The reason Celia rushed out in a flurry after catching wind of something was that the information felt far too threatening. Simply sending a message wouldn't suffice—letting the National Defense Force learn of the details would be dangerous. Thus, without encountering any interference, Celia stepped into the residence where Lina was living.
"Lina!" "Celia, what is it at this hour?!"
It was already past 7:00 PM, hardly a time for a young woman to be wandering around alone. Though surprised to see Celia slightly out of breath, Lina invited her inside. Having become Tatsuya's fiancée, Lina was in the middle of packing up her current residence to move out, leaving several cardboard boxes scattered around the room. Just then, Sylvia emerged from the back of the apartment. Her eyes widened as well upon seeing Celia's unexpected arrival.
"Celia, what happened? Has a situation urgent enough to warrant this arisen?" "Phew... It's something I caught while gathering information earlier. Silvi, you received an order from the military, didn't you?" "...Yes, that's correct."
Sylvia understood that Celia's intelligence-gathering capabilities were extraordinary even within STARS, occasionally surpassing even the Military General Staff. Though technically not content she should discuss with the discharged Celia, Sylvia quietly began to speak, perhaps feeling the need to share it with someone.
"A military order? What on earth for?" "Yes. We were ordered to secure the Strategic-Class Magicians involved in the infiltration operations that withdrew last year—'Great Bomb' and 'Shining Buster'... Just to be clear, I have no intention of turning Celia and Lina into enemies, and the higher-ups over there understand that as well."
From December 2095 to March 2096, Lina and Celia had been dispatched to Japan. Their original mission was to secure the two Strategic-Class Magicians who triggered the "Scorching and Aurora Halloween," or, failing that, to neutralize the Strategic-Class Magics "Great Bomb" and "Shining Buster." However, deserting soldiers possessed by "Parasites" in the USNA fled to Japan, leaving the two in a position of chasing two hares by dealing with unexpected troubles outside their original directive.
Upon Lina's return to her homeland, personnel who had infiltrated magic universities, magic high schools other than First High, and magic-related enterprises were also pulled back, leaving the search for the Strategic-Class Magicians in limbo. However, the Department of Defense at the Pentagon had not forgotten the threat posed by the Strategic-Class Magics residing in Japan. Liam Spencer, the Secretary of Defense overseeing the Pentagon, felt the true threat of the individual in question closer than anyone. If possible, he wanted to align intentions in accordance with the Executive Office of the President. However—perhaps a pitfall inherent to democratic politics—a faction viewing Japan's Strategic-Class Magic as a danger moved the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to draft this operation. While Spencer had no desire to approve an operation outside political control, having disgruntled elements attempt something akin to a coup would be equally disastrous. As a painful compromise, he stripped the operation's execution power in worst-case physical engagements by restricting it strictly to the field of intelligence.
Lina and Celia were top-tier combatants even within STARS. Sylvia was well aware that their fiancé was himself a Strategic-Class Magician. She revealed that her inclusion in this operation strongly reflected the intentions of the Pentagon, not just Colonel Balance.
"Then, why?" "This mission seems to serve as a sort of 'venting mechanism' as well. This is the list of members scheduled to participate in the operation."
Sylvia presented a terminal to Lina and Celia. The listed members designated for the operation were shown, but they were a group so mediocre that one could only describe them as completely pathetic compared to previous dispatches. During the "Parasite" incident, they had deployed Lina and Celia, and during the Gu Jie affair, Major Benjamin Canopus had been sent to Japan. While this setup likely reflected a desire to gather intelligence rather than engage in direct strength, Celia let out a deep sigh upon viewing it.
"...Setting aside the absence of Star-Class members, there isn't even a Constellation-Class present. Are those extremists underestimating my brother and Big Brother?" "Big Brother... Ah, you mean Tatsuya. Indeed, 'underestimating' is the only way to describe it."
Seeing the ruthless power analysis from the Shields sisters, Sylvia let out a wry smile. Though both sisters knew Sylvia herself was by no means weak, the targets involved were simply far too out of their league. In particular, Yugen Kagurazaka held the record of defeating both Lina and Celia in magic combat. This also factored in the existence of the Strategic-Class Magic presumably used by the New Soviet Union. Recklessly stirring up an ally through internal subversion carried the risk of being falsely suspected of "collusion" with the New Soviet Union, which was eyeing military operations toward the Far East.
