Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 03 - Nine Schools Competition (I) (13 page)

In reality, there was no incident, nor was there anything that could even be remotely called an accident.

The CAD Tatsuya modified was "completely the same" as Kirihara's beloved CAD.

"Kirihara, how do you feel?"

"No problem at all, it's just like I'm using my own CAD, there's no incompatible feeling at all."

Kirihara immediately answered Katsuto's question.

Everyone was perfectly clear that this was not an inflated evaluation based on friendship.
Given Kirihara and Tatsuya's past history — Kirihara was forcibly subdued by Tatsuya during the kenjutsu club's performance during recruitment week in April — people who knew the particulars were aware that there's no way Kirihara would protect Tatsuya.
However, even excluding this "misunderstanding", everyone who saw the way the magic invocated knew that the CAD was functioning perfectly smoothly.

That being said, "able to smoothly invoke magic" was a fairly low criterion and it was hard to see any further results.

".
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Looks like he has the fundamentals down, but this isn't enough to qualify him to be one of the school representatives."

"Time spent was pretty average, nothing special."

"He didn't follow proper procedure, but there may be some reason behind that.
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Unsurprisingly, the 2nd Year participants were the first to react negatively to this seemingly normal result.

The backlash wasn't solely from Tatsuya's unprecedented nomination, but also since he was specifically picked by the President, everyone subconsciously expected him to floor them all with some outstanding technique, so naturally higher expectations led to greater disappointment.

"I fully support bringing Shiba-kun onto the team!"

Abandoning her usual cowed expression, Azusa furiously countered.

"What he just displayed before our eyes was a technique that far surpasses our wildest dreams as high school students.
Just the very fact that he doesn't need to use automatic maintenance and is able to do this entirely manually is already a feat that I cannot accomplish."

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Even if his technique was amazing, but what's the point if it's such a mundane result.
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?"

"It only looks mundane, but the contents are completely different!
To be able to completely abide within the safety parameters at no loss of efficiency is an incredible accomplishment!"

"Nakajou, relax a little bit.
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Rather than staying confined within the safety parameters, wouldn't it be better to take a few chances to raise the efficiency rate?"

"That's.
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because they suddenly want to test.
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Debate wasn't one of her strong suits, so her vigor quickly diminished.

Just as Azusa was floundering, a male student raised his hand to be recognized, which swiftly brought everyone's attention onto him.

"Kirihara's personal model boasts superior performance to the competition-use models, but even with this difference, the user was still unable to detect any difference, so I believe this technique deserves high praise."

"Eh?
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Hattori-kun?"

Out of the blue, the one who came to the rescue was Hattori.

"President, I also support Shiba joining the Technician Team."

"Hanzou-kun?"

Mayumi was entirely unable to mask her startled expression.

Even faced with the somewhat negative reaction on part of his beloved (?
) President and excluding his personal thoughts, Hattori continued fearlessly (on the outside) and graciously extolled his opinion.

"The Nine Schools Competition is an event that affects the very reputation of our school, so we should send the best and strongest candidates, without placing too much emphasis on who they are.
The engineer's job is to support the participants so that they can focus exclusively on the events themselves.
Just as Nakajou said, for Kirihara to say 'there's no incompatible feeling', I must admit that is a job done admirably well.
With our current desperate lack of engineers, this isn't the time to bemoan that 'he's a 1st Year student' or 'this is unprecedented'."

Hattori's words were saturated with verbal barbs, but he strenuously defended his heart-felt position.

However, the very fact that Hattori threw in on Tatsuya's side was a large enough blow to rock the meeting.

"I also think that Hattori's opinion bears merit.

The talent Shiba put on display is more than enough to qualify him as one of the school representatives.

I also support Shiba joining the Technician Team."

With the opposition stunned into silence and Katsuto's public declaration of support, Tatsuya's nomination was certain.

After the siblings shared their customary dinner together, the telephone picked this precise moment to start ringing.

Speaking of which, as everyone knows, almost all modern telephones were equipped with "web cams", a detail that third rate social commentators never failed to decry, saying that they aren't tele"phones" but tele"screens" or some related but meaningless subject.
Even with this projected function brought into fruition, they are still referred to as "telephones".

— Back on topic —

Miyuki was currently in the kitchen cleaning up.

She wasn't adamant on doing the dishes herself since she could pass them to the HAR, but their household wasn't equipped with the 3H (Humanoid Home Helper, or simply "Housework robot") that had just hit the market for mass consumption.
The two of them unanimously agreed that having a pair of robot arms extending from the ceiling was more of a hassle than anything, so they were better off cleaning up after themselves.

