roess for storing your o+n e8#erienes and the
+ay *no+ledge gained from te8ts and images aumulates into
memory storage differ in form!J
J"o me/ this is annot be anything but on.eture/ ho+e)er!!!!!! if
;ee3san says so!J
1ithin the $otsuba lan/ this magi is %iyaPs uni7ue gift/ self
struture mani#ulation! %iya/ +ho +as able hange the struture of
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self/ ould sense ho+ a self is strutured! ;o one other than she
ould understand it but/ it +as ertain that she understood it!
J- annot #ee* inside the ontents! 1hat memory is stored +here is
something - annot *no+! 1hat is *no+n to me is +hether a stored
memory is Pe8#erieneP or P*no+ledgeP only!J
J!!!!!And soLJ
At this stage/ %aya had a )ague idea about +hat her elder sister
+anted to say! ;e)ertheless/ she +as going to ma*e %iya say it!
J%aya/ - do not *no+ +hat you e8#eriened! 0ut/ - *ne+ that your
s#irit +ould remain bro*en if - did not use magi! "herefore -BBJ
J"herefore ;ee3sanLJ
%iya hesitated to s#ea*! 0eause )oiing it +as unendurable! ()en
so/ %aya demanded her sister tell her +hat her sister had done in her
o+n +ords!
J!!!!$our Pe8#erienesP ha)e been hanged to P*no+ledgeP! "he
memory storage of e8#eriene has been transmuted into memory
storage of *no+ledge!!!!!! the sha#e of your memory has been
reonfigured!J
J- see!!!!J
%aya +his#ered only those +ords!
"here +ere no +ords denouning %iya!
%iya timidly raised her head and %aya faed the o##osite +all!
JAll that - ha)e been until no+ has beome sim#le data!J
&er younger sisterPs +ords #iered %iyaPs ore!
J%y delights/ my tem#ers/ the moments of en.oyment/ the moments
of sorro+9 all of them ha)e beome data!!!!!!J
5es#ite +hat she heard/ %iya ould not ma*e her esa#e from this
#lae!
J'ertainly/ the memory of +hat +as done me +as too muh for me
to bear! -n that ondition/ my s#irit +as dead!J
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J%aya!!!!J
J"herefore before the memory of that ra#e ould *ill me/ my elder
sister *illed me!J
J<hMLJ
%iya gras#ed for air!
%aya +as asting her eyes at %iya again!
J"hatPs +hat ha##ened/ rightL A #erson is formed by their
e8#erienes! "here is +ho - +as/ and there is +ho - am no+!J
%iya tried to a)ert her eyes! ;e)ertheless/ %ayaPs stare +ould not
allo+ that!
J(8#eriene being hanged to mere *no+ledge means that my #ast
has hanged to data! All that +as +ithin me of +ho - +as until
yesterday has )anished e8e#t for the - that remains!J
%ayaPs ga6e #untured dee#ly into %iyaPs heart!
J"he me - +as until yesterday has been *illed by my o+n elder
sister!J
%iya stood u# from the stool! "urned on her heel and ran for the
door as fast as she ould go!
"o flee from %ayaPs #resene!
-t +as not something that ould be a#ologi6ed for!
-t +as also not something one +ould be than*ed for!
"hey ould not e)en share tears o)er it!
B"he hane to restore the bond bet+een these t+o #eo#le that had
been se)ered on this day +ould not ome for all eternity!
K K K
&alf a year has #assed sine then! 5ay by day the nightmare
ontinues for the Hunlunfang -nstitute and the 5ahan go)ernment!
Page 210/219
-n the ourse of a single night/ all the em#loyees and magiians
attahed to a laboratory +ould be strangled!
A military base +ould suddenly brea* out in fighting bet+een
fello+ soldiers +ith the last man standing shooting himself in the
head and dying!
"he building/ the go)ernmentPs military liaison ageny +as mo)ing
into/ olla#sed +hen one of their o+n military airraft #lunged into
it! "here +ere no sur)i)ors!
