Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou
/ Magika no Kenshi to Shoukan Maou Vol 5 Chapter 5
{Currently it is something only in name but not in reality, but based on the most humane world order that existed in the former era, the
The morning of the next day, the one who proclaimed such thing inside the TV was―the man who once temporarily called as the Board Chairman in this academy, Takasugi Takayoshi. The footage looked like a bad joke.
At her side an image of Kaya making a peace sign toward the camera was projected on the screen.
That Board Chairman Takasugi was right there…there was no doubt that Hayashi Shizuka was included in their force.
Loki, Naiarlatoteph, Hayashi Shizuka…it was the worst trio!
{We are forming a new government in the West Japan that we occupied, levying tax on the people in the occupation area to cover the occupation expenses, and in compensation for that we promise the same social welfare the people enjoyed until now. Also as long as there is no intervention or act of hostility for war, we promise there will be no harm done to the general citizen.}
He clearly said the word war from his mouth.
{We proclaim right here. A true country that deified not Solomon 72 Pillar, but the legitimate gods of Japan…this is the founding of
The early morning before they went to school, everyone was gathering in the living room of the Witch’s Mansion. They were watching the news report while having breakfast. Everyone’s face looked like they hadn’t slept well.
“…When the trace of Board Chairman Takasugi was followed, we knew that he went in the direction of west Japan. Not only Board Chairman Takasugi, the influential politicians of Kenshitou were also together with him. Their target, is this.”
Headmaster Amasaki said with a loathsome face. The politicians' simultaneous migration. Most likely they were politicians under the patronage of China. Furthermore for some reason, it seemed that illegal Magika Stigmas whose bodies sheltered the Divas of Japanese Mythology were also added in their forces.
{Aside from Naiarlako, I am also gathering other strong allies rapidly after all.}
Kaya said this kind of thing. So the one that she called as strong allies was the Japanese Mythology.
“What in the world is going on with this?”
With a glare, Headmaster Amasaki’s gaze moved on Kazuha-senpai.
“Eerrr, I am, anything…” Kazuha-senpai looked down coweringly.
{Kazuha didn’t know anything you know? I didn’t tell her after all.}
At her side, the avatar of Futsunushi no Kami who was a Diva of Japanese Mythology floated.
{It’s just that a few days before this, my communication with the other Japanese Mythology became cut off.}
“Break in communication…your link with the Territory is cut off?”
Kaguya-senpai asked.
{Right, the story will be fast if you already understand the concept of Territory. Those guys are most likely, in the process of becoming Wild God[1].}
“Wild God?” All present there returned a question after hearing a word that they weren’t used to.
{The Diva of Japanese Mythology doesn’t really ask for people to be faithful to them. It’s because we are not a monotheism Mythology. However when they are not being cared for they grow restive. That is Wild God Transformation.}
…Kazuha-senpai built an altar at the abandoned clubroom where she properly conversed and played with Futsunushi no Kami. Mikohime[2]―that was Kazuha-senpai’s other name but, that title was not just for show.
{To fulfill her own dream of entering the Sword Division and fulfilling her duty as a shrine maiden at the same time, Kazuha installed an altar at the abandoned clubroom as you know. What a good natured girl. Hayashizaki Kazuki, taking this girl as wife will surely be excellent.}
“What are you saying, Bakanushi[3] no Kami!”
Kazuha-senpai’s face became bright red with indignation. Her positivity level had gone up to 70 with Kazuki following her around. Futsunushi no Kami was “GUWAHHAHHA!” laughing heartily.
“What are you guwahhahha-ing for! Why didn’t you tell us before that they were transforming into Wild God!!”
Headmaster Amasaki blew up his temper with force that almost burst the blood vessel of his head.
“But even if before this you heard about how they were going through Wild God Transformation, this kind of situation is just really unexpected right?”
In order to cover for Futsunushi no Kami, Leme materialized at Kazuki’s side.
“…So you also knew about that beforehand.”
When Kazuki asked her bitterly, Leme nodded “yeah” without showing any guilt. Kazuki spontaneously stretched that dark-skinned soft cheeks of hers *biroon* with both his hands. “Stooopp~!”
{Besides the gods of Japanese Mythology don’t interfere with each other mutually. Even with the other guys transforming into Wild God, I have no right to sooth them or become their intermediary.}
That was what Futsunushi no Kami said. If it was a Mythology with such disposition, then it couldn’t be helped.
“So the Divas of Japanese Mythology who are going wild for some reason, is going along with Kenshitou, that’s it huh.”
Their attempt to control the Knight Academy, the assassination attempt on Kazuki, their aim was not just limited to those things.
Surely because they failed on those matters, they joined hands with Kaya and moved onto this fearsome second phase. An armed revolt by touting the Japanese Mythology as their banner―it surely had the persuasion power to pull the people into their cause.
It shook the whole Japanese islands to the core. The residents of the occupied west Japan too, there was no doubt that they didn’t necessarily react negatively regarding the founding of nation Yamato. There was persuasiveness in the existence called Japanese Mythology.
{…Regarding Yamato that is founded in the west Japan, when the government suspended the electric supply they demonstrated a countermeasure. This decision garnered a large backlash from the resident of west Japan.}
Hearing the words from the news program reporter, all who are present fell quiet.
The electricity supply of Japan in this current era was provided by the large scale sunlight heat power reactorAlchimedes System constructed in the human-made islandmegafloat that was located in the southern tip of Japan’s territorial water. Its production capacity was extremely large, furthermore the recharging of the etherlite rechargeable battery that would never deteriorate no matter how many times it was recharged was performed in that place. The battery from the whole country were transported there and redistributed after the recharging to each household, realizing safe and moreover clean power in cheap price.
The government proclaimed that they wouldn’t circulate the rechargeable battery to west Japan. So that Japan would still be okay even if the megafloat met with enemy attack, the thermal energy reactor and nuclear energy reactor from the previous era were left in reserve throughout the whole country as spare recharging facility, but with that the west Japan would be able to use those facilities too.
