CHAPTER 2
Two years ago, at the Nine Schools Competition in 2095, Shizuku used the magic "Active Air Mine" developed by Tatsuya. With this magic, Shizuku took the crown of the Newcomers Division Speed Shooting. As a new magic, "Active Air Mine" was to be recorded in the National Magic University Compiled Magic Encyclopedia Index of True Names.
However, Tatsuya, who at the time had such a low status in the Yotsuba family that he was ignored and considered a freeloader, couldn't become the center of attention, and suggested registering Shizuku as a developer of "Active Air Mine."
But Shizuku would not agree with the proposal to take someone else's achievement. Eventually, the recording of the "Active Air Mine" was made in an incomplete form, with a note "the developer is unknown."
In January of this year the recording of this magic was at last officially registered. Tatsuya received the status of "son of the head of the family" and "the groom of the next head of the family," so he no longer had to hide. But at the same time, Tatsuya himself didn't take any active steps to expose himself to the light. The truth was that ever since the National Magic University realized that Tatsuya was the real developer, they were gradually approaching the disclosure of the truth. After the announcement of Tatsuya's bridegroom, the next head of the Yotsuba family, probably someone at the National Magic University remembered what happened and realized the circumstances. At the very beginning of the year, they called Tatsuya to get permission. They tearfully pleaded with him, referring to the fact that the magic has been stored for so long in an unfinished form, and eventually Tatsuya surrendered and gave his consent.
That's why today he felt that agreeing to use his name was a good decision.
"Well, at least that will not end up disturbing Shizuku." he thought as he saw the news this morning.
Tatsuya's place like last year, was near the window into the corridor. There was still time left before classes began, and classroom class 3E was filled with whispering students looking at Tatsuya.
Pushing the upper half of her body through the window leading to the corridor, Erika glanced into the classroom. The students with whom she met her eyes turned away in confusion. Looking around the room with a gloomy look, Erika looked at Tