While Tatsuya and his group were on their way to confront the intruders, Mayumi, looking as though she might burst into tears, spotted Tatsuya and immediately approached him.
"Tatsuya-kun, it's terrible! It's an emergency!"
"It's going to be fine. Please calm down."
"How can I possibly be calm?! A Vampire is... wait, did you already know, Tatsuya-kun?"
Mayumi showed a slightly surprised expression upon realizing Tatsuya seemed to have a good guess as to why she was panicking. The shift from her flustered state just moments ago was almost unbelievable.
"I was the one who gave you the frequencies and patterns, Senpai. It's hardly strange that I would intercept those signals too, is it?"
"Well... that's true, but... wait, this isn't the time to be surprised! I picked up that signal from the cargo entrance area! That's why we have to hurry..."
"Senpai, could I ask you to handle the monitors?"
"The monitors?"
Mayumi, who had intended to go to the scene herself, tilted her head at Tatsuya's proposal.
"Tatsuya, sorry, but I'm going ahead."
"Wait, Lina!"
Perhaps begrudging the time spent talking to Mayumi, Lina left Tatsuya and the others behind and headed toward the cargo entrance first. Honoka called out to her retreating back, but Lina continued forward without stopping.
"I wonder what that was about..."
"Lina likely has her own thoughts on the matter. So, Senpai, could I entrust the monitor operations to you?"
"I don't mind, but... why the monitors?"
"There are various things I'd prefer to keep hidden. Things concerning myself, Miyuki, and even Lina. Besides, you wouldn't want the entire student body to know that enemies have infiltrated the school, would you? If no footage remains, we can make up any excuse we like."
"You really are wicked as ever... well, it certainly would be a problem if the fact that an enemy infiltrated the school came to light. In exchange, you have to go out with me next time, Tatsuya-kun."
"...I'm not sure what exactly constitutes an 'exchange' here, but if it's something I can do, I will."
"It's a promise, okay!"
Seeing Mayumi in strangely high spirits, two beautiful girls wore distinctly unamused expressions. If Lina had remained here, she likely would have shown a similar face, but Tatsuya proceeded with the conversation while pretending not to notice them.
"Then we will head to the cargo entrance. We're counting on you, Senpai."
"Understood. Let's keep the line open just in case, so we can contact each other immediately."
"Understood."
Tatsuya pocketed the terminal, keeping the call active, and they finally hurried toward the scene.
Erika and her group had rushed to retrieve their CADs, but since the staff member was unaware of the emergency, their request was rejected.
"Yoshida, what's wrong... Ah, impressive that you noticed despite not having a receiver."
"Juumonji-senpai."
Just as they were about to attempt their umpteenth request, a heavy, authoritative voice called out from behind them.
"We don't have our CADs, but I had my talismans. Besides, Shibata-san's eyes seem far more sensitive to 'Demonic' presences than we are."
"I see. Please return their CADs."
Satisfied with why Mikihiko and the others were there, Katsuto turned to the staff member and demanded the return of the devices.
"B-But... returning CADs is only allowed in emergencies..."
"We are requesting them because this is an emergency. And these two are my assistants."
"...Understood."
Yielding to Katsuto's pressure, the staff member reluctantly returned the three CADs. Mikihiko thought that calling the staff member weak-willed would be unfair; Katsuto's intensity was simply too overwhelming.
"You know the location."
"Yes."
"Saegusa and her team are likely aware as well. Move so that you do not interfere with each other."
These words were directed at Erika. Even Katsuto had noticed the strange rivalry Mayumi and Erika held against one another. However, he had no intention of doing anything about it.
Immediately upon arriving at the scene, Mikihiko released 'spirits' invisible to ordinary magicians. If someone noticed them, he could determine that person was the Vampire.
Suddenly, a woman showed an aversion to the 'spirits.' Seeing this, Mikihiko judged her to be It.
"It's her. No mistake."
"That's Lina... so she was an accomplice after all."
Erika muttered upon seeing Lina nearby. However, neither Katsuto nor Mikihiko had an answer to her speculation.
"I will erect a barrier to block sight and sound. I can't fool machines, but..."
"I will handle that part."
Mikihiko and Katsuto exchanged nods. Behind Mikihiko, Mizuki shrank back, unable to hide the fear on her face.
"Erika, not yet."
"I know."
She was certainly impatient, but acknowledging her calm reply with a nod, Mikihiko threw the talismans in his hand. The six paper strips glided low through the air as if carried by invisible wings. The talismans landed at the vertices of a hexagon surrounding the trailer.
"Here goes."
Mikihiko formed hand seals. A perception-inhibiting area spell—operating on principles distinct from modern magic—activated.
Lina, having arrived a step ahead, tilted her head in suspicion as she saw Michaela waving her hand as if swatting away an insect.
"Mia... what's wrong?"
If it were summer, the gesture would have been entirely natural. Even in spring or autumn, it wouldn't be strange enough to question. But the season was winter—and not a mild one, but properly cold. Perhaps indoors it might happen, but there was no way bugs of that sort would be flying around outside.
"No, it's nothing."
If one only listened to her voice, it sounded truly trivial, as if there were no deeper meaning. But her expression clearly betrayed agitation.
(Mia, why are you panicking like that?)
Seeing that expression, Lina understood that Mia had committed a blunder, and her intuition told her she had to verify it.
"Mia, what on earth are you...?! What is this? We're surrounded!?"
Lina had been hesitating over various things, but she no longer needed to worry about making a decision. Her consciousness was seized by the fact that a perception-inhibiting area magic had manifested, completely encircling her.
A teary-eyed Mayumi... might actually be quite nice.
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