In haste, Colonel Sakai and his group exited the HQ branch building. They knew that, logically, the chances of the magician in the flight combat suit, Maheśvara, coming after them were zero. But they had undeniably taken a supportive position in the Parasidoll experiment. It wasn’t logic but an instinctual fear that had driven them out.

After exiting the building and arriving in the parking lot, they noticed that for some reason, the sky suddenly clouded.

Looking up, Sakai realized that the sky hadn’t gotten cloudy.

A dark fog had swept through them.

“What is this…?”

“Gas?”

“No, sir, this is magic!”

The magician serving Colonel Sakai correctly pinpointed the black fog’s identity.

But all he knew was that it was magic. He had no way to discern its effects nor cancel it out.

“Colonel Sakai and company—I have come to invite you all.”

They turned toward the theatrical voice and saw an older man wearing a suit, despite it being midsummer, a soft hat that lay crooked on his head, bowing to them in an affected manner.

“To invite you to the world of your dreams.”

That was last thing Sakai heard before his consciousness faded to black.

First place in the Cross-Country Steeplechase went to Miyuki in the women’s and Masaki in the men’s.

Once again, the overall victory went to First High this year. Since it had been a struggle until partway through, the First High team was even more excited than last year.

However, since at the very, very end Masaki had won first prize, the Third High competitors attended the nighttime after-party with satisfaction in their faces. Maybe they felt that with how well Masaki had done, they were sure to take it all next year.

Another school that stood out was Fourth High, which had won the rookie competition Monolith Code and Mirage Bat. The lovely twins responsible, despite not looking the part, adopted an unashamed attitude, granting a sense of realism to the rumors.

And not only the competitors but the adults as well were raising their glasses in a toast…

Retsu Kudou, currently surrounded by the former heads of the Kuki and Kuzumi and their clans who still followed him, smiled as he tipped back his sake cup.

It wasn’t a satisfied smile exactly. It had a remorsefulness about it. Both Mamoru Kuki and the former Kuzumi head knew what was on Retsu’s mind. They didn’t ask him—but in exchange, they had taken several turns pouring his drink for him.

“I’d like to thank everybody for your hard work.”

Eventually, Retsu began to naturally show his gratitude.

“On the surface, the Parasidoll experiment met with unfortunate results, but we gave the Maheśvara a very difficult fight. I’m sure it left a strong impression on those who want to use magic for military purposes.”

Applause went up from all those present, indicating their approval.

“Those plotting the enlistment of young magicians will see their downfall as early as tomorrow, along with the Traditionalists. Allow me to say that that is a major achievement as well.”

“No, it won’t be tomorrow.”

But suddenly, a voice interrupted him from the other side of the door.

“Who is it?!”

The one seated farthest back stood up and opened the door.

However, Retsu knew from the voice who had produced it before seeing them. “Kazama… And General Saeki.”

But Kazama, the one who had made the rude interjection, was not the only one there.

“It has been quite a while, Your Excellency.”

Everyone seated had fallen silent. Nobody offered Saeki a seat, either—and Saeki didn’t seem to mind.

“Why the sudden visit? This is a personal gathering. Unfortunately, we haven’t the means to entertain you.”

“I’m deeply aware this was an unexpected visit. Once you’ve accepted a souvenir, we will depart at once.”

“A souvenir?”

Saeki’s tone was clearly unfriendly. Even under normal circumstances, she was thought of poorly by the Nine faction; a vixen who would dare disobey Retsu.

As the hostility silently grew, Saeki gave Kazama a signal.

“…I am Colonel Sakai from the JGDF General Headquarters. I have colluded with Makoto Kudou, current head of the Kudou, to promote the automatic magic weapons experiment during the Nine School Competition…”

Everyone, save for Retsu, stood up with a clatter.

The recording from the device in Kazama’s hand was both a confession and a repentance of having joined hands with the Kudou family and forcing the weapons test to be with high school students.

“…So Colonel Sakai has fallen into your hands.”

“Yes, but we weren’t the ones who captured him.”

“…Would you mind telling me who was?”

“We received this recording from the Yotsuba.”

The guests, stiff and still standing, all gasped.

“Maya… I see the Yotsuba will never permit any to harm their family.” Retsu nodded, his tone sounding oddly convinced.

“Not so.”

But Saeki denied it.

“What do you mean?”

“When Lady Yotsuba provided this recording, she did so under the condition that we not make the data public.”

Retsu frowned dubiously. He didn’t know what Maya’s goal would be with that.

“Lady Yotsuba’s objective is the purging of the Sakai group and the so-called anti-GAA hard-liners. We received this voice data from Lady Maya under the condition that we not distribute it while cleaning up after the fact.”

“I see… Sakai and the others must have touched a nerve,” murmured Retsu, voice firm. But he still didn’t understand everything. “And what did you want to obtain that data for?”

“Your Excellency, the JDF will no longer force magicians to act as weapons.”

“…”

“You may bet the gray hairs on my head if you wish. Magicians will never be sent to a battlefield against their own volition. Including your granddaughter and him.”

“Are you…telling me to retire?”

“The Parasidolls will certainly become effective weapons—as long as we don’t misuse them. Ten years ago, General, you wouldn’t have made such a mistake.”

“Watch your mouth, General Saeki!”

“Stop.”

After Mamoru Kuki broke free of his chains and exploded, Retsu waved him down.

