Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 12 - Double Seven Chapter

by Sato Tsutomu

  Wednesday, April 18th, 7:59pm. A pitch black limousine stopped before the threshold of the Saegusa household. From the backseat, a giant of a young man dressed in a formal suit with a tie opened the door himself and disembarked. The reason why the young man appeared colossal was the overwhelming personality he carried that did not befit his age. A special existence even among students who graduated from high school recently, he was the acting head of the Juumonji Family, Juumonji Katsuto.

  The one who greeted him was the eldest daughter in the Saegusa Family, Saegusa Mayumi. Wearing a darkly colored formal gown that extended to her ankles, Mayumi curtseyed to Katsuto before showing him the way. At precisely 8pm, Katsuto set foot in the Saegusa household.

  “Your investigation was very thorough.”

  After conversing with Katsuto in the guest room, Saegusa Koichi readily admitted to the inquiry regarding whether he was one of the backers behind the anti-Magician media inciters.

  “Otou-sama! What have you done!?”

  Faced with her brazen father nodding his head, Mayumi furiously reprimanded him.

  “Relax, Mayumi. Why are you so excited?”

  Earnestly tilting his head at his daughter’s vibrant reaction, Koichi calmly scolded Mayumi.

  “How can you tell me to relax!? What Otou-sama has done is blatant betrayal to the Ten Master Clans, no, to the Japanese magic community as a whole!”

  Perfectly calm, Koichi easily took in the stern gaze leveled at him by his own daughter, who had leaped from her seat on the sofa.

  “This is no betrayal. Mayumi, you’re thinking in the wrong direction.”

  “What is—“

  “Saegusa.”

  Mayumi wanted to keep pressing her father, but was halted by the still seated Katsuto by her side. Recalling that they were not the only two people sitting here, Mayumi reluctantly closed her mouth and took a seat.

  “Saegusa-san.”

  Sensing that Mayumi had regained her composure, Katsuto looked towards Koichi.

  “I do not know what you are thinking, so I hope you are willing to explain yourself.”

  Koichi slightly bent forward at the waist to look upon Katsuto.

  “Is this a request from the Juumonji Family?”

  “As a question leveled by the Juumonji Family.”

  Koichi allowed his forward posture to relax along the back of the seat before lightly heaving a long sigh.

  “As we are both of the Ten Master Clans, I will honestly answer the question the Juumonji Family has for the Saegusa Family.”

  Koichi adopted the same proper posture, devoid of panic, that Katsuto had.

  “First, in order to dispel any misconceptions, I will first declare that this propaganda was started by foreign anti-magic forces. Not only have they provided information to the media, they have made funds available as well.”

  “In the form of investing in the media?”

  “The reasons may be as donations or marketing, though the ostensible purpose can be whatever they deem fit.”

  In regards to the question Katsuto posed, Koichi serenely replied back in full confidence. In terms of acting behind the scenes, Koichi was far above Katsuto. Katsuto also realized that there was no point in asking about unnecessary details.

  “So Saegusa-sama intervened in the media as a countermeasure?”

  “Katsuto-kun, do you know the most effective way to counter 'public opinion'?”

  At Koichi suddenly adopting a pedantic tone, Katsuto showed no hint of answering. He was aware that Koichi’s question was rhetorical.

  “In the first place, 'public opinion' is both an opinion and a judgment. That is, something that someone said and someone accepted. Opinion belongs to the one who came up with it, just as the originator must bear the responsibility.”

  There was no way to tell whether Koichi’s change in tone was intentional. The difference in age between Koichi and Katsuto, the head of house for one of the Ten Master Clans and the acting head who was only the son of the current head. Taking into account all these differences, Koichi’s tone was not lecturing, but more of a natural turn of events.

  “Once the 'source' behind the opinion is known, then refuting it becomes easy. Direct your questions towards that individual, find the gaps in their logic, and cause them to acknowledge their error. There is also the possibility of a compromise where both sides point out the lacking areas lurking in each other’s arguments.”