But with this, the breakdown between east Japan and west Japan had become a definite thing.
“…Yamato had already began creating a military boundary line that separated the islands into parts from the west Japan that they occupied. The circulation of trade between east Japan and west Japan has also been suspended, the people coming and going between the two places were also becoming impossible.”
The freeway and railroad system that were the cornerstone of distribution were blockaded, the local streets were also being destroyed one by one. It was completely like the Berlin wall that divided East and West Germany or, the 38th parallel north[4] between the South Korea and the North Korea.
“Toyama・Gifu・Aichi, those three prefectures had fallen. And then Niigata – Nagano – Shizuoka that are bordering those area had become Japan’s current western border. In order for these prefectures to avoid further entanglement with Yamato’s invasion, the ordinary citizens’ evacuation is being hastened. The current situation is generally like that.”
Headmaster Amasaki that had connection with the government informed the situation to Kazuki and party.
“What is the Knight Academy going to do from now on? …No, rather than saying the Knight Academy’s tendency, what is the Knight Order planning to do?”
The one who had the say in this situation was not Kazuki or even Headmaster Amasaki, but the Knight Order.
“Regarding that matter…the classes for this morning are cancelled. There is someone that wants to meet you guys. After that we are going to open an extraordinary general students meeting.”
“Someone who wants to meet us…?”
“It has been a long time huhh―, this mansion too✩”
“It’s really a relief that nothing changed here[5]. …It looks like even without me here the cleaning is done thoroughly.”
The two people who appeared shortly at the entrance of the Witch’s Mansion murmured with deep feelings.
“Kanon-senpai, Akane-senpai…”
Kaguya-senpai who came to greet them had an expression dyed with surprise. Both their bodies were wrapped with the crisp white uniform of the Knight Order and they were donning a mantel that showed their status as officer cadet. For Kaguya-senpai to look up to them as senpai, in another words these people are….
“Yahoo―i, Kaguyan long time no see! The idol of the Witch Mansion Koudzuki Kanon has returned home here―✩”[6]
The small statured woman of this group of two hugged Kaguya-senpai who greeted them at the entrance with lively vigor.
“You look healthy don’t you, Kaguya. Aren’t you becoming too lively when we were not here?”
At the side, the other woman who looked adult-like said so.
“Tha, that kind of thing is not true you know…. Stop it―, senpai.”
Kaguya-senpai showed a stiff smiling face. When the two separated themselves from Kaguya-senpai, they looked around the living room of the Witch’s Mansion in nostalgia and then their eyes stopped at Kazuki who was looking at the situation from a distance.
“And, this boy is the rumored Chief Student Council President right? A male that entered the Magic Division, and then in one month he is already reigning as the Chief Student Council President that is connecting the Magic Division and the Sword Division. When I heard about it I thought whether if it was a joke or not.”
“But however[7] something like a Chief Student Council President is still too naïve! …This top of the highest grade third year Kanon is so to speak…a super student council president here―✩”
“A former student council president though.” The adult-like woman entered her tsukkomi there sharply.
“Nay, this Kanon-sama is a retired number[8] super idol student council president for sure―✩”
“…It’s fine already, so stop blocking the entrance door, sit quickly! This trash!”
Liz Liza-sensei made her appearance from behind and then she kicked the butt of the small statured woman swiftly.
Looked like Liz Liza-sensei was the one who lead these two here.
“Well then I’ll introduce myself once more. I was the vice student council president until last year, Yagumo Akane. Currently as a third year, I was training until yesterday at the Knight Order in Aichi regiment of Chubu jurisdiction division. …Our pitiful battle was completely relayed from the helicopter, now we are the most disgraced regiment in Japan as you can see.”
The part of the great senior talked while releasing a powerless deep sigh in the living room.
“Don’t beat yourself with that Yagumo, Chubu jurisdiction was not the only one who took flight.”
Liz Liza-sensei encouraged her from the side.
“It’s lucky that the helicopter fell in the middle there! Because after that, the battle became really disastrous one-sidedly…. But the media crews that were on board the heli were able to escape✩”
The other great senpai talked with a lively smiling face.
Both of them were in the actual location of that battle…so they took flight and escaped here.
“And then I’m the one who was doing the student council president until last year, Koudzuki Kanon! I’m the same like Akane and was interning in Aichiregiment, the Ultra Super Deluxe former student council president! So you are the chief student council president Hayashizaki Kazuki?”
This senpai also looked very bright in her behavior, though fatigue was coloring her expression.
“Yes, I’m Hayashizaki Kazuki who was appointed as the chief student council president. But I’m still a first year so…both of you are the senpai of my senpai aren’t you, Koudzuki-sempai and Yagumo-senpai.”
“You can call me Akane-senpai. It’s puzzling if you are the only one who called me Yagumo when all the other children call me Akane. I want us unified. In exchange I will also call you Kazuki.”
Yagumo-senpai revised as Akane-senpai talked with a cool tone. He couldn’t feel any shyness or the like from her about man and woman calling each other by their given name. It was a tone that only cared about the inefficiency of the information that entered her ear.
“It’s also okay to call me Kanon-senpai! I and you are a comrade of the Witch’s Mansion after all! …But chief student council president…a special post that didn’t exist in our time…gununu…”
Even though at first Kanon-senpai directed a smiling face at Kazuki, immediately her eyes sharpened into a glare.
“…I am invincible from east to west to south to north and to the center – the super former student council president, don’t you forget it!!”
“Kanon, stop making up an incomprehensible title in antagonism. You are like a child like this.”
“I, I’m not a child! The one who said someone else is a child is the child herself!”
“Senpai, here is a tea.”
Hikaru-senpai shared cups of tea on top of the tray she brought in turn starting from Kanon-senpai.
“How nostalgic. Hikaru cannot do any other chores but, only in brewing black tea you are strictly disciplined like this.”