"Well, having left the military, it's not my place to say much, but depending on the situation, you should retreat even if you have to pull rank using Big Sister's title. I'll negotiate so you won't be charged with treason even if you have to abandon your allies in the worst-case scenario." "Celia... Silvi, do as Celia says. Escape in the worst case, even if you must use the name 'Angie Sirius'." "Thank you both... I will do my utmost not to squander your thoughtfulness."
Even Lina didn't know how much value the name "Sirius" currently held. However, as long as her name remained listed among the "Thirteen Apostles," it carried a degree of persuasiveness... Lina conveyed this as if reassuring herself, and Sylvia offered a crisp salute to the two sisters, taking their words to heart.
Three days after the entrance ceremony, the annual club recruitment week commenced at First High School, affiliated with the National Magic University. As usual, a chaotic festival-like frenzy unfolded, yet no major troubles erupted. This was thanks to Miyuki and Tatsuya—both connected to the Yotsuba family—keeping a watchful eye, as well as the formidable deterrent of having the student body president's older brother serving as the head of the Club Federation. Still, since there was no guarantee that trouble wouldn't arise, Yugen and Toya from the Club Federation, along with Tatsuya and Shina from the Student Council, remained stationed in the headquarters room.
"...How dull. Though I suppose this is how things ought to be normally. I wonder if things will be fine from next year onward." "We can hardly say for sure, Yugen." "Fair point."
After all, with the very individuals who resolved numerous troubles during their first year sitting at the top, bringing about a situation that forced them out would mean negative rumors reaching their respective houses. Given that the current head of the Yotsuba and the previous head of the Kagurazaka might intrude out of pure amusement, both Yugen and Tatsuya preferred for the week to end without major incident.
"Speaking of which, was it alright to leave the Light Exercise Club unattended?" "I left that to Erika. I doubt it will turn into any major trouble."
If there was one change, it was that the Light Exercise Club—which had fundamentally refrained from accepting new members until now—had begun recruiting freshmen. This was a decision set by Yugen. Originally, the Light Exercise Club had been established as part of teaching Miyuki the Shinnai-ryu sword martial arts, but both Yugen and Miyuki were set to graduate next year. Deciding that ending its role outright might spark disputes over the allocation of the facilities they had used, Yugen initiated member recruitment. However, the conditions were peculiar: no distinctions were drawn between Course 1 and Course 2 students. Furthermore, they made it a rule not to accept anyone who judged others solely by their academic grades. Placing Erika on the front lines was a sign of trust in her sharp eye for judging character.
"We shifted the purpose to gathering people who purely want to become stronger, without worrying about Course 1 or Course 2 distinctions." "In other words, a club to train practical students?" "More like turning them into practical magicians."
Currently, to strip away the classification of "Magic Equals Weapon," that perception had to be completely eliminated starting from the magic high school stage. Through Yugen's connections, Shina and Jiro would also join the Light Exercise Club, but beyond them, the plan was fundamentally to scoop up students with lower grades. To train this year's Course 2 group, Yugen had another scheme in motion.
"Actually, I asked my mother to organize this year's Course 2 group at First High so that two classes aim to be Magic Engineers while the rest aim to be Magicians. I've also asked her to scoop up students who failed the entrance exams." "...I see. A scheming plan as always." "Just because someone entered this school with high marks doesn't mean their path ahead will be smooth sailing, after all."
Gifted individuals who failed the entrance examinations for the nine magic high schools were gathered and enrolled in Shokai High School—a full-time, residential boarding school affiliated with the National Magic Medical University in Odawara, which opened this April. While formally an affiliated school of the Magic Medical University, an agreement between the Magic University and the Magic Medical University allowed students to receive magic education based on cutting-edge modern magic theory. Furthermore, the theoretical content taught at this academy was constructed by Yugen based on his past experiences—an endorsed curriculum through which several magicians had already attained top-tier strength. To overturn the country's existing magic education theory at its foundation, Yugen decided to upend everything by allowing magic talent holders deemed lacking in capability to "rise through the ranks."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"