by Sato Tsutomu
"But...... swords are meant to be......"
"I understand that sort of thing."
—Kirihara cut short whatever she wanted to say.
"Swords are tools men use to make war on each other and, unlike spears and arrows, were the first weapon created to cut humans. So, it is not necessarily wrong to say that a swordsman's hands must be stained by blood."
Kirihara confirmed Sayaka's words. Following that, he called upon a higher "law" to reject it.
"However, kendo was never something that needed live weapons to determine the victor. Is it really a good thing to advance from an athletic activity to a skill for killing?"
Until Kirihara fully calmed down, regardless of whether it was Sayaka or Erika, both could only wordlessly listen to him as he continued.
"I...... In middle school, I always thought that Mibu's sword was wonderful. Her techniques were graceful and her form simply beautiful. There was nothing nefarious in it and it existed solely to train herself in the art of kenjutsu...... No, that is kendo. I am entirely unable to wield such a wondrous sword. At that time, ah, I wished — that her sword would forever hold that beauty and continue to shine forth with that brilliant luster. So...... Well, ach, seriously, how the heck am I supposed to say this!?"
"I understand, senpai."
Seeing Kirihara clutch at his head not knowing how to continue, Erika spoke up in a different tone than before.
"At your match during recruitment week, I saw Sayaka's sword advancing in the correct direction, but I guess Kirihara-senpai thought otherwise. The idea that the true sword is completely different than kendo — probably because I'm different from senpai in that I am more attuned to using a sword to kill people, because I don't think that way."
"Erika-chan......"
Erika's heavy tone caused Sayaka to grow a little concerned. On the other hand, Kirihara stood there in shock and was unable to muster anything in response.
"However, Kirihara-senpai, the ultimate decision rests with Saya."
Erika's sharp eyes pierced through Kirihara's orbs.
"It's true that live combat is entirely different than combat training. There is nothing wrong in Kirihara-senpai not wishing Saya's hands and sword to be dirtied by blood. Yet, Saya is definitely not the sort to allow the target of her affections to charge into danger alone. She would want to fight alongside her beloved."
Both Sayaka and Kirihara blushed at that. Their embarrassment undoubtedly arose from the term "beloved". Still, this wasn't the time and place to express their affections, so both of them held themselves in check.
"......Oops, I think I said something I shouldn't have."
Even Erika was getting a little bashful, so she was in no position to say anything about Kirihara and Sayaka.
"I think this third wheel is going to quit the field. You two can discuss how best to proceed from here."
Erika quickly left the area.
After calming down, Sayaka and Kirihara both exchanged a glance.
◊ ◊ ◊
Without any way to access a bird's eye view of the situation, Masaki and Kichijouji of Third High had no way of knowing that the enemy force wasn't very large.
The sum total of the enemy's forces included the amphibious vessel disguised as a large cargo ship (pretty much a transport for land forces) and the irregulars who infiltrated ahead of time. Also, their goal was to seize objectives rather than prepare for a massive invasion.
"Is it already over......?"
Unaware of this, Masaki expressed amazement that the enemy's attacks had broken off, and this was not because he was a battlemonger.
"There's no way of telling if it's over for real. After all, we have no way of receiving intel."
Masaki's muttering to himself received a response from Kichijouji, who was approaching from behind.
In his immediate surroundings, there was no one else save for Kichijouji. There was no sign of his other companions, only blood soaked corpses piled ahead.
"So we need to take this opportunity to escape."
Kichijou said this in all seriousness as he watched Masaki put the handgun-shaped CAD that was glowing faintly red back into his chest pocket.
"We've already changed the tires. Masaki, let's get on board the bus."
Saying so, he turned around to see the students originally ready to meet the enemy had already congregated around the bus's location.
"Come on. The sooner we leave the better."
Kichijouji prodded Masaki.
Yet, Masaki shook his head.
"Masaki?"
"I'm going to head for the Magic Association branch office."
"That's too risky!"
His eyes widening, Kichijouji immediately expressed his disagreement to Masaki's words.
"First of all, for what!?"
Masaki wore an oddly detached expression as he replied back to his bestirred friend.
"To reinforce them. The Magicians from the Association couldn't possibly just be sitting there doing nothing. They must have formed a volunteer unit and joined in the defense."
"So what!"
"Because I am an 'Ichijou'."
These softly spoken words caused Kichijouji to suck in a breath.
"......Don't tell me, this is because of what happened earlier? No one meant anything by that. It's just that they weren't accustomed to it, they don't see Masaki as......"
"I wouldn't even bother with trivial things like that."
Masaki bulled over Kichijouji's words and shook his head.
"The first time I stepped onto the battlefield, I wanted to throw up too."
A wry smile appeared on Masaki's face as he added, "But I didn't."
Kichijouji felt that a distinct sense of loneliness emanating from that face.
"In addition, there's an absence of adequate supplies, trustworthy officers, and they were thrown into the field with no mental preparation whatsoever. The conditions were too terrible for a first battle."