“Right now Kazuki and the others are also skilled in making black tea though. But it has been a long time so I want to brew some.”
“Fufufu, so that’s it. You said a cute thing didn’t you, prince. …Yes, it’s really delicious.”
For the first time Akane-senpai made a broad smile and showed a relaxed face.
Kazuki spontaneously stared at her face from the side while drinking his tea. Long slit eyes and slender bridge of the nose. The black tea suited the intellectual and cool atmosphere of her side face.
She had a similar atmosphere with Hikaru-senpai, but rather than calling her a prince she felt more like a [beautiful onee-sama[9]].
“Pikarun don’t get it!? My taste is for a lot of jam and honey to be mixed you know!”
Kanon-senpai was demanding while banging her palm *bam bam* on top of the table.
“Yes of course. Here is a specially made Russian tea[10].”
“Yahoo yahoo! This is the symbol of Pikaru in the tea time of the Witch’s Mansion✩ When I was in the Knight Order I didn’t want to be made fool by the other senior knight so I drank black coffee. But I really don’t know what is the thinking of those guys that keep drinking such bitter and smelly liquid.”
“Everyone noticed that you forced yourself drinking that you know? It comes out in Kanon’s expression after all.”
“Eh!? You lie, every time I drank it everyone were praising me ‘Kanon is so adult―’ right!?”
“They were making fun of you with that you know.”
Akane-senpai said it bluntly and coldly while drinking her tea.
“Eh…lies…ugyaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
While screaming, Kanon-senpai ‘BATA―N!’ collapsed on the table face down.
“…To, to be thought like that by them. I don’t want to face those guys anymore…”
Kanon-senpai’s big and round eyes became teary-eyed with tears, with a glance she looked at Koyuki.
“…Koyukin is really small just like usual huh―. You are more childish than even me. Fufun[11].”
Now that she mentioned it Koyuki had been coming and going to the mansion since before she enrolled. She should be acquainted with these senpais.
“Kanon-senpai too didn’t really change that much did you? Just because you received a shock, please don’t vent your anger on me who is two years your junior.”
Koyuki counterattacked with cold scornful eyes. Kanon-senpai was “Mukii―! This impyertinent[12] Koyukin kid―!!” and kicked around her feet under the table.
“…First year of the Witch’s Mansion, an apprentice of the Witch’s Mansion, I’m Amasaki Mio.”
With uncharacteristic meekness, Mio introduced herself while shrinking into herself.
“Sword Division second year, Hayashizaki Kanae. I am the president of the Sword Division.” “Sword Division first year, Hikita Kohaku, vice president.”
“Errr…for some reason I’m here in this place, Tsukahara Kazuha of the Sword Division second year, just a commoner.”
Kanae and Kazuha-senpai were second years, but it seemed they were not really acquainted with these two great senpai.
“Fufufu.” When all the members had finished their self-introduction, Akane-senpai suddenly leaked out a chuckle.
“According to the rumor that is floating around, I heard that the chief student council president is popular with everyone. I wonder if everyone in this place is madly in love already? But if you’re not careful, the contraception nowadays is not as perfect as in the past after all.”
“Wha!? Co, contraception or any…” Kazuki spontaneously hitched his breath.
In the present era Japanese people, most of the young population was awakened as magician. Thereupon their magic power would be unconsciously invoked when they were doing an action that was filled with strong emotions, and accidents where it became a total hindrance to contraception had occurred repeatedly. The fact was that the power of love completely destroyed the undesired wall of contraception.
From such reason the current era female put even more importance to their chastity compared to the previous era. Kazuki too had to have the awareness of self-control all the more because of this.
“…If I am to have a child with Kazuki, then it doesn’t really…”
Mio murmured vacantly with a boiling red face. In an instant, the Witch’s Mansion became as silent as a graveyard.
“…Fufun, no matter how much popular you said this guy is, surely Kaguyan and Pikarun still liked this charismatic retired number, Kanon-chan far more, right✩”
With a broad grin Kano-senpai directed a smile to Kaguya-senpai and Hikaru-senpai.
“”I like Kazuki better♡”” Kaguya-senpai and Hikaru-senpai matched their voices and gave instant answers.
“You heartless bunch―!!” With ‘BATA―N’ Kanon-senpai collapsed.
Ehem, Akane-senpai cleared her throat.
“Well then, let’s moderate the digression of the talk and move on soon to the main problem.”
“First I want to inform you all of the current situation. First with the fall of the Knight Order in Chubu jurisdiction, Toyama・Gifu・Aichi, the three prefectures are occupied and the east Japan and the west Japan are divided into two parts. The line that is drawn in the area that bordered these three prefectures is the military boundary line―in other words the substantial national border.”
Akane-senpai spread out a map on top of the table, and then she traced the line she mentioned with her long finger smoothly.
“It looks like Yamato is going to invade even further from now on toward Niigata – Nagano – Shizuoka. To prepare for that the east Japan’s battle strength have to be concentrated in the front line. However that action has become a difficult thing to do. Even now, illegal magicians are rampaging in many area of east Japan. Even though we managed to suppress them but our hand became completely full because of that.”
“Loki’s troops are concealing themselves in east Japan and in order to obstruct us from concentrating our battle strength they are sporadically taking guerilla action, is that the gist of it?” Kazuki inquired.
“Right, like that. They are working together systematically. Yamato declared that they won’t lay their hand on the general public, but we think these guerilla fighters are planning to feign ignorance as if it’s unrelated to them.”
“That’s why we can’t ignore them. Concentrating the whole battle strength of east Japan in the front line…is something we cannot do. The guerilla fighters understand that and they are running around doing hit-and-run.”
Taking the general public as hostages, the Knight Orders became unable to mobilize the entirety of their fighting strength.
“On the other hand if you ask our current status, then we are a remnant of a defeated army. In the fight last night, the jurisdiction division commander was also captured as prisoner of war. Kanon then led everyone to escape to here as the temporary leader.”