"here +ere also administrati)e failities for researh +here
e)eryone in the building suffoated due to la* of o8ygen! "here
+as also a+areness of inidents +here e)eryone +as stabbed to
death! Politiians +ho +ere a+are of the outbrea* of the inidents
tra)eled inognito for a seret assembly9 that day/ a rare
ongregation of 5ahanPs leadershi# too* #lae!
"here +as absolutely no lue to +ho the ul#rits +ere! Among the
inidents/ there ertainly e8isted ases +herein the ul#rit had been
*illed/ but no or#ses remained! "raes of the ul#rit )anished
+ithout e8e#tion!
1ithout a doubt/ it +as a nightmare!
And so/ e8atly half a year from the first mysterious e)ent! At last/
the nightmare re)ealed its form!
All the subdi)isions and branh offies +ere 7uashed/ all that
remained +as the main head7uarters of the Hunlunfang -nstitute!
"he fortifiations solidified by 5ahanPs magiians +ere in)aded by
three magiians!
A mere three #eo#le! Against the three hundred stationed at the
Hunlunfang -nstitute! ,ormerly/ 5ahanPs magi regiment had
boasted a breadth of three thousand9 death and desertion had
redued it until it +as a mere tenth of +hat it +as!
J%y name is $otsuba Ien6ou!J
"he magiians guarding the main entrane +ere slain in the
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t+in*ling of an eye by the man in the #rime of his life +ho
introdued himself in Na#anese!
"he researhers and magiians assembled at the main branh as +ell
as the authorities finding shelter there +athed Ien6ou enter their
)ie+ on the sreen as one!
J-n order to leanse oursel)es from our hatred of you/ all of you +ill
die! "his is re)enge for the future you too* from my daughter!J
1hile Ien6ou s#o*e/ he slashed a *nife to+ard the amera!
"he fi)e thousand #eo#le +ho sa+ the image simultaneously #atted
their ne*s/ as a )ision of their o+n heads being lo##ed off assaulted
them then sighed in relief as they found their heads still attahed!
1hen they timidly returned their ga6es to the sreen/ there +as no
one there!
"he researh fous of "he ,ourth -nstitute that birthed the $otsuba
lan +as Jthe endo+ment and im#ro)ement of magial abilities
gi)en by the mindPs struture for the usage of mind mani#ulation
magiJ! -n order to fulfill this #ur#ose/ "he ,ourth -nstitute first
gathered #eo#le +hose lineage #redis#osed them to ha)e mind
mani#ulation #o+er!
Among these #eo#le/ some indi)iduals +ere transformed into
genuine su#er #o+ered beings +hile others remained no more than
mere illusionist tri*sters +ho ould not do more than reate heat
ha6e li*e mirages! "hose magiians +ith strong mind mani#ulation
abilities +ere #i*ed out/ strengthened/ and had the #rimary field of
their magi alulation area diretly modified! "hat +as "he ,ourth
-nstitutePs ae#ted #roedure for magiian de)elo#ment!
"he J$otsubaJ #rodued as a result ine)itably desended from t+o
ty#es of magiian lineages! =ne +ere those born +ith mind
mani#ulation ability that +as strengthened! "he other +ere those
+hose magi alulation areas +ere +ar#ed by a strong #o+er!
"hese t+o heritages stood side by side and mi8ed to form the
J$otsubaJ! ()en those +ho shared the same blood dis#layed the t+o
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traits randomly! ,or e8am#le/ %iya inherited the traits of the former/
P%ind Struture %ani#ulationP is a form of mind mani#ulation magi
that only she an use9 %aya re#resented the latter/ she did not ha)e
any form of mind mani#ulation magi instead she a7uired a
distinti)e #o+er from birth!
"he three +ho ha)e no+ infiltrated the Hunlunfang -nstitute eah
use strong uni7ue mind mani#ulation magi!