"Exactly! That's why everyone expressed themselves that way."
"I already said that's not it."
Desperately trying to justify this — Masaki felt that this was "justifying" — Kichijouji was cut short by Masaki again.
"Although I cannot go into the specifics, the Ten Master Clans have a responsibility towards the Magic Association. As an Ichijou, and the eldest son to boot, I cannot scurry away and pretend this has nothing to do with me."
Masaki patted Kichijouji on the shoulder and advanced in the opposite direction of the bus.
"Then I'm going too!"
Catching Kichijouji's insistent scream, Masaki halted his footsteps.
"I am Masaki's tactician. If Masaki is joining the volunteers, then so am I."
"George, you need to help everyone escape safely."
Masaki merely turned his head slightly and spoke to Kichijouji with his face turned.
"This street is still a battlefield and there's no way of telling what will happen. Honestly, if I have to worry about whether the teachers and senpais got out of here safely, I cannot concentrate on the battle ahead."
After saying this, Masaki turned his face forward and continued onward with his back to Kichijouji.
"......Understood, Masaki. I will take up the responsibility to make sure everyone gets out safely. That's why, Masaki, you must return unharmed."
You are my only "commander". With this feeling in his heart, Kichijouji accepted Masaki's orders.
Hearing his words, Masaki kept his back to him and raised an arm in acknowledgement before once again stepping off towards the battlefield alone.
◊ ◊ ◊
"—They're here."
The first to discover the enemy's approach was Mikihiko.
The talismans spread out by the wind transmitted images of the enemy.
"Bipedal tanks...... They're different than before. They move like humans."
"Like humans?"
At Mikihiko's words, Erika tilted her head for some reason w
hile wearing protective headphones. (In order to avoid interfering with the conversation, they weren't covering her ears.)
Bipedal tanks were created to access narrow paths with an upraised firing platform. At the same time, the stubby legs were equipped with treads to navigate steps and rubble, but it was never designed to function as a combat robot.
Among modern military technology, at least within Erika's knowledge, no combat robot that could mimic human motion existed.
"You can see it in a second...... There!"
But now was not the time to consider things removed from reality.
Accompanied by Mikihiko's voice, the bipedal tank appeared from behind the building.
The stubby legs with treads attached.
A slightly elongated body.
Until this point, all features were uniform with bipedal tanks.
However, the right arm was equipped with a chainsaw and the left hand had a pile driver with gunpowder, both of which were equipment that was impossible on a normal bipedal tank.
If the heavy machinery used to clear away obstacles in disaster zones was modified into human form, it would undoubtedly look like this.
In addition, there was a Howitzer mounted on the right shoulder and a heavy machine gun on the left shoulder.
"Combat robots!?"
As if in disbelief that her imagination had turned into reality, Erika's voice hitched.
By her side, Miyuki directed a chilling gaze at the nefarious looking mobile weapon.
Once the bipedal tank (?) entered her sight range, Miyuki unleashed her magic.
No questions were necessary. (Not that this was the phrase's original meaning)
All three machines halted their footsteps.
Their treads were frozen through, prompting them to come to a stop.
The fact that they didn't tip over demonstrated the superiority of their balancing modules.
But the legs were not the only things that were frozen.
Miyuki's magic was not child's play.
Anyone with the military knowledge to pilot a bipedal tank would immediately recognize the frost originated from a magical attack.
Needless to say, this long-haired young woman of chilling temperament barring their path was the source of the magic.
That being said, neither the machine gun nor the Howitzer spat fire.
This was not some simple Freezing Magic, she had also activated "Freeze Flame" — Miyuki's magic not only restricted movement but also prevented any increases in heat.
Seeing that the weapons were disabled, Leo immediately charged.
Calling this swift reaction time and nose for victory a manifestation of his wild nature would not be incorrect.
The weapon he held in his hands was similar to a short stick with a twin-headed hammer.
The entire length measured 50 cm, the grip alone was 30 cm.
The protruding head at the front end was much wider than the handle and was approximately 10 cm long. From the side, it looked almost like a Latin cross.
The head of the hammer started humming like a motor and a black membrane poked out from the head of the stick.
A very, very thin, transparent, black membrane.
The motor sound stopped and the membrane turned into a straight two meter long blade.
Completely flat, this was an ultra thin blade that could not be seen from the side.
This was the Chiba Family's secret sword "Usuba Kagerou".
Relying on Fortifying Magic to solidify the flatness, the thin blade was made up of carbon nanotubes.
Usuba Kagerou was both the name of the technique and also the name granted to this special weapon.
The Usuba Kagerou in Leo's right hand flickered.
The carbon nanotubes were woven into an ultra thin plate that was 5 nanometers thick, making it sharper than any sword or razor as it easily cut the frozen armor plating in half.
The front armor had been sliced diagonally.
All that remained was a thin bisection line that could barely be seen.