Akane-senpai explained the situation briskly, but doubt was surfacing in Kazuki and Kaguya-senpai’s face clearly.
The student council’s staff of the Knight Academy was treated as an officer cadet in the Knight Order.
Be that as it may, strictly speaking they were still nothing more than students, even with the jurisdiction division ‘s division commander captured normally it would be impossible for someone in that position to take the leader position.
“…It’s a story that sound like a joke, however putting aside the top brass, Kanon is excessively well liked by the average senior knights. Maybe because they were saved from the time of pinch by Kanon’s cheerfulness, everyone is saying to make Kanon as the leader. In the first place we are just a division of the army’s remnant where there is no order at all.”
“I’m beaten―, it’s really troublesome to be this popular―✩”
“…She was also elected as the student council president at that time with that rhythm.”
Kaguya-senpai murmured. Kanon-senpai pulled her surrounding with a mascot-like unifying power and then Akane-senpai solidified their position in the practical business side. He could picture it instantly and Kazuki nodded in understanding.
“We are added in the defense of Nigata – Nagano – Shizuoka and we have to counterattack and recapture Chubu jurisdiction when we see a chance. However the battle strength of the defense army in the front line is insufficient with only us as addition. It would still take time for the other area to suppress the guerrillas before they could send reinforcement…. With that we took along one part of our comrades and came to this academy without sleep.”
“Without sleep…that’s why Kanon-senpai is more anno…high-tensioned than usual like this.”
Kaguya-senpai fixed what she almost said in a purposeful manner. “Kaguyan youu―” Kanon-senpai made a fuss.
“It’s just a joke, thank you for your hard work.”
“Hmph, I’m not happy at all even if you suddenly change your attitude like that okayy✩”
When Kaguya-senpai easily changed her attitude suddenly, Kanon-senpai grinned brightly in a happy way.
“Akane-senpai, thank you for your hard work.” Hikaru-senpai thanked Akane-senpai with sincere expression.
“Fufufu, thank you. …So because of that reason this is the main topic. We want to make a request as a Quest for the Knight Academy to help us. We want to receive the favor for the elite Magika Stigmas and swordsmen of the Knight Academy led by the Chief Student Council President Hayashizaki Kazuki to be added to our force.”
In short what Headmaster Amasaki said before about opening an extraordinary general student meeting was in the purpose of preparing for taking the application of the participants for this quest in large-scale.
The students of the Knight Academy had also been experiencing real battle in the form of Quest until now, but the request this time was obviously in a different dimension than the [assistance] until now.
They are asking for the students to participate in a [war] where even the real knights themselves had no experience for it.
Currently the Knight Order was in a pressing crisis to the degree that they had to issue this request.
“It might be difficult for students who are still halfway through the curriculum to take a disciplined tactical action. However it’s fortunate that a Chief Student Council President that united the Magic Division and the Sword Division was born in this kind of timing. If it’s you then you should be able to collect this academy into one unified group right?”
Akane-senpai directed a challenging smile at Kazuki’s way. Looked like Headmaster Amasaki had already acknowledged this request.
There was no need for any worry, right now Kaya and former Board Chairman Takasugi were enemies that need to be defeated. The ideal that they crowed around was just something fake. That ghastly fake was going to swallow the people and [encroach] this country…..
“Of course we will cooperate. I too think that we can’t stay like this.”
“That’s good, it looks like a gallant person has been selected as the Chief Student Council President.”
Akane-senpai whose expression was colored with exhaustion smiled cheerfully to Kazuki.
“However don’t make a misunderstanding, Chief Student Council President! Until the end the leader is this Charismatic Super Former Student Council President, the Koudzuki Kanon✩”
Kanon-senpai faced Kazuki and winked while making a side peace- sign.
Kazuki stood in front of the mike and looked down from the stage on the students of the whole school who lined up in a row inside the auditorium.
The sight was just like the sight of the few days ago. However right now, the meaning of this meeting had changed drastically from before.
“I think, everyone has already known of what happened in west Japan yesterday. It is thought that the invasion of Yamato is still continuing, but because of the guerilla war that the illegal magicians conducted repeatedly in many areas, the Knight Order is unable to concentrate their battle strength for the sake of counterattack. Accordingly the Knight Order issued a request directed for the high ranked students of our Knight Academy in the form of Quest for participation in war.”
Even though he was in the middle of speaking, the students were making a stir.
“This is similar with a normal quest where it depends on the discretionary of the students, by no way this is a forced conscription to be a soldier. And then it become something that is followed with scale, difficulty, and danger in different degree compared to the usual quest. Nevertheless we are pressed by circumstance for applicants to form an independent corps on a scale that is only possible for this Knight Academy. Perhaps you are still in a panic from this sudden development and your heart is still not prepared, but the training that we piled up day after day until now are supposed to be for the purpose of standing against this kind of difficulty. Those people who are not merely panicking, but also finding a spark of heated desire inside them wishing to challenge this difficulty, please volunteer for this quest without fail.”
Heated applause was occurring provoked by those words. Then he passed the stage to Headmaster Amasaki.
Headmaster Amasaki explained the conditions and rewards for volunteering.
Conditions ― to prevent students who didn’t have sufficient strength and experience to become volunteer soldier, application was limited only for students within certain rank and quest accomplishment.
Let alone the first year students of the Magic Division who had experience participating in Quest, even the number of students who had finally succeeded in contracting with their Diva and could not even chant level 1 magic was not few.
Rewards ― the usual Quest was purely for the sake of rank up evaluation, but if the quest this time achieved a success then the Knight Order itself would record their conspicuous effort.
In another words this was not for the sake of rank up evaluation but for the sake of their future evaluation.
After Kazuki awakened their passion, Headmaster Amasaki’s explanation awakened the calm prudence in the auditorium.
“The list of the volunteers is complete.”
Saying so, Yumeno-san handed out the print-out. The data consolidation was performed by the newspaper committee members. Seeing their dedication even in something that was not included in their original work, Kazuki returned a word of thanks.
