At the entrance of an elegant Western-style manor—one that, while not sprawling, exuded an air of refinement far removed from the sensibilities of the common masses—Tatsuya completed the hand-off of his security duties. "Hand-off" was perhaps too formal a term; in practice, it was merely a visual confirmation of the staff's faces.
The academy where Miyuki took her piano and etiquette lessons was strictly off-limits to men. Even a bodyguard, a standard fixture for the upper class, was not permitted to cross the threshold.
"I'll be back to pick you up at the usual time," Tatsuya said.
"Yes. I shall look forward to your return," Miyuki replied.
This exchange was a necessary ritual. Since her lesson lasted two hours—too short a window to justify the trip home and back—Tatsuya typically spent the interval at a nearby establishment.
Today, he stepped into a family restaurant, ordered a drink, and took a seat by the window. He didn't bother opening his digital library. Instead, he rested his chin on his hand and gazed out at the street.
To a casual observer, he looked bored, perhaps lost in thought. Tatsuya himself wasn't conscious of focusing on any one thing.
However, his internal state was the exact opposite of "absent-minded." Rather than concentrating his consciousness, he was diffusing it. He cast a net of perception across an area centered on two focal points: himself and Miyuki. He didn't view this as a physical, elliptical space, but rather as a "Relation Space" defined by the strength of causal links, independent of literal distance. Tatsuya narrowed his "Eyes" within that space, ensuring that not a single threat to Miyuki would go unnoticed.
In principle, this technique could be used for precognition, but Tatsuya's reach was currently limited to the "present" and a maximum of twenty-four hours into the "past." Despite that limitation, it was an incredibly potent tool for search-and-destroy missions. It allowed him to identify "enemies" with a range and precision that rivaled, or perhaps even surpassed, those with innate clairvoyant skills.
It was through this vision that he detected the approach of hostile intent. Not directed at his sister, but at him.
(I'm a failure as a guardian, aren't I?)
If he allowed himself to become the target, he was effectively exposing his charge to collateral danger. His self-assessment wasn't merely self-deprecation; it was a cold fact. Yet, the thought that never left his lips carried no trace of disappointment, no regret, and no emotion whatsoever.
The operation to target the magician who had unleashed a Strategic-Class spell was scheduled for a time when Tatsuya was known to be operating alone for an extended period. The reasoning was simple: if Miyuki Shiba were present, capturing or even repelling him would become exponentially more difficult. This had been proven during the encounter with "Sirius," so no one in Colonel Balance's command had voiced an objection to the plan.
(Even without Miyuki there, I think they're underestimating what it takes to handle Tatsuya...)
Lina, the only one among them who had witnessed a fraction of Tatsuya's true power, was the sole voice of apprehension. In her estimation, no matter how many "Stardust" units they threw at him, they wouldn't even be able to touch him.
(Besides, it hasn't even been proven that Tatsuya is the one who cast that spell...)
The entire operation was predicated on the assumption that Tatsuya was a Strategic-Class Magician. If that assumption proved false, the USNA military's credibility could hit rock bottom.
(And there's no way they can just make Tatsuya disappear in the shadows... Miyuki, Honoka, Erika, and Mayumi... none of them would stay quiet about it. Definitely not.)
Having spent the last month in his orbit, Lina had learned two things: Tatsuya was loved by an improbable number of girls, and he was far beyond the level of an average soldier. The fact that he trained with Japanese "Shinobi" was a headache in itself, but Lina had also experienced the shock of having her own specialty magic neutralized by him through some unknown means.
(Was that Ninjutsu, too? Or a different kind of magic entirely?)
It was an undeniable fact that Tatsuya was a "Course 2" student, yet Lina suspected he possessed magic that even "Course 1" elites couldn't dream of. Of course, she had no proof, and she knew Tatsuya wouldn't give her a straight answer if she asked.
(I tried to fish for information, but Tatsuya and Miyuki just danced around the subject. I guess I'm really not cut out for intelligence work.)
Lina's self-reflection was cut short by the signal to begin the operation. She was the lynchpin of this mission—the indispensable force required to restrain Tatsuya. Though she struggled with her personal feelings, she was a Strategic-Class Magician just like him. She could not afford to hesitate forever.
Sensing the intrusion of a third party into the situation, Lina cleared her mind of distractions and headed toward the battlefield.
Tatsuya was not a man who enjoyed combat. At least, that was his own assessment. He only initiated a fight under very specific conditions—namely, when it was necessary to protect Miyuki's safety or her honor.
That did not, however, mean he was a pacifist. He held the somewhat "youthful" conviction that peace was something that occasionally had to be won through force.
(Five of them...)
Identifying the number of enemies poised to spring from a van parked across the street, Tatsuya settled his bill via the terminal on his table and stood up.
The attackers must have been watching him; the van doors slid open with a sense of urgency. Tatsuya walked briskly toward the entrance, which put him directly in front of the vehicle.
The attackers seemed momentarily taken aback when Tatsuya stepped out and stood before them as if anticipating their move. A brief, tense standoff ensued, ending only when Tatsuya broke eye contact and began walking down the street.
Dumbfounded, the attackers waited until he was about ten meters away before regaining their composure and giving chase. Tatsuya already knew they intended to take him alive. His plan was to knock them back with just enough force to incapacitate them without leaving permanent damage, but the moment he made contact, the sensation was wrong.
(Are these Adjusted... no, Enhanced Humans? How are they even moving in this state?)
Tatsuya, who had "seen" the internal compositions of hundreds of dying men, could tell that these individuals were on the verge of total physical collapse. He decided then and there to adjust his policy: when dealing with such irregularities, it was best to end the confrontation quickly, even at a slight risk. In an instant, he drafted a "Future Blueprint" within his mind.
He leaped backward to create distance and reached for the CAD hidden beneath his clothes. He would draw it and simultaneously trigger a quadruple-invocation of "Partial Decomposition." That would be enough to shut them down for good.
Just as Tatsuya solidified that mental image, a third party crashed into the scene. It was a coincidence of timing—the arrival of an unexpected intruder.
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