Red droplets slowly drizzled down from there.
Not only was this the result of highly intense training in a short period of time, this was also the might of the finishing strike custom made for Leo.
As if chasing the lithely retreating Leo, the bipedal tank collapsed by the roadside.
Although she was a step behind Leo out the door, in terms of who took out the prey first, Erika had the mastery.
She had adjusted her headset in a flash and used her left arm to hold the handle of Orochimaru steady as she fell into a stance.
The moment her hand transferred from the scabbard to the hilt, the scabbard split along the back of the blade like two pages of a book, revealing the gigantic blade within.
Her palm steady, Erika used her right pointer finger to press the button right below the edge.
Then, she hefted the entire 180 cm long blade on her shoulder.
At this point, the magic already activated.
The odachi that weighed ten kilograms flew through the air.
In that instant, Erika's silhouette vanished.
At least, she vanished from Miyuki's eyesight.
Immediately afterward, a shattering roar was heard.
It was similar to the sound from antique waste disposal facilities where metal was being crushed.
Erika maintained the swinging posture of the odachi.
The red fluid staining the blade was unquestionably the pilot's blood.
Gravity Systematic·Inertia Control Magic "Yamatsunami".
First, this minimized the inertia of the self and the weapon while closing in on the enemy at high speed. At the point of impact, the hidden sword technique amplified the transfer of inertia with the weapon's inertia and struck the target.
The overlapping false values of inertia could be further enhanced running from a farther distance to reach a maximum of 10 tons.
The speed received from the transfer of inertia coupled with the weight obtained from increased inertia.
At its maximum strength, Yamatsunami was like a giant, 10 ton guillotine crashing down from up high.
The armor that could resist such a blow probably didn't exist.
The key to this lay in when to switch from transfer of inertia to increased inertia.
In addition, necessary components also included the ability to sprint forward without losing one's balance due to loss of inertia and the ability to hold the blade steady and prevent wobbling.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the high speed reaction and perception that would not be subverted by the loss of inertia.
Those were the critical components to Yamatsunami.
Erika was born with that "speed" and, with countless days of harsh training, she finally obtained this ability.
Erika looked towards her next prey.
Leo was already closing on the next target.
Yamatsunami activated.
A second later, Leo disengaged Usuba Kagerou and covered his ears before the shattered bipedal tank.
The other half of the "guard" team — which was the "defense" team — also engaged the bipedal tanks in battle.
On this side, Isori planted walls that obstructed oscillations three meters into the earth so Kanon could freely use her magic that used the earth as a medium.
The "formation" that Isori spread underground was also able to detect the enemy on the surface.
The surface and insides were covered with diagrams, created with silk threads, that aided in magic invocation, which was essentially a magic formation.
As an elite of the Isori Family, who were the authorities on Engraving Magic, Isori Kei excelled in this sort of magic which was unimaginably similar to the ritual formations used in Mikihiko's Ancient Magic. In the end, no matter whether it was modern magic or Ancient Magic, they differed little on the point of "magic".
Hence both of them were fulfilling similar roles, which on some level made perfect sense.
; "Incoming."
When Isori said this, Kanon spread out the Activation Sequence.
Although Isori had precautions in place, she couldn't use oscillation magic that was too strong when she was unfamiliar with the situation underground.
Two atypical bipedal tanks appeared.
Unfamiliar with the types of weaponry, Kanon wasn't really surprised by their odd shapes.
Without any additional considerations as a burden, she released the prearranged magic.
The paved road gave way to fine dust to form a swamp with the water that welled up from the slight oscillations in the earth.
The bipedal tanks sank down roughly a head's length because their feet sank into the earth.
Originally, treads were put in place to traverse sandy or wet terrain like open ground.
However, the liquefied road surface easily swallowed the smaller treads.
This was one of the variations of the Chiyoda Family's magic "Mine Genesis", "Oscillation Mine".
The result was as could be seen.
The magic liquefied the earth to prevent the enemy's advance.
The treads groaned as they churned the muddy water until the sand jammed the treads.
At some point, the moisture was evaporated, causing the liquefied road surface with the bipedal tank's legs still stuck inside to solidify.
After liquefying the earth, Kanon used moisture oscillation to cause them to evaporate.
The magic known as Oscillation Mine referred to a chain of processes that ultimately led to capture.
Although objects from the previous century differed somewhat, paving materials were still basically composed of concrete. Even so, it's not like she caused a complete liquefied reaction. Rather, she just altered the state of sand that was immersed in water. Despite calling this a capture, in reality this was only a temporary measure, but given that the enemy was currently unable to move, this temporary measure was sufficient to deliver a fatal blow.
Standing to the flanks of the immobile bipedal tanks, Toshikazu and Kirihara appeared.
Toshikazu attacked from the skies.
There was no way the pilot of the bipedal tank could react to that sort of speed in time.
Like a hawk descending from the heavens, he smoothly cut a deep slash across the pilot's seat.