“Thank you, was it difficult?”
The cramped student council room had been transformed into operation headquarter. Everyone was gathering here.
“Not at all…approximately 150 people were signing up, so if everyone cooperated than it’s only to that extent.”
Kazuki looked at the data briefly. The proportion between the Magika Stigma and the swordsmen were around 1:2. In the first place the number of students in the Sword Division was a lot more, that ratio was more or less the ratio of students between the divisions.
150 people―it was a fair number to form an independent corps that could move freely.
The battle force of the Knight Order, that is the
Those 2400 people were assigned at eight jurisdiction zones that were Hokkaido – Tohoku – Kantoukoushin’etsu – Chubu – Kinki – Chugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu. There was difference in numbers according to the jurisdiction zone, but there were around 300 personnel in one jurisdiction zone. This was the
Below that jurisdiction zone division, a
…A military force of 2400 people strong on the whole, if it was compared with the military in the era where there was no magic it was a really small scale force. To start with the reason of this was first because humans who could use Summoning Magic was limited, and also because only a select few of elite swordsmen were chosen. The quality was far more important than a mere number.
And then the second reason that was raised was because there was no other branch of the army except the two categories of Magika Stigma and swordsman. The modern weapons that need colossal resources to be transported and consumed while fighting didn’t exist anymore. The supply needed at worst was only meal and water to suffice. Even those supplies, if the grass was changed to become edible or dirty water was changed into drinkable water using alchemy to procure supply locally, there was many ways to compensate.
Everything was fine as long as the combat force itself arrived, personnel needed for weapons repair and supply was not needed at all.
…Such things, even Kazuki had learned that much in class.
Manufacturing weapons for the people’s general mobilization and conscripting a great number of general public as soldier, and yet most of those personnel were driven into maintenance control of weapons rather actual fighting, brandishing those fossilized weapons and conducting
Deciding the outcome of battle not by weapon but by hero―like the war in the era of mythology.
“Is Yumeno-san volunteering too?” Inside the list, Kazuki found the girl’s name too.
“Yes…it’s a little scary but, I’m worried.”
“What you mean by worried is, by any chance…”
“My parent’s home is in Kyoto.”
From Kazuki’s side, Kohaku too leaked out an empathic voice to Yumeno-san.
“…This one too is from Kyushu. It’s too far and the situation there is the hardest to grasp. As expected it make one feels a little worried.”
Regardless of how dangerous this quest was, a lot of the students’ reason to gather and volunteer was also because of this. The Knight Academy gathered the students from the whole country―what would happen to the west Japan, many of the students’ heart were crushed with feeling of anxiety.
“Yosh, the volunteers had been gathered with this.”
Kanon-senpai and Akane-senpai came along to the student council room.
Behind them several female wearing the Knight Order uniform were also following along in succession.
One person among them was, “Never thought I’ll be going back to the Knight Academy in this shape” and laughed ironically.
“From among the people that escaped together with us, the third years that are in the middle of training also want to come together. Because everyone said that they want to come back to the Knight Academy after so long. Though let’s omit the introduction.”
“Ee―, that’s really mean Akanee―! Even though I also want to become acquainted with Chief President-san!”
After one person raised their voice, the whole third years started to make a ruckus ‘kya kya’.
“Awe―some! There is really a male wearing the uniform of the Magic Division!” “He really look better than those swordsmen of the Knight Order!” “So unfair Otonashi Kaguya! It should be more effective if you are the one that is in the field so switch with me!”
Kazuki faltered from the impolite gazes of the girls. Seeing that they immediately “He is shyy―!” and such voices were raised. They were two years older than him so they felt like an older lady to him for the most part and it made him felt timid.
“Fufufu, a timid Kazuki is so cute. It make me want to hug him and break his neck…”
Mixed with the high pitched voice of the third year girls…he could hear a voice that said strange words in a deep voice.
“Eh?” Thinking it was strange he directed his gaze at the direction of the voice. There at the end of the line of the third years who were wearing white knight order uniforms, three woman wearing black Einherjar uniform were secretly coming along. The third years seemingly not noticing them were “Eh, no way, what is this person say…” and got startled.
“Who, who are you…” Kanon-senpai asked timidly with eyes as if she was seeing a degenerate.
“Fufufu, I am…Beatrix-chan!”
“…Hey, why is the captain recently, she got so crazy about adding ‘chan’ to her own name?”
“She learned that in Japan a cute girl had ‘chan’ added after their name…it seems she is planning to appeal as a cute girl like this.”[13]
Behind Beatrix, Damian and Eleonora were exchanging conversation in secret.
“Cute girl? Isn’t the captain could be mistaken as a wild gorilla…”
“FUNN!” Beatrix visited a lariat on Damian, that small statured body was blown away until the end of the corridor. …Kazuki was not looking at that pleasant exchange.
“Beatrix, why are you here…”
“I heard that you are forming a unit to counterattack the revolting west Japan see. Because of that we who have no ties of obligation the most and can move freely are the one that get dispatched at the foremost. And also…Loki is in the west Japan right? He is most likely there.
“We are not hearing about any of this though?” Akane-senpai questioned Beatrix in detail with a sullen expression.
“We are going on ahead and coming here where the movement speed will be faster rather than waiting for those slow procedure in the Knight Order got finished. Fufufu, though there is also me wanting to see Kazuki’s shocked face that made me hurrying here.”
“Don’t take every single one of your action with the purpose of making me shocked. It really made me get surprised.”
In front of Kazuki’s eye, a magic vision that could only be seen by Kazuki floated.
Beatrix―72 Damian―27 Eleonora―22
…Positivity level. It was temporary, but it was a display of proof that they were becoming a comrade that was going to fight together with the King of Solomon. There was also a case like this where Kaya’s positivity level appeared temporarily in his vision.
…However 72. This was already a positivity level where he could use her magic until level 2.