  This was why Mayumi was the only one who wore a furious expression at Koichi’s high and mighty tone whereas Katsuto didn’t find anything out of place.

  “This is why refuting 'public opinion' is so difficult. If pressed for a reason, it is because there is no opponent to counter when it comes to public opinion.”

  This was the same even though Katsuto found Koichi’s words to be quite tedious.

  “Even if public opinion is just an opinion, the moment someone says it, their advantages and disadvantages become revealed. However, the ones who came up with this opinion are 'citizens' and the ones who hide behind this 'public opinion' never take the stage. The media only reflects the citizens’ wishes, activists present the citizens’ demands, and politicians open their mouths to adhere to their citizens’ opinions. When someone says it, their stance and purpose become revealed. Nevertheless, under unclear circumstances, acting as the spokesperson of public opinion and describing the opinions of the originator grants them immunity to the duty of taking any hits.”

  Still, Katsuto began to suspect Koichi’s true intent after he beat around the bush so long.

  “Public opinion also contains a side that benefits whoever strikes first.”

  There was a possibility that Katsuto’s dire view of Koichi was painted all over his face. Koichi smiled slightly as his tone returned to a more polite, gentle one.

  “The first public opinion to achieve majority becomes justice at that time and place to bring pressure on the dissenters. Even if the dissenters have logic on their side, even if public opinion is rife with childish holes, logic is unable to stand against a flawed public opinion. As for the reason why, that is because public opinion is not equipped with someone to hold a discussion with, so no discourse could be reached.”

  “So you’re saying that the anti-magic supporters are 'striking first', Otou-sama?”

  Mayumi wore a displeased look while obediently listening to all this before finally interjecting in an agitated voice.

  “The seeds of anti-magic sentiment were sown over a year ago. They saw through the fact that we were unable to act against them on that stage.”

  Casually handling his daughter’s impulsivity, Koichi immediately turned his eyes back to Katsuto.

  “Countering public opinion would achieve little. So, Katsuto-kun, how would you act against public opinion?”

  “Scattering their opinion would do.”

  Without puzzling over it or being overly theatrical, Katsuto replied back in a frank manner. Even if it wasn’t him, anyone reared to carry the burdens of the Ten Master Clans would logically arrive at an answer. This was not the only answer nor the absolute answer, but a possibly correct answer.

  “Correct.”

  Everyone knew that this was not the one true answer, though Koichi continued to lecture.

  “Simply agreeing with the basics of the aforementioned public opinion removes the possibility of being hunted as an infidel. Then, small differences in dogma will easily cause public opinion to unravel. A scattered public opinion will then lose its momentum and ultimately become forgotten. So long as there is no one who holds the course, of course.”

  “Doesn’t that run counter to Saegusa-sama’s definition of public opinion?”

  Hearing Katsuto’s point, Koichi smiled in satisfaction before nodding.

  “It is as you have said, Katsuto-kun. So long as he continues to obscure himself, there is no way to maintain public opinion’s lost momentum. Even if he continues to hide himself, once he tries to reignite the flames of public o
pinion, the citizens will see through him and bite back. That’s because the public contains the foolishness to be manipulated once, but the wisdom to prevent the same trick from succeeding twice."

  "So that’s why you intentionally changed the direction of the public’s ire while conducting anti-magic propaganda.”

  “That’s just a vent, Katsuto-kun. There is nothing we can do about people with no talent being jealous of those who have talent. That is the same when it comes to magic. Trying to suppress aroused envy even once with whips or candy is impossible. The only thing that can be done is to allow them to vent somewhere. Before they coalesce into an inferno, scattering the sparks into numerous small fires is a much easier way to prevent a catastrophe.”

  Koichi finally closed his mouth. Although unwilling to accept his words, Mayumi wore a conflicted expression because she was unable to counter his words. Whereas Katsuto,

  “Compared to an inferno, a small spark is preferable. I do agree that might be true.”