“Conducting magic weapon experiments on underage magicians. No matter how you try to smooth it over, you cannot call that proper usage.”

Next to Saeki, Kazama butted in. His voice was like magma, seething with anger.

“Major Kazama, stand down.”

“Yes, ma’am, my apologies!”

This time, Saeki chided Kazama.

She gazed straight into Retsu’s eyes. “You can leave the rights of military magicians to those of us still in active service. We will not allow you to do anything concerning, Your Excellency,” she stated outright.

“I see,” answered Retsu, shoulders drooping—but seeming somehow happy.

Night, August 16, 2096.

A quiet bustle was going through Yokohama Chinatown.

“The target is headed for the west gate.”

“He has the terrain advantage. Make sure you have at least three people when you corner him.”

The group darted about in the darkness, exchanging only soft whispers—a unit led by Mitsugu Kuroba.

“Target spot— Gah!”

“What happened?!”

“It’s like a dog or something…!”

“Be careful. Gongjin Zhou uses immortalist arts different from both Dahan and the GAA.”

Mitsugu’s confidant, waiting next to him, murmured, “He’s tougher than we thought, boss.”

“He’s one of those most responsible for disrupting the nation from the inside. He’d need individual strength, too,” answered Mitsugu, his voice calm. It didn’t contain even a shard of unrest.

The confidant continued, his tone sounding reassured. “The lady has said she would dispatch Tatsuya Shiba, didn’t she?”

“We’ll secure Gongjin Zhou before he gets here.”

But after hearing what his subordinate had just said, Mitsugu suddenly let his irritation bubble to the surface as though his previous calm attitude had only been a front.

“…Should we not wait for Lord Fumiya and Tatsuya Shiba?”

“What could Maya be thinking?”

Mitsugu seemed to have completely lost his cool, and despite being in front of a subordinate, he called her simply Maya.

“We shouldn’t use that here. It was never something we should have let out. It’s the crystallization of all the Yotsuba’s sins. Locking it up in the Yotsuba is the only way we can possibly repent.”

Mitsugu, realizing his confidant was watching him dumbfoundedly, loudly cleared his throat.

“I’ll go. You take command.”

“Yes, boss.”

Mitsugu melted into the dark.

That, thought the confidant, would settle things—they didn’t need to wait for Tatsuya’s arrival.

“End of the line, Gongjin Zhou.”

A few minutes later, Mitsugu was confronting Zhou.

“My, my… To think an even greater Yotsuba darkness, the head of the Kuroba, would personally make an appearance for my humble self. It seems you think too highly of me.”

“I don’t think it’s an overestimation. Blanche’s insurrection, No-Head Dragon’s secret dealings, guiding the GAA special unit here, arranging to smuggle in the parasites… It’s amazing you pulled all that off by yourself.”

“I simply lent a helping hand. It all would have happened eventually even without my involvement.”

“You’re a nuisance—turning that eventually into a right now.”

“Delays solve nothing, don’t you think?”

“I don’t understand what’s so bad about putting all that off until later.”

Mitsugu inched closer.

“At this range, you can’t escape using your vaunted Qimen Dujia. Give up, Zhou.”

“Indeed… With you being so close, dujia techniques won’t be of much help.”

Even as Zhou admitted his special skill had been sealed, he hadn’t become any less relaxed.

“Instead, I ask that you please excuse the slight pain—ji, Xiao Tian Quan!”

Mitsugu didn’t even have time to gasp before a four-legged shadow dropped out of the night sky.

The giant doglike silhouette leaped for Mitsugu—and bit off one of his arms.

“Guh…”

Mitsugu bent over without a word. The black beast was already nowhere in sight.

“Well. It took me ten years to create that. Still, in exchange for an arm of Mitsugu Kuroba, I can’t call it disproportionate.”

Leaving only those words behind, Gongjin Zhou’s figure faded into the shadows.

“Dad!”

The moment Fumiya, who had gone to get Tatsuya, saw Mitsugu, he pushed through the wall of black suits, his face utterly pale, and ran to him.

“Who could have…? That’s right! Tatsuya!”

Remembering the extraordinary abilities of his venerated second cousin whom he’d brought along, Fumiya looked at him, eyes practically clinging. In response, Tatsuya took out a handgun-shaped CAD with his left hand.

“Stop… I will not take favors from you.”

“Dad, what are you saying?!” Fumiya began to violently shake the heavily wounded man.

“Fumiya,” said Tatsuya to stop his young cousin before turning his left hand to Mitsugu. “You may not like it, but Fumiya and Ayako would both be saddened if I left you like this.”

Tatsuya cast Regenerate. Bitten off and gone to places unknown, Mitsugu’s right arm appeared from nowhere, aligned with the wound, and connected itself.

Unconsciously holding his own right arm, Tatsuya said under his breath, “I was right to leave Miyuki and Ayako behind. Still, I can’t believe someone would wound you this badly, Mr. Kuroba… What kind of spell could Zhou possibly have used?”

Mitsugu was looking at his own arm in frustration. Not meeting Tatsuya’s eyes, he shook his head.

“I don’t know. He said Xiao Tian Quan—‘barking heaven dog’—but there must be more to it than that.”

“It refers to a myth, after all… Perhaps it’s a type of compound-form spell. That does present an issue…”

Tatsuya didn’t ask where Zhou had escaped to.

He knew that was something he’d have to figure out himself—at any cost.

(To be continued)