In the principal's office at First High, Yugen, the youngest present (though, counting his past life, younger journalists might be considered his juniors), exuded an overwhelming presence. His words created an atmosphere where none dared to object, yet Kanda spoke up.
"I take Principal Momoyama's words seriously, but I have my concerns."
"Oh? And those are?" (This boy, even from the Ten Master Clans, carries such a seasoned aura? It's like negotiating with a veteran politician… Is this magic?)
Though Yugen's speech and tone were age-appropriate, his commanding presence felt disproportionate, making Kanda's tone adjust instinctively. Kanda wondered if Yugen was using magic to remain unfazed by the media, but he was mistaken. Had Kanda been calmer, he might have realized Yugen's presence and speech were honed by someone's spartan training.
"Recently, unsettling rumors have circulated about the magic high school curriculum. Are the nine magic high schools brainwashing students into becoming soldiers?"
"Data shows a higher proportion of magic high school graduates advance to magic university or defense academy, then to military or related fields, but that's by their free will. To call it 'brainwashing,' Mr. Kanda, do you have academically substantiated evidence?"
"N-No, that's… To dispel the image of magic high schools as military outposts, I'd like to observe classes."
Brainwashing, medically proven to diminish a magician's abilities, is counterproductive. Cases like "Blanche" involved mostly second-course students and Anti-Knight, enabling such manipulation. Kanda's secretary, bodyguards, and entourage were silenced by Yugen's presence. It was pathetic—journalists claiming "third power" status, cowed by a presence merely enveloping the room. Kanda faced just enough intimidation to still speak.
"Magic skills require precise, delicate control. Allowing outsiders into practical sessions isn't feasible."
"We won't cause trouble."
Kanda said so, but his media entourage, mostly anti-magic, might act recklessly and harm students' well-being.
"…Fine. Vice-Principal, is fifth period observation acceptable?"
"Fifth period… Yes. No practicals, but an extracurricular experiment with the magic university is scheduled on the schoolyard."
Yaozaka, treating Yugen as Momoyama's proxy, responded accordingly. Kanda seized the chance, originally planning to observe classes to highlight military collusion.
"Even midway through fourth period—"
"As stated, magic use places significant mental strain. Surely, Mr. Kanda, champion of magicians' rights, wouldn't hinder the potential of our youth?"
"…Understood. Then, may we observe the extracurricular experiment?"
Yugen, firmly stating this, checked his terminal before facing Kanda's group.
"Permission granted for the experiment observation, but you must adhere to our conditions, or you'll be asked to leave immediately."
Some journalists showed discontent, but Yugen continued unfazed.
"First, observation is restricted to the designated area. Ms. Smith, arriving shortly, will guide you."
"Why?"
"For student safety, visitors like you are typically unwelcome. Providing an observation area is already a concession."
Journalists stirred, and bodyguards tensed, but Yugen pressed on, as if it were expected.
"Second, no interviewing our students. I'll answer all questions and am fully informed about the experiment."
"That's tyranny!"
"You misunderstand. Your presence here is due to Mr. Kanda. The school could've rightfully expelled you."
"Don't you know press freedom?"
This country's constitution guarantees freedom of speech and belief, not journalist privilege. Claiming to represent public opinion, they shirk responsibility. Are journalists, mere private entities, seriously convinced they're untouchable? "Press freedom" isn't constitutionally protected, and freedom comes with accountability. Sensationalizing and dodging responsibility—common in Yugen's past life—harms credible journalists too.
"You barge in without appointments, expecting legitimate coverage? Despite your discourtesy, we're responding with utmost courtesy. If you call this tyranny, leave now… Mr. Kanda, agreed?"
"Y-Yes…"
Silenced by Yugen's unyielding words, Kanda and his group could only nod under his gaze. As Jennifer arrived, they followed her out of the office.
◇ ◇ ◇
Behind, a journalist spoke to Kanda, their words transparent to Yugen. They likely sensed something amiss, but the hostile stares in the radiation lab must've startled them. That's the natural reaction, one they should understand. Not to rescue them, but Nijuura spoke to Yugen.
"Mitsuya-kun, are they the visitors you mentioned?"
"Yes, Ms. Nijuura."
"Then guide them over there."
Nijuura pointed to an open space with a clear view of the experiment setup. Yugen nodded, leading Kanda's group there. Curious, Kanda asked about the students.
"What are they doing?"
"As mentioned, this is a magic experiment proposed by magic university volunteers."
"A magic experiment like 'Scorching and Aurora Halloween,' annihilating enemy fleets instantly?"
A journalist interjected with a sly grin, but Yugen responded calmly.
"That's akin to asking industrial high school students if they're testing nuclear weapons. These students work tirelessly for magic's peaceful use. Your question is beyond discourteous."
Magic isn't a game button press. Even basic single-step magic requires five-digit calculations in alphabetic terms. Imagining it is simple, but altering physical laws demands immense computational data. Journalists don't identify themselves, unlike Yugen, who's open about his identity while they hide for self-preservation. He'd hacked their company databases, identifying each journalist by face alone. As preparations finished, the lab's wall shutters opened, letting in outside light.
"Let's go."
"Mitsuya-dono, what's this experiment?"
"—A challenge to one of the three major problems in modern magic's gravity system."
Kanda followed Yugen, while journalists sought flaws, their questions predictable to Yugen.
◇ ◇ ◇
On the schoolyard, many students watched the experiment setup from afar. Kanda's group stood out as alien, drawing hostile glares from some. Kanda's recent media exposure made him recognizable, but Yugen's presence restrained direct actions. Still, the students' focus was on the upcoming experiment.
"Experiment start."
At Tatsuya's signal via megaphone, Miyuki activated gravity control, forming a spherical cavity in a water tank filled with heavy and light water. Next, Kasumi and Izumi's Fourth State Phase Shift generated deuterium, hydrogen, and oxygen plasma from the cavity's surface.
"Neutron Barrier, Gamma Ray Filter."
Riri's neutron barrier and Honoka's gamma ray filter, developed for nuclear deterrence, neutralize nuclear weapon toxicity. Well-known, their execution showcased their exceptional skill.
"Gravity Control."
Reversing gravity at the cavity's center amplified material interactions, creating a gravitational field. Gravity magic's nuclear fusion, one of the three major problems, requires constantly adjusting output to the tank's changing mass, a complex multivariable process. The setup used ten targeting aids on a metal ring, routed through three parallel-processing CADs to Miyuki's CAD. Though multiple CADs typically cause psion interference, a special circuit isolated psions, allowing Miyuki to sustain second-stage gravity control while the CAD handled calculations.
"Coulomb Force Control, Constant Rate Control Flat Drive Filter."
Seria's Coulomb force control reduced electromagnetic repulsion under high gravity to one-millionth. Mika's constant rate control filter blocked temperature changes. With reduced energy needs, nuclear fusion occurred, emitting dazzling light from the cavity's center. The tank's temperature remained unchanged, with a three-minute duration as the guideline. After three minutes, Tatsuya signaled via megaphone.
"Experiment end."
The process reversed, but the constant rate control filter and neutron barrier remained for tank protection and residual radiation concerns. Kent reported no radioactive substances in the tank's air analysis, and water injection began to cool it. Once sufficient water was added, the remaining magics were deactivated. Pushed by the experimental team's gazes, Azusa, tasked with the closing, took a deep breath and spoke into the microphone.
"The sustained thermonuclear fusion experiment, centered on resident gravity control magic, achieved its goals. The 'Stellar Furnace' experiment is a success."
Cheers erupted from students on the schoolyard and in the school building—a passionate, almost violent roar, celebrating magic's peaceful potential and future.
◇ ◇ ◇
Stunned by the cheers, Kanda and his journalists snapped back to reality as students returned to the building and the setup was dismantled, prompting Kanda to ask Yugen.
"What was that experiment?"
"It collides plasmaized deuterium and hydrogen, using the mass difference to generate energy—nuclear fusion, as you should know."
The sun's heat comes from deuterium nuclear fusion, hence the name 'Stellar Furnace.' The concept stems from Einstein's mass-energy equation, embodied by existing magic—an astonishing feat.
"But nuclear fusion's practical use was abandoned."
"Not researched, just not practical. With solar energy dominant, funding limits large-scale experiments, but research continues outside magic studies."
Magic-driven nuclear fusion research, too complex via electromagnetic control, focuses on gravity control. This experiment explored that potential. Nijuura listened, impressed by Yugen's explanation.
"Is this about achieving nuclear fusion explosions via magic?"
"Like 'Scorching and Aurora Halloween'?"
The journalist's snide question irritated Yugen internally, but he answered calmly. They didn't know both strategic magics from that event were cast by students here—one not even nuclear fusion, the other unrelated. Military secrecy prevented disclosure, leaving only speculation.
"That's a poor joke. Nuclear fusion explosions, even experimental, aren't feasible in a city. Historical nuclear tests considered surrounding damage, as you know."
Tatsuya's strategic magic, Material Burst, vaporized a tanker with a water droplet. At kilogram scale, it could destroy Earth. Nuclear fusion experiments, due to radiation and damage risks, require deep underground or oceanic settings for safety.
"Only Miguel Diaz's strategic magic, Synchronliner Fusion, among the Thirteen Apostles, achieves nuclear fusion, and no one has replicated it. Causing an explosion doesn't need multiple formulas. Do you seriously think high school students could do that? Calling this a 'hydrogen bomb test' would be slander against students conducting experiments for peaceful social contribution."
Replicating Synchronliner Fusion's formula is, in a sense, beyond even Yugen due to its secrets, but he avoided mentioning that, warning against linking magic to weapons lightly. Journalists seemed eager to tie magic to weaponry, but Kanda shifted tactics.
"I heard from a source that three years ago, Mitsuya-dono volunteered in the Okinawa Defense Battle. Wasn't that military coercion?"
Yugen wondered how he knew, but if cautioned by someone overlooking his actions, it made sense—a warning against rough tactics. Journalists pressed for truth, but Yugen found it advantageous.
"I'm curious about your source, but yes, I fought in Okinawa as a volunteer. It was my decision, unrelated to military or family pressures."
"But could you have been guided unknowingly—"
Yugen's sharp glare silenced the journalist and Kanda. He didn't use the Mitsuya name then, but internally, he was Mitsuya. It was an undeniable emergency—Great Asian Union fleets, submarines, landing soldiers, and base rebels, as post-battle reports detailed. No one could claim ignorance. In such a crisis, "guidance" was irrelevant. Yugen fought as a special officer under Defense Forces' exceptions, with Tatsuya listed as a "local volunteer" (using "Ryuya Daikoku" for anonymity). Yugen joined to reverse a dire situation and protect Tatsuya, Miyuki, and others—calling it "military guidance" was intolerable.
"Stop imposing baseless assumptions. Can someone who's never seen a battlefield fathom my feelings then? Mr. Kanda's entourage is quite 'exceptional,' huh?"
"N-No, I…"
"If you're so exceptional, what was the decisive factor in defending this nation in Okinawa, Sado, and Yokohama over the past four years?"
Yugen's counter silenced Kanda and his journalists. They wanted him to answer, and he knew it. Denying them their desired response, he spoke.
"It's simple—patriotism. Regardless of magic, those with the heart to protect their homeland, including myself, fought tirelessly to preserve this nation's peace."
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