  After speaking in a solemn voice, Katsuto turned a fiery gaze on Koichi.

  “However, there are still people who lose their lives because of small fires. If the individual, scattered sparks are not put out in time, then the small sparks are no longer small and may very well become an inferno that devours lives.”

  “That is a hypothetical situation.”

  “The pot calls the kettle black.”

  After crossing gazes with Koichi, Katsuto rose upon seeing that his opponent was not going to speak any further.

  “Elder Saegusa.”

  Using the title exclusively used at the clan meetings between two equals, Katsuto called out to Koichi.

  “The Juumonji Family deeply regrets the Saegusa Family’s actions in regard to the media and petitions that you immediately cease and desist any anti-Magician propaganda.”

  “The Saegusa Family requests that the Juumonji Family deliver their protest in writing. A reply will be prepared after an official protest has been made.”

  Koichi also stood and slightly raised his head to look at Katsuto before replying.

  “I understand. When I return home, I will get them to agree with me.”

  “I am sorry that you came all this way out here today. Mayumi, see Juumonji-sama out. Carefully see him to the door.”

  Katsuto silently bowed to Koichi, to which Koichi just as silently returned. Mayumi hurriedly moved in front of Katsuto as he was about to turn around and led him to the threshold.

  When Mayumi returned from seeing Katsuto to the door, Koichi was still in the guest room. With a stern expression on her face, Mayumi stood before her father where he was relaxing on the sofa.

  “Well, Mayumi. Come, sit. There’s no need to be polite.”

  Seeing Koichi leisurely lean back on the sofa with one foot on top of the other, Mayumi sat down without saying a word.

  “I more or less know what you want to say…… But you might as well say it anyway.”

  “Much like Otou-sama thought, I believe that Juumonji-kun’s opinion makes sense.”

  Seeing the intense emotions warring with the steely determination in her eyes while his daughter maintained her decorous self-control, Koichi smiled and nodded.

  “It is only to be expected that you would think this way. After all, Katsuto-kun and I were only speaking superficially just now.”

  Hearing her father’s bravado, Mayumi’s hands tightened their grasp.

  “So there’s more than meets the eye.”

  “You didn’t understand? Katsuto-kun seems to have noticed already.”

  Mayumi slightly shook her head and hid her discontented, teeth-clenched face from Koichi’s vision.

  “As expected, Katsuto-kun has much higher tolerance than Hirofumi-kun.”

  Hirofumi referred to the oldest son of the Itsuwa Family, “Itsuwa Hirofumi”. The Itsuwa Family wished for Mayumi to marry Hirofumi. Koichi had intended to compare Hirofumi with Katsuto, but fortunately such words never reached Mayumi’s ears.

  “Mayumi, Elder Kudou is already aware of this. Mister did not disapprove of my plan.”

  In place of the murmurs that didn’t reach her ears, Koichi dropped a bomb into his daughter’s ears.

  “Sensei, he……?”

  As Koichi had planned, Mayumi was befuddled into silence, but Mayumi was not about to go away so meekly.

  “I have no idea what is on sensei’s mind. What I do know is that playing with the lives of people who are of the same country and are also Magicians is wrong.”

  Seeing his daughter’s unexpected feistiness, Koichi was not feigning but honestly surprised.

  “This will only last a month at most. I have no plans to allow this to develop to such a point that it could impact daily life.”

  “Even if it’s a merely a month, a week, it can still bring about a permanent mark on someone’s heart. Maliciously wielding a pen can leave a far deeper mark than the wound left behind by a sword…… I believe the pen is mightier than the sword, and that is not just restricted to positive strength.”

  The normal Mayumi would have bowed out long ago. Seeing this sterner attitude that did not befit his daughter’s style, a question suddenly floated across Koichi’s mind.

  “Mayumi, on whose behalf are you so angry for?”

  “Eh……?”

  Although this was a spur of the moment question, it had delivered a surprisingly telling blow against Mayumi.