“I think they can be trusted, Akane-senpai. Loki who is included in Yamato’s force is also a sworn enemy for them after all. I have no doubt that they will become an important war potential.”
“Is that so? Well, if you said so.”
“Fuu―nn…well, isn’t it fine if they are strong? So then what are we going to do after this? Akane?”
Kanon-senpai looked back at Yagumo-senpai and tilted her head.
“We will organize these 150 volunteers as
Pushing out her face from Yumeno-san’s side, Akane-senpai peered into Yumeno-san’s PC screen.
“Let’s make 15 platoon of ten people. Otonashi Kaguya, Hoshikaze Hikaru, Hayashizaki Kanae, and Hikita Kohaku, these four people will establish four or five platoon each as company commanders. Even further above than this four people, Hayashizaki Kazuki will stand as the regimental commander.”
“I see, and then even higher than him is me right✩”
An orderly organization chart rose to the fore in Kazuki’s head. With organization then the communication of order would also become smoother.
“The Einherjar too, they will follow Hayashizaki Kazuki as one platoon.”
“Kazuki’s subordinate? Just as I wish!” Beatrix gave a broad smile happily.
“Kaguya, Kanae-san, choose high ranked powerful students that have leadership quality from inside this list as platoon captain and form the platoons. As soon as the formation is over, we are going to head to Shizuoka garrison. Because we left behind the 200 strong soldiers that escaped together with us in Shizuoka.”
What she meant by garrison was the location where the soldiers were stationed. The word ‘base’ fitted Kazuki’s image more, but the word ‘base’ indicated a place that was equipped with particular modern facilities of the navy and the air force and the like. In regards to that, the force that the army was using didn’t need any special facility and had mobile position, that was why it was called garrison. In the era where the magicians became the main force of war, a fixed base was mostly unneeded and garrison basically became the main position of the army.
“200 people…is it?”
From the military force of 1200 people in the west Japan, only a sixth of that force was able to escape to east Japan.
Looking at Kazuki whose thought came out in his expression, Akane-senpai looked down as if feeling a responsibility in this.
“With Chubu jurisdiction captured at the foremost, the archipelago was divided into parts completely. Because of that the knights that were fighting even further west than Chubu jurisdiction were unable to escape to east Japan. If only we could hold out more, we would be able to make a path of retreat however…”
“However it’s not like the remaining 1000 people were all captured as prisoner of war. Even if they couldn’t escape to east Japan, they went into hiding in town and became resistances that still continue to fight even now. There should be many knights that are like that there! The ones who are commencing guerilla war is not only that side!!”
Kanon-senpai talked with bright voice to raise hope. Hearing that Akane-senpai raised her face.
“Most likely there are still some sporadic fighting continuing even now in west Japan, the enemy too cannot concentrate their battle strength. If not for that then Shizuoka was supposed to have fallen already.”
The illegal magicians that were being guerilla fighters in east Japan, the resistance activities of the scattered knights in west Japan. The shape of the war had became where the two sides mutually obstructed the opponent from concentrating their battle strength with some nuisance.
“The remnants soldier and the Knight Academy regiment...so to speak
After talking until that far with commanding voice, Akane-senpai’s head nodded off. The senpai who was peering at the PC screen from the side just like that collapsed down on top of Yumeno-san powerlessly.
“Akane! Are you okay!?” Kanon-senpai supported that body in panic.
“…Sorry, I’m okay. I only feel a little lightheaded…”
“Everyone is working nonstop without eating and drinking, but because you burdened yourself as if it’s only your fault…. Sorry, Knight Academy’s people, in any event we are going to depart after taking just a little rest in the academy. Really just for a little.”
Kazuki suddenly looked at the clock. Just in right timing, now it was already the lunch break.
“Then…Kanon-senpai! I’m going to make some meals that will make you energetic!”
Kanon-senpai stared in wonder. “That…is not the job of the Chief Student Council President right?”
Part 2Without any sound or vibration, a frame with streamlined shape that emitted blue light left behind the scenery outside the window.
Using the new metal born from alchemy,
But the rare mythril was prioritized to be circulated for the Knight Order, so [magic light train for military use] covered the whole country from Hokkaido to Kyushu. War road for military use was spread out running parallel with civilian’s Shinkansen[14]. It could transport the knights to the major cities throughout the whole country with capacity easily surpassing 1000 people.
There was also criticism on the military’s monopoly on mythril, but an efficient transportation method was essential for the Knight Order that was few in number to deal with all the incidents throughout the whole country of Japan.
The total of 150 Knight Academy students that was led by Kanon-senpai too settled themselves comfortably and headed to Shizuoka garrison. There was no noise, no need to decelerate the speed in curve, using the special characteristic of magic light train of always running at its best full speed, even the distance between Tokyo-Shizuoka wouldn’t take more than one hour.
“We will arrive at Shizuoka soon after this. Let’s soak at Atsumi’s hot spring―✩”
Kanon-senpai raised a cheer, they had arrived at Shizuoka before they even realized it.
The Knight Order’s garrison at Shizuoka was a building that was once called Shizuoka prefectural police headquarters that had been expanded and remodeled. Once they disembarked from the military train, the building was located in an immediate distance from the station by walking.
After passing through a bombastic entrance made from stone, they were greeted with splendid buildings that were equipped with transmission tower and the like lining up, but in contrast with that splendidness, they couldn’t feel any human presence anywhere in the area.
“Right now this place has been completely deserted. The main force of Shizuoka regiment had moved to the west prefectural border…In other words, the area close to the military demarcation line with Yamato. There they had already set a temporary front line garrison and transferred there. It’s for the sake of defense. It’s just that we have to follow a track to reach there, so we are going to change into a bus here.”
Akane-senpai explained briskly while leading Kazuki and the others to the destination. Cars and buses for military use were lined up in a huge parking lot. If it was in the olden era then this place would be used to deploy tanks or armored vehicles without a doubt, but against magicians, the shells of tanks and armor of armored cars were nothing more than a pointless cost expense.
Vehicles were not a method of battle but merely a means of transportation for knights.
Because of that reason these military use cars and buses that were lining up here had almost no difference with the passenger vehicle of civilians.
“Cars are well used to assist us in dealing with the incident within the prefecture, but it’s the first time for me to use the bus.”
Akane-senpai whispered. It means that a big incident that is needed to collect and transport a lot of knights had never happened until now.
There was a driver that had been already in standby at the driver seat. The driver was not a specialist in magic battle but he seemed to belong under the rear support unit. He was a little older compared to the usual knight. Magic power declined at the peak of 20 years old. The knight who had reached a certain age and even more didn’t manage to get promoted until management class would be reassigned to the rear support unit like this.
Kazuki and the others were pushed inside the rustic military bus that was painted in olive drab color traditional since the time of Self Defense Force until they were packed tightly. They couldn’t possibly wish for a comfortable ride like the train that they had just ridden before this. This uncomfortable ride really made them feel the [sense of the actual scene] of the Knight Order’s work. The number of words the students spoke started to lessen naturally.
Divided separately into four buses, Kazuki and the others headed to the military boundary line.
“Oh my, Kazuki. How pleasant it is to be able ride near you. I can’t help but feel a destined throbbing in my chest.”
Inside the bus that was packed tight like a crowded train, Miyabi-senpai was there in a distance where their bodies were in a distance of touching each other.
“…Looks like the men of the Sword Division were provided with exclusive bus for man and got crammed there, but you could ride in this bus couldn’t you? Fufuu, so this is the benefit of being a swordsman of the Magic Division.”
“There was a different bus for that? They were saying that it’s okay to just ride this bus and I was pushed inside from the back.”
“There are only girls that will welcome to get jam packed together with you here you know?”
“…That’s not true. I don’t welcome you here.”
A quiet voice came from beside Miyabi-senpai. It was Shinobu-senpai.
“So Miyabi-senpai and Shinobu-senpai also volunteered.”
“For the moment, we believe that we are quite powerful even among the upperclassman. It’s not like there is no such laudable feeling inside me that want to fight for the world and for the people. Fufufu.”
After chuckling refreshingly, she added one more thing. “Moreover, our hometown is also under occupation.”
So Miyabi-senpai was also from west Japan.
Miyabi-senpai had a past where she was persecuted by her surrounding because she became an elf. Miyabi-senpai and others who were in the generation of [the first elves] should have been oppressed even more severely than Koyuki.
Such senpai talking about her feelings of her hometown…was surely the proof that she had overcame her past and let the bygones be bygones. Even though her words of [for the world and for the people] were mixed with joking tone, he could also feel the nobility in it.
“It’s fine even if that kind of place got totally destroyed.”
But Shinobu-senpai murmured such words vacantly.
“Don’t say such things like it’s okay for something to get completely destroyed Shinobu. With the passing of time, the feeling of ourselves and our surrounding will also change and we might be able to think that maybe we could just let it go, isn’t that so? If something got destroyed then that’s the end of it you know?”
In fact, the discrimination against elf was thinning as the years went by. It was because of the conjecture from telepathy scan that the elf’s mind structure was no different at all from normal human, and also elves that became knight cadet capitalizing in their excellent trait in magic power or becoming famous as young alchemists had began to appear here and there.
The product of human experiment―such truth still hadn’t been made public to the society, but a part of the politicians that knew the truth influenced the mass media, and indirectly began to form the public opinion to protect the human rights of these elves. From now on their situation would surely become better gradually.
Although she was not the person concerned herself, Shinobu-senpai also had a past that deserved her resentment. It seemed that resentment didn’t simply fade however….
“…There is nothing that changed. Whether the surrounding bunches, or my feelings…”
Shinobu-senpai rejected all change. Even the fact that Miyabi-senpai transformed into an elf had not been recognized by her. Inside Shinobu-senpai’s eyes, it seemed she was seeing Miyabi-senpai with black hair.
Reality denial―even in the case where the truth was really obvious, if accepting that truth caused a great uneasiness then that person would reject accepting that truth, it was that kind of mental state.
“You said that nothing changed. Don’t you feel a locked up feeling that choked your breath from that unchanged situation?”
“!” Against Kazuki’s question, Shinobu-senpai’s expression tightened rigidly with hollowness somewhere in it, then she glared at Kazuki. From the side, Miyabi-senpai embraced Shinobu-senpai’s face in her arms.
“…Kazuki, thank you. This child even now should be feeling it still. Also for a person to think of us and talked this much, in this ten odd years you are the first…”
“…Nee-sama, please don’t say such irresponsible things! This kind of guy is nothing!!”
Shinobu-senpai separated herself from Miyabi-senpai’s hand and tried to take distance from Kazuki. However she crashed against other students inside the cramped bus making “Wait” troubled voice coming at her.
“…If it’s not because Nee-sama is participating then I’m not going to participate in this kind of Quest. To get stuffed inside stuffy air like this…”
“Please be patient.” Miyabi-senpai attempted to sooth Shinobu-senpai and embraced her head once more.
From there she moved her gaze outside the window.
“I’m looking forward to this. To fight as a knight, as a hero, like that.”
The early afternoon sunlight coming from outside was reflected at Miyabi-senpai’s moist red eyes in a glisten.
“…If I make conspicuous service in this Quest, then this me who is an elf, will be thanked by everyone…such thing might also happen don’t you think so?”
Kazuki too looked outside the window. Shizuoka west side―according to the signboard content that they just passed they were approaching the area around the Hamamatsu city. However the grave-like silence that was really unnatural didn’t show any sign of people.
Akane-senpai who was standing beside the driver seat opened her mouth.
“The residents in the vicinity of the military boundary line has already been evacuated. This area has been emptied. Because we won’t know what kind of damage will happen if the other side invaded and it turned into defensive battle.”
These urban areas might transform into a battlefield, it made Kazuki ponder once more. How much damage would come out in the coming battle? Even the public houses and the like might get toppled like domino from offensive magic.
If Yamato really came invading, they would surely march to the garrison aiming for the Knight Order there. Exterminating the knights – making them retreat with their defensive ability lost, all for the sake of completing the occupation.
Where should the knights meet the enemies? Should they have unfolded the border war at the military boundary line, or should they hole up in the garrison and bring the battle into a siege battle, or else to reduce the damage to the surrounding should they lure the enemy skillfully outside the urban areas?
In this magic war where everything was still an unknown area, tactics that could be called as established tactics didn’t exist.
Suddenly the bus stepped on the emergency brake, the jam packed students staggered and pitched forward as if to fall.
When he peeked at the front glass far at the front wondering if something happened, four or five men and women carrying large baggage on their shoulders were walking this way from the opposite side of the road that was supposed to be empty from people.
Kanon-senpai disembarked from the bus and walked approaching those people and said a few words.
After senpai nodded with ‘uh-huh” listening to the people she returned. Then she explained the circumstances to the students.
“…Looks like people that got delayed in evacuating. Surely they have a lingering attachment to their city and home and didn’t leave until the last minute. Even if they rebuild their home again, the memories cannot be recovered after all…”
Thanks to alchemy, construction cost for house and building and road and the like could be suppressed far cheaper than the previous era. Actually, with Kazuki’s fight against Loki and the final match of battle election, the fountain plaza had been destroyed twice, however he had witnessed how it was immediately repaired just like before it was destroyed.
However people who couldn’t feel good even though the broken thing was returned back into a brand new article existed in great number in society.
After seeing off those men and women passing through beside the bus, they departed once more.
―After that, for a while some similar occurrences happened a few more times. When they had advanced just for a little, they would immediately encounter some people that were in the middle of evacuation. Just like the first encounter Kanon-senpai would get down from the bus and listen to their story one by one, but gradually the bus kept advancing forward without stopping even when they encountered more people without confirming each and everyone of the refugees.
“…There are quite a lot aren’t they, these people that are late in evacuating.”
While pressing close to Kazuki more than she needed to inside the bus that was jam packed like a sardine, Miyabi-senpai whispered on his ears. Certainly there was a lot. Even though the people who were evacuating didn’t necessarily need to use this road, they kept running into almost dozens of people in total here and there.
“…Kazuki-oniisan!” Suddenly he heard a panicked voice, Lotte pushed her way through the jam packed bus and ran to Kazuki’s way. “What is it?” Kazuki embraced the girl.
“…It was the people who were evacuating just before, but it was from inside the bus so I cannot really perceive it clearly and I don’t have much confidence on it desu but…”
Lotte prefaced her talk that she didn’t really have any confidence in what she was going to say, but as if she had conviction in the feeling that she harbored, anxiety and trepidation came to the surface in her expression.
“Those people from before…harbored hostility toward this bus desu.”
―Lotte was a prodigy in telepathy. Even without exchanging words, the girl could perceive the emotion of the people around her. …Hostility, she said? The refugees? Was it from how they had to evacuate so they harbored dissatisfaction toward the Knight Order? That was stupid.
…Then were they enemies? Were they secretly passing through the border and coming to this side for the sake of taking guerilla action inside east Japan? No, for dozens of sleeper agents to pass through the same route should be inconceivable.
Their aim was…to take the rear of the bus.
“Kanon-senpai! The refugees just now…!” Kazuki who became aware tried to call out in a loud voice but,
―Even earlier than him, Akane-senpai yelled some words in high emergency.
“Kanon! Magic power reaction from the front!! …Offensive magic is coming!!”
Kazuki whose attention was taken by his talk with Lotte noticed it too late. Magic power sprang forth from further ahead in the road, it swelled out as if rupturing―magic was invoked!
Several fire balls and rocks came flying from the road ahead. One moment, the front glass of the bus looked like a screen of a shooting game. However they couldn’t evade like in a game. The fireball impacted the front side of the bus, the bursting heat and shockwave fused the glass and armor. Right there many rocks were launched one after another, easily penetrating into the inside.
“The driver’s protection-!!” Kanon-senpai yelled.
Fire ball with explosion nature got into the inside of the bus, the bus was blown up and pulverized.
Inside the blast explosion of the smashed apart bus frame, countless blue light of the students were shining. Just from having their vehicles blown out and got thrown outside wouldn’t grant any damage to magicians who were protected by defensive magic power.
But, their head fell into chaos―the students who were thrown onto the street couldn’t grasp the situation at all. They looked around restlessly in confusion while being enveloped in blue light inside the flame and smoke. And then from behind, of all things that could happen the following buses sent the students flying. Those buses were also poured with offensive magic from the front and went through the same fate with the first bus.
“Form the Heaven and Earth Formation!” Akane-senpai yelled with desperate voice.
However the movements of the panicked students were sluggish.
Furthermore angry roars and footsteps of a charge that was as if an earthquake was happening came from the road further ahead.
What came was several dozens of
“Sword Division unit! Follow me!!” Kanae immediately reacted, she charged the enemy while yelling. “It’s okay not to think of anything, anyway just come with me!!”
Hearing that voice, the students of the Sword Division finally recovered from their confusion. A simple principle―remembering that it was fine to just follow the Sword Division’s strongest student council president blindly, they chased after her back.
Swordsmen and swordsmen clashed against each other. The sound of blades clashing informed the start of the engagement.
Yamato’s swordsmen were merely ordinary people with slightly stronger magic power that got incited by the politicians. When compared with the students of the Sword Division, they could even be said as a disorderly mob.
However the enemy’s rear guard―Yamato’s Magika Stigmas launched offensive magic one after another, the Sword Division students were blown away without even any time to bring the fight into a match of sword.
The Magika Stigmas’ of Yamato chanted their Summoning Magic while being possessed by their Diva.
The chanting time of this Chapter end
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