=ne +as a user of human ogni6ane fi8ation magi! &is magi
used the fi)e senses as a medium in order to get someone Jfi8ate on
somethingJ +hih is +hat ould be alled #lanting a fi8ed idea! "he
time #eriod this ontinued +as 9 minutes! ,or e8am#le/ he +ould do
so to a +itness +ho s#otted a onealed #erson in a ertain #lae! -t
did not matter if it +as +ith the na*ed eye or through a amera9 it
did not matter if it +as one #erson or a thousand! "he information
from )ision/ J- see himJ/ allo+ed him to transmit his magi through
any medium for nine minutes so no one doubted that Jhe has not
mo)ed from the shado+ of that #lantJ! ()en though he leisurely left
the shado+ and rossed their line of sight/ those tra##ed by his
magi +ere aught u# in the idea that he +as hiding!
()en if a loud alarm rang/ they +ould not onnet that sound to
him!
"he other one +as a user of magi that ontrolled a #ersonPs +ill!
"he longest this ould ontinue +as one minute/ the number of
targeted indi)iduals +as se)en #eo#le at the most/ the effet range
+as t+el)e meters that he ould not ommand the self inflition of
+ounds to those +hose mind mani#ulation #o+er e8eeded his o+n
+as another limitation/ but ho+e)er/ tem#orary it +as +hen they
fell under his tehni7ue his )itims ine)itably ould not resist his
ommands! -n order to send ommands #sion +a)es transmitted the
general idea/ it ould o)erome thi* +alls to +or*/ the barrier of
language +as also no #roblem! &e too* ontrol from 10 seonds to
1 minute! Sine the )itims +ould reliably e8eute only a single
ommand and there had been 2 e8am#les reorded outside of Na#an/
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the name of J=ne 'ommandJ had been stu* on this magi!
"he #airing of these t+oPs magi easily resulted in their infiltration
into the faility turned into a fortress! "hey #ur#osely let themsel)es
be aught by sur)eillane ameras/ and soon let an image of them
fleeing be dis#layed! 0y doing so the three infiltrators +ere gi)ing
the im#ression that aside from Ien6ou/ the infiltrators had left the
faility and +ere outside! And Jone ommandJ +as used on the
guards +ho #assed through the front door to order them to thro+
o#en the doors! =f ourse/ one the guards o#ened the doors/ they
+ere finished using them! Suggestion +as re#eatedly used for
dis#osal/ the t+o of them had a time limit of 9 minutes to reah their
target loation/ the guard ontrol room/ a limit +hih +as a struggle
for the #air to ma*e!
;e8t the #air ommened their +or*! 5ue to their #ossession of
#o+erful mental mani#ulation magi ability/ they did not #ossess
more than the ordinary #hysial #henomenon mani#ulating magi
from their four geneti lineages! 1hile ad)aning u#on the
magiians defending the laboratory for nine minutes +ore do+n
their magi/ it +as ertain that +hether their enemies +ere many or
fe+ mere +ords +ould not deei)e them!
"hey diretly +rote into the brains B to be aurate/ they
transmitted eletrial signals to the brain +hih ga)e the mind data
diretly B using a manual to om#letely turn off the failityPs
seurity system!
"hat +as +ithout a doubt lose timing! "here +as only ten seonds
remaining until the #airPs o#erational deadline! A grou# of o)er ten
5ahan %agiians all +ith gleaming metal bands on their heads
ame to atta* them! ,or a fe+ minutes there +as a fiere fight and
magial atta* e8hange B then the ontrol room beame unusable
due to the e8treme heat and the blast from the e8#losion!
Ien6ou beame a+are of his allies self destrution from the fat that
the seurity system +as do+n +hih he *ne+ due to rossing t+o
#laes +here the barriers had been released! -n order to lea)e no
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e)idene9 nor geneti sam#les9 their flesh had been engra)ed
beforehand +ith onditionally ati)ated magi that self3immolated
their bodies! "he ati)ation of the ast magi +as #erei)ed by
Ien6ouPs magi sense!
