To set Tatsuya's goal, Yugen pulled out his CAD and activated it. A section of the training ground morphed into a shooting range, but no targets appeared, puzzling Miyuki.
"Yugen-san, I sense something, but no targets?" Miyuki asked.
"Not with normal sight. Tatsuya, see it?" Yugen replied.
"Got it. Parasite countermeasure, huh?" Tatsuya said.
Using Elemental Sight, Tatsuya spotted an isolated information body—a shikigami-like target. Questioning its creator, he eyed Yugen, who explained.
"I designed the basics, with Juumonji and Yoshida's help for output spells. Mimicking Parasites too closely was deemed risky," Yugen said.
Yugen raised his hand, compressing psions at the target's coordinates in the information dimension, infusing spirit properties. The blast erased the target and nearby ones. Miyuki sensed the spirit wavelengths, eyes sparkling.
"Start by aligning coordinates in the information dimension. Tatsuya's got an edge, so that's key," Yugen said.
"Understood. Not sure I'll match you, but I'll try. Handle Miyuki," Tatsuya said.
"Don't say that while she's clinging to me," Yugen groaned.
Not that he minded, but since second term, they were often together at school or the Shiba home. Post-Lina and Celia's transfer, Miyuki's tearful pleas led to shared sleeping arrangements (despite Tatsuya's scolding, he caved). Her occasional lack of underwear under nightwear sparked restraint concerns. Even without Yugen initiating, Miyuki's closeness escalated beyond light contact. Sometimes waking to her bare state forced him to use countermeasures. Tenjin's Eye could trace information, but Yugen avoided stress by not checking (assuming Kagurazaka's main house took precautions).
Telling Tatsuya, he sympathized with Miyuki's antics but asked for details. Whether this was growth was debatable. Tatsuya quipped, "If aimed at me, I'd thank her suitor." Miyuki's Oath control precision suggested his theory wasn't wrong, but Yugen wouldn't publicize his private life.
"Yugen-san, is it bad?" Miyuki asked.
"Not bad, but train control too," Yugen said.
"Y-Yes, please go easy," Miyuki replied.
Her formality at non-training moments flustered him. Grateful she gave space, Yugen focused on mental relief.
"Firing magic into the information dimension, ignoring the physical, drains mentally. Expect more fatigue," Yugen warned.
"Prepared for that," Tatsuya said.
"That's Tatsuya," Yugen grinned.
He taught Far Strike, a basic psion bullet. Tatsuya's Gram Demolition mastery made it straightforward, though Yugen stuck to basics to avoid snags. Tatsuya grasped the path quickly.
"Simpler than I thought," Tatsuya said.
"Far Strike is high-level. Aligning psions is easy for you now," Yugen said.
With Tatsuya's specs and psion control, he nailed Far Strike in one shot, stunning Yugen.
"You did it," Yugen said.
"Don't sound so detached. Move forward?" Tatsuya asked.
"No, get used to the feel," Yugen advised.
Tatsuya resumed, determined to master it solo, showing his competitive streak. Yugen turned to Miyuki.
"Miyuki, Tenjin magic training. Beyond attributes, we'll focus on spirit control," Yugen said.
"Like your Nine Schools training?" Miyuki asked.
Mikihiko's training was spotted by Miyuki. No point hiding it, so Yugen nodded. Normally, magic specializes by aptitude, but Tenjin requires all-attribute spirit control, needing mastery of seven elemental spirits.
"Not wrong. Spirit beacons or catalysts are ideal, but no luxury for that. Miyuki, place your hand on mine and focus," Yugen said.
"Yes," Miyuki complied.
Why so serious now? Brushing off the thought, Yugen raised his palm, Miyuki placed hers atop, and closed her eyes. He summoned countless spirits, a method used since their engagement. Miyuki controlled them via the sensation from their hands. Typically, spirit beacons generate spirits, like Mikihiko's lab training. Yugen's Kaleidoscope minimized mental strain, making this his go-to for Miyuki's safety, avoiding risky catalysts.
As an aside, the Harunobu wooden bear intrigued Chihime, bought from the Defense Force. Now at Kagurazaka's main house, it's a mere ornament without Yugen.
USNA excelled in tracking deserters, a fact. Lina, cloaked in Parade and masked, resumed pursuit with support tracking a deserter's psion pattern. The deserter evaded with uncanny foresight, frustrating Celia.
"Sylvia, your take?" Celia asked.
"An insider?" Sylvia ventured.
Celia nodded. Even her tracking failed against this enigma, regretting her lack of traditional magic. An alarm blared, and Sylvia demanded a report.
"What happened?" Sylvia asked.
"The suspect's pattern vanished," an operator replied.
"They noticed us?" Sylvia asked.
USNA's psion tracking was world-class, arguably unmatched. The loss shocked Celia, who stood, opened a black case, and donned Stars' anti-mage combat gear. Activating Parade, her silver hair turned sky-blue, blue eyes silver, and her features sharpened, exuding menace like Lina's Parade. Grabbing her tuned CAD roughly, Celia launched a flight device, ignoring Sylvia's protests, and dove into Tokyo's night, masked.
(You get it!? They're soldiers and Parasites! Don't make this worse!) Celia thought.
Her tech was nullified, and she prioritized Lina's safety. Trusting allies, she knew Parasites aimed to distance USNA. Trouble in Japan was likely, but risking family was unthinkable.
Celia ruled out deserter causation. Parasites couldn't indefinitely mask visuals, and altered psion wavelengths were trackable. Her conclusion pointed to one classmate.
(Kagurazaka Yugen… If my hunch is right, he's like me.)
USNA intel flagged Yugen as a prime suspect for Halloween of Scorch and Aurora's strategic magic. He showcased advanced modern-traditional hybrid spells at Nine Schools. Before transferring, Celia met the USNA president, who warned her.
"One thing, Celia. If an Untouchable appears, returning home isn't shameful. I'll speak if needed," he said.
"Yotsuba?" Celia asked.
The president shook his head. "Possibly, but I fear Mr. Gousan's grandson most."
"The hero's grandson? He beat Lina?" Celia asked.
"Yes, now Kagurazaka, adopted by Ms. Chihime," he said.
The president knew Gousan and Chihime personally, mediating European trips. Celia expected a clan above the Ten, but this was beyond her intel.
"Years ago, he subdued me without magic. I called him Another Untouchable. The Pentagon adopted it," the president said.
Not maligning, but Celia felt it wasn't trivial. She, too, wielded strategic magic. Yugen's feats mocked USNA's cutting-edge tech, effortlessly using near-impossible spells. Her conclusion: one possibility.
(If unaware, I'll stop him. If deliberate, I'll kill him. As Polaris, I can't overlook this.)
Known as Another Angie Sirius, Celia's codename, Polaris, reflected her proximity to the North Star, not just Lina's support. Joint Chiefs saw her talent as a "double-edged sword" that could destabilize Stars. Official strategic mage status risked envy, so they positioned her as Lina's aide to secure her rank.
"Such a formidable foe?" Sylvia asked.
Staring at the empty case, Sylvia returned to the operator's seat, sensing inevitable conflict.
-----------------------------
I'm still fairly new to translating, but I genuinely love doing it. I've set up a Patreon as a small corner to share my work with everyone. There you'll find early access to chapters and some special content just for you.
I hope this Patreon can grow and become a place where I can connect with you all in the future. If you'd like to take a look or support me, you can visit:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]