— Miyuki said that if they were too lazy to do even this, their fitness would rapidly decrease.

— Once again, back on topic —

Simply put, this was the reason why Tatsuya picked up the phone, though occasionally — that's how it was.

"Long time no see.
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Did you intend to do that?"

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Wait a minute, I have no idea what you're talking about.
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Long time no see, Special Lieutenant."

Onscreen was a familiar face wearing a very surprised expression.

"It's been two months since we last spoke, but.
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If you're using that title, does that mean this is an encrypted transmission?
I can't believe you can tap into the civilian line every time."

"It's not that easy, Special Lieutenant.
Compared to the standards of an average household, isn't the security surrounding your house a little too tight?"

"That's because there are a lot of hackers active recently, and the household servers have sensitive information stored within them."

"No wonder.
We were almost traced on our end."

"You deserved that.
As long as you don't delve too deeply into the database, the defense system shouldn't activate."

"I think this serves as an excellent warning shot for my newest switchboard."

Onscreen, the face that had been baptized into coarse leather by long exposure to sunlight and gunpowder revealed a mischievous smile.

As he saw this smile, Tatsuya reflected that the man hadn't aged a day since three years ago.

Based on his rank and department, he must deal with a myriad of details daily, but he never betrayed any trace of exhaustion.
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As these thoughts chased one another around in his mind, Tatsuya suddenly recalled that the one on the other side of the line — The Army's 101 Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion CO Major Kazama Harunobu didn't like to waste unnecessary time on small talk.

"Major, what's on the agenda today?"

"That's right, let's cut the small talk.
Business first."

"Please go ahead."

"Today we completed modifications on the 'Third Eye'.
We upgraded some components to the latest models and updated the software, so I would like you to test it out."

The 101 was pronounced "One Zero One", and not "One Hundred and First".

This was a primarily magic-based experimental detachment that was separate from the normal chain of command.
In addition, the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion was also responsible for the development of cutting edge equipment.

Compared to regular military classification, the security clearance for this detachment was five to six levels higher.
Accordingly, a regular high school student had no business interacting with such a division, to the point that he or she would be wholly ignorant of its existence.

However, due to certain classified events, Tatsuya was actually an official member of Kazama's division.

"Understood.
I will report in first thing tomorrow."

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Wait a second, this isn't so important that you need to take a day off from school."

"No, next weekend I plan to visit the lab to test out a new calculation device."

"Although I'm in no position to say so.
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But ever since you entered high school, you’ve been leading a decisively non-student-like lifestyle."

"I dislike your impression, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"That's true.
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No matter how busy we get, there's nothing we can do about it.
In that case, meet up at the old place tomorrow morning.
I'm sorry I won't be there, but I will contact Sanada ahead of time."

"Understood."

Tatsuya saluted in acceptance, while Kazama repeated that action on the screen.

This type of salute went entirely against regulations, but since Tatsuya was an irregular, the standards were slightly relaxed.

"Next subject.
Special Lieutenant, rumors say that you are joining this summer's Nine Schools Competition?"

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Affirmative."

Tatsuya hesitated for a split second, but given the circumstances, the fact that he only hesitated for a "split second" was quite an accomplishment.

It was less than three hours after he had been confirmed as a member of the Technician's Team.

Knowing that asking was fruitless, Tatsuya put a lid on his curiosity and refrained from asking how the Major got the word.

"The arena is located in southeast sector of the Fuji Exercise Grounds, so this is only customary.
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That being said, Tatsuya, stay on your guard."

Kazama's everyday speech was already abrupt, but today's seemed even more so than usual.

He wasn't referring to Tatsuya by rank, surname, or alias, but calling him directly by name, which signified that he was warning Tatsuya as an old friend rather than a superior officer.
After obtaining the information intercepted by the military's intelligence network, he wasn't alerting the police or the general public, but a mere high school student without any social standing.
This was highly odd.

Tatsuya focused all his attention as he continued to listen.

"There are suspicious circumstances surrounding that area, with signs that we have illegal aliens in the area."

"Did someone infiltrate the military's exercise grounds?"

"Quite lamentable indeed.
Also, several witnesses claimed seeing East Asian members of an international crime syndicate in the area, which did not occur this time last year.
Based on the timing, it's very likely they have something planned for the Nine Schools Competition."