D!!!!SorryE
1ithin his heart/ Ien6ou a#ologi6ed +ith one brief +ord! "his
battle as he himself #rolaimed started +ith his o+n #ersonal
grudge! ;e)er the less/ his lan members aom#anied him on his
)engeane out of their o+n free +ill! "herefore a#ologi6ing for their
sarifie might be mo*ing their determination! BB()en though
he understood that/ Ien6ou ould not sto# a#ologi6ing to his allies
+ho +ent to their deaths!
1ith this/ the number of asualties to the $otsuba lan from the feud
they had started +as t+enty3nine! "his +as about half the number of
$otsuba +ho #ratie ombat magi!
-n ontrast/ the number of enemy magiians +ho had died added u#
to roughly three thousand fi)e hundred! (ah one that they had lost
+as balaned by about 120 times the enemies they had slaughtered/
$otsuba magiians did not go do+n easily! Ien6ou +as determined
that he +ould *ee# the balane sheets as they +ere!
<nli*e his thoughts/ his body did not sto#! "he diretor of the
Hunlunfang -nstitute! &e +as todayPs target! Ien6ou +as running
do+n the orridor +ith the silened alarm system to the inner
santum! And anyone standing in Ien6ouPs +ay magiian or not
+ould lose their life to the blade he flourished! Although he should
not be a+are of it/ Ien6ou felt his magi alulation area o)erheat
as he gradually a##roahed his limits! -f this ontinued he +as
#robably going to burn out his mind! ()en so/ there +as no +ay he
+as going to sto# no+!
,aing the last door/ Ien6ou did not sto# his feet9 +ithout #ausing/
he aelerated!
"he inside of the room +as s+ollen +ith signs of magi!
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"here +ere #robably four #eo#le +hose magi ri)aled his o+n! "he
diretor of the institute and his fello+s! As Ien6ou faed his true
desired foes/ the magi of those +ho guarded them #re#ared to
atta* him!
;e)ertheless/ their magi +as ne)er om#leted!
Ien6ouPs magi +as faster!
"he abilities of the four magiianPs and Ien6ouPs +ere nearly e7ual!
Cegardless of that fat/ Ien6ou +as one to t+o degrees ahead sine
his magi +as already ati)e!
Ien6ou *e#t his *nife le)el and +a)ed it li*e a flag! As antii#ated
the res#onse mo+ed do+n that side in a flash! -n front of the +a)ing
blade/ four enemy magiians fell/ their ne*s s#outing blood!
Ien6ouPs magi +as JIrim Cea#erJ! -t +as the ty#e of mind
mani#ulation magi that im#lanted a s#eifi image in the )itimPs
mind! "hat image +as JdeathJ! "o the )itim +ho had been gi)en a
#remonition of death/ the dis#lay of a symbol of that image +as
strong suggesti)e magi! -t did not matter if the first image +as only
an arbitrary one! 5iret or indiret made no differene/ time and
distane +ere also not barriers! As long as the )itim +as able to
reall that image/ a suggestion ould be am#lified a thousand fold to
affet e)en the flesh!
Aside from ridding onePs o+n memory of the image/ any *ind of
#rotetion +as meaningless! Ad)ersaries +ho met Ien6ou *illed
themsel)es off in the seond enounter! -n order for this magi/
JIrim Cea#erJ to ati)ate9 a diret meeting +ith the )itim +as
neessary! ,or the magi to be om#leted/ Ien6ou had to be a+are
of his foe and his foe had to be a+are of him! 0eing #lunged into
your o+n #ersonal )alley of death +as the first effet of this magi!
1hile regretting that the #resene of the four magiians meeting
their doom ould not be #rolonged/ Ien6ou le)eled the *nife to
stri*e them do+n! "he diretor of the Hunlunfang -nstitute/ the
5ahan go)ernmentPs hief of military affairs/ and the other 5ahan
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dignitaries +ho 7ui)ered in this #lae simultaneously rum#led
do+n )omiting blood from the ne*!
D"his is +ay too 7ui*E
Goo*ing do+n on the horde of dead bodies before his eyes/ Ien6ou
solilo7ui6ed dee# in his ore! ,or this #ast half year/ he had steadily
ornered them to this end9 Ien6ou +as onfident in the amount of
terror he had generated in them! ;onetheless/ the +ay the ultimate
target had been brought do+n/ left him +ith the feeling that it might
ha)e better if it had been e)en more #ainful +ay to die!
<ne8#etedly!
As di66iness o)erame him/ Ien6ou +ent do+n on his *nees!
&e hurt li*e his head +as s#lit o#en/
D1rong!!!!!E
-n the midst of intense #ain/ Ien6ou dedued that the #ain did not
ome from his body but rather sent to his body from his mind! "he
re#eated use of JIrim rea#erJ had e8eeded the limits of his mindPs
ability to use magi!
D- +ill ne)er return to Na#anE
-t +as unsubstantiated! "he limitPs of an indi)idualPs %agi
alulation area ould not yet be ob.eti)ely measured by
indi)iduals! ;e)ertheless/ Ien6ou +as on)ined of it! &e +ho
ould mani#ulate the death )isions of others felt death loser to him
than he e)er had in his life!
Ien6ou sent strength into his trembling *nees and stood u#! -n this
faility o)er one hundred #eo#le/ the main body of all the
em#loyees and magiians +ho +or*ed there remained!
DGoo*s li*e - shall be able to ollet my fare to ross San6uE
Ien6ou bared his teeth in a grin and laughed!
D%iya/ %aya/ forgi)e meE
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As Ien6ou sought his ne8t #rey/ he a#ologi6ed in his heart to his
belo)ed daughters +hom he +ould ne)er see again!
"hus/ $otsubaPs re)enge ended! -n the aftermath/ only tragedy
lingered!
$otsuba %aya lost her ability to #roreate due to the in.uries she
reei)ed this time! Cegeneration treatment had #rogressed to the
#oint of manufaturing limbs and trans#lanting them but re)i)ing
her natural female abilities +ere beyond them!
5ue to her inability to ha)e a hild/ the $otsuba lan and the
Saegusa lan dissol)ed %aya and HouihiPs engagement! Saegusa
Houihi had lost his right eye and his belo)ed fore)er
simultaneously! As for Houihi/ loning and trans#lanting
tehni7ues had ad)aned enough to restore his eye! ;e)ertheless/
Houihi re.eted that #ossibility for he ould not li)e on alone
unmar*ed as if nothing had ha##ened!
-n the aftermath of this inident/ %iya bro*e her body from o)er
using her mind mani#ulation magi before she turned t+enty li*e a
#enane! She +as re#eatedly in and out of the hos#ital and li)ed her
life under medial are for ten years!
-n res#onse to %ayaPs tragedy/ the $otsuba enated a #oliy of
attahing guards to lan members +ho #ossessed an es#eially
su#erior dis#osition for magi! "he #ost +as not assumed by
tem#orary guards +ho +or*ed for money9 these guards ris*ed their
li)es to fulfill their duty throughout the lifetime of the one they
#roteted B thus the Iuardians +ere reated!
-n regards to the seret feud bet+een the $otsuba and 5ahan9 on the
$otsuba side/ there +ere thirty dead! ,rom this +ar/ the $otsuba lost
the head of the family and half of its fighting strength!
=n the other side/ 5ahanPs dead +as a##ro8imately four thousand!
,or the sarifie of a mere thirty #eo#le/ the $otsuba lan
assassinated four thousandO abinet ministers/ high lass
bureaurats/ offiers/ magiians and researhers9 as for the ontinent
Page 218/219
of Asia/ it had all its researh results on modern magi annihilated!
5ue to this damage/ 5ahan suffered an internal olla#se after one
year and the Ireat Asian Alliane unified the ontinent of Asia!
As for (ast Asia/ the antagonism bet+een the north and the south
ame to a resolution9 as for the northern hemis#here/ a resolution for
the +orld +ide border onflits +as .ury3rigged!
-t +as the end of 1orld 1ar ---!
And among those +ho *ne+ the truth about the olla#se of 5ahan/
the $otsuba +ere feared as J<ntouhableJ!
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