  “Is this for Katsuto-kun? Or is it for someone among your underclassmen at First High?”

  “I didn’t…….”

  Even Kudou Retsu’s name was not enough to cower Mayumi, and yet, here she was, wavering to the point that she trembled with terror.

  Chapter 11

  The wave of anti-magician sentiment in the world grew stronger on a daily basis, but a school is something like a self-governing fiefdom. It doesn’t have the independence of an extraterritoriality, but it is unmistakably, to a certain extent, an isolated society. Inside the grounds of First High, tranquility was also preserved. Nevertheless, Tatsuya had been certain that this was the calm before the storm since he had heard Fumiya’s story.

  April 19th, Thursday night. At last, the announcement of when the storm would arrive traversed the phone lines to reach Tatsuya.

  [Tatsuya-san, thank you for your hospitality to us so well the other day despite the suddenness of our visit.]

  “You're welcome.”

  Even though she called it hospitality, all they had done was set out tea and snacks. Tatsuya knew Ayako was using polite phrasing when she said that, but he wasn’t one for exchanging flattery and protestations of humility.

  “More importantly, what kind of news do you have for me today?”

  [Tatsuya-san, wouldn’t it be nice if we chatted for a while?]

  “Next time.”

  Should she be angry or shocked - the two looks fluctuated on Ayako’s face but in the end she chose to be resigned.

  [Well… that’s fine for today. Certainly, I have important news to impart.]

  “Let me hear it.”

  Tatsuya’s mind was concentrated on the ‘important matter’ even before he spoke. Being examined by a gaze strong enough to cross the screens, no, it was strong enough to cross the open space between them, made Ayako avert her eyes in shame.

  [About the matter you heard about from Fumiya the other day, the schedule has been essentially set.]

  Nevertheless, the embarrassed Ayako steadfastly did her duty. Concerning such things, Ayako was not the frivolous girl she appeared to be.

  [On April 25th, Wednesday of next week, a member of the national diet will visit First High for an inspection.]

  “The Civil Rights Party’s congressman Kanda?”

  [That’s right. Good guesswork.]

  “Isn’t it rather a lack of unpredictability.”

  Congressman Kanda, a young politician and a member of the civil rights’ branch of the opposition party which was well known to be extremely critical of the n
ational defense force, had rapidly received increased media exposure this week. And his words and deeds were being circulated by the media, which, while superficially pro-magician at a glance, was actually for the exclusion of magicians from the military, which anyone who paid it a little serious attention understood.

  [That’s true.]

  Perhaps because she thought Tatsuya’s point was only natural, Ayako chuckled as she smiled.

  [So that Congressman Kanda will invade First High with his usual entourage of reporters.]

  “What will he do when he invades?”

  [Who knows, I haven’t thought that far.]

  “So he hasn’t prepared some big trick.”

  Tatsuya didn’t even bother pretending to consider Ayako’s behavior and simply nodded with an understanding look.

  [I think you might be interpreting this in some kind of twisted way……]

  This conversation was being held between Tatsuya and Ayako only. Miyuki wasn’t near Tatsuya and Fumiya wasn’t next to Ayako. Perhaps because she was so relaxed over not being watched, Ayako looked flabbergasted in a way that was appropriate for her young age.

  “If something large scale was prepared for that stage, there’s no way you wouldn’t know, Ayako, right?”

  […..I accept your words of praise.]

  “You’ve been praised, so enough of that.”

  While he summed it all up in those words, Ayako barely managed to give a cool reply (at least she thought it was); however, as could be expected of Tatsuya, he took up the chase more seriously, making her genuinely at a loss for words.

  [Tatsuya-san…..are you perhaps doing this knowingly?]

  “What?”

  [You are such a….. no, enough.]

  Apparently Ayako was making a show of being hounded but the girl swallowed the words she was going to say, faced with the poker face with no hint of emotion peeping out from it as if it was an iron wall. And also for the reason that she finally remembered that she had not made the call for that purpose.