Despite Tatsuya's perceived imbalances in modern magic, his training in ancient martial arts gave him an incredibly high resistance to old-world secret techniques. This was likely an influence from his blood ties to the Kamizumi and Kagurazaka lines.
"Awareness isn't as difficult as it sounds. For example, there's a technique in grappling where you suddenly tense relaxed muscles to counter a throw. In this case, you release Psions in a similar burst to perform a pseudo-Contact-Type Gram Demolition, blowing away the opponent's formation. To control, manipulate, sever, and destroy the 'Wave' and the 'Flow' through 'Spirit'—that is the heart of ancient arts."
"…If 'Spirit' is the Psion stream," Tatsuya mused, "then 'Wave' is the Psion surge and 'Flow' is the Psion pathway?"
"Close enough. Knowledge is one thing, but let's move to practice."
In an instant, Tatsuya lost his sense of Yugen's physical presence. When he had tracked Zhou Gongjin, he'd only succeeded thanks to the blood-needles of Saburo Nagura. Even now, looking at the Psion flow, it seemed like Yugen was standing right in front of him.
Back then, he had been focused on Zhou and his magic had been restricted. Now, he was calm and could focus entirely on his own state. The moment Tatsuya seized full control of his body—not through neural impulses, but through Psion mastery—the Yugen in front of him vanished. A voice came from behind him.
"Even with the intensity dialed down, you broke through it that easily? As expected of you, Tatsuya."
"…No. Without your explanation, it would have been difficult. I was planning to ask my master for help if I couldn't do it."
"Kokonoe? That monk would probably just give you a hard time and make a riddle out of it."
That had only been the most basic level of Kimon Tonkou, but with Tatsuya's experience tracking Zhou, he would likely master the counter-technique in no time. Meanwhile, Miyuki, who had been listening to the lecture with sparkling eyes, dragged Yugen out of the basement as soon as they were finished.
Tatsuya watched them go, silently offering Yugen his apologies in his heart.
The next morning, Tatsuya returned from his daily training with a complicated expression. When asked, he revealed that Lina had been at Kyouchouji. Apparently, Retsu Kudo had introduced her so she could study martial arts. Yakumo, being Celia's adoptive father, was unusually motivated and had immediately challenged Lina to a sparring match.
Despite his claims of being a "hermit," Yakumo hadn't held back, using defensive magic as a buffer while landing strikes on Lina. Lina, in turn, had become completely fired up. Tatsuya had watched the whole thing with a look of utter exhaustion.
That brief peace only lasted until lunch.
Shortly after Yugen and the others began eating, an emergency news bulletin aired. As the terrorist's manifesto was read aloud, Yugen spoke up.
"…'Holy War'? Do they really intend to act as if they are 'God's proxies'? I wonder how the USNA plans to take responsibility for letting a man like this run loose."
"Um, Yugen-san?" Erika asked. "Did you just say the USNA?"
"I did. But keep in mind, he isn't a 'pure' American. He's what you'd call a 'refugee' of sorts."
The group didn't cause a scene; they focused on their lunch while listening to the manifesto. Erika, however, tilted her head at a contradiction in the speech.
"Wait. According to what I heard from my brother, there weren't any fatalities. Isn't it weird for him to talk about 'sacrifices'? …Wait, Yugen. Did you trick the terrorists?"
"Bingo. In reality, that terrorist is looking at confirmed charges of attempted murder and breaking and entering, but that's about it."
The screen shifted to another emergency update. The Prime Minister announced that the bombing met the criteria for the Special Measures Act and strongly condemned the act. He declared a state of emergency: "Against those subversive elements who seek to undermine our nation's strength, we hereby declare a State of Emergency based on the Special Measures Act."
Since the National Magic University and its affiliated high schools were state institutions—and attended by members of the Ten Master Clans—this was the response the government should have had in the original timeline. Back then, they had been too timid, likely due to pressure from the USNA.
"…Hey, is it just me, or is the presence of the terrorist who just gave that speech already starting to fade?" Leo muttered.
"If you need to remember a criminal, you can just wait for the wanted poster," Yugen said dismissively. "You can't be expected to remember every face on the street. …Thanks for the food, Himeki."
"You're very welcome."
It had been over a month since they started their lunch-box lifestyle. Miyuki and Minami's skills were well-known, but Himeki, Celia, and Shizuku had also proven themselves more than capable.
When Honoka had seen Shizuku's lunch and asked, "Wait, Shizuku, you made this yourself?" Shizuku had quietly led Honoka out of the cafeteria. A few minutes later, they returned—Honoka's face was beet red, and Shizuku looked like she had accomplished a great mission. Yugen decided not to ask, noting only that the taste was "beyond reproach."
"Do you really have so little interest in him, Yugen?"
"He's a terrorist. To me, that's synonymous with an indiscriminate murderer. I might have an interest in stopping him, but I have no interest in him."
Based on the memories of Zhou Gongjin (or rather, the ghost he had become), Gu Jie's quest for revenge was described as a sort of "curse" or "grudge." Zhou had never said that to Gu Jie's face, likely because he didn't want to disturb his own hard-won peace. It explained why he hadn't bothered Yugen since the Blanche incident.
"At best, he's a lesson in what not to be."
Looking back, it made sense why Gu Jie hadn't taken his disciples and defected to the Great Asian Alliance. That continent had spent two thousand years in a cycle of fragmentation and unification, with Chinese factions constantly warring against each other.
With a nature that found it impossible to trust anyone, Gu Jie likely knew that if he brought the secrets of Kunlunfang to the Alliance, they would simply use him until his usefulness ran out and then kill him on some trumped-up charge. History had proven that, in that region, betrayal was a constant.
As the terrorist's manifesto and the Japanese government's sharp rebuttal played out, the reactions in the cafeteria were varied. The government had made it clear: magicians are "assets" of the nation, and any act against them would not be tolerated.
One thing was certain: not a single voice in the room rose to defend the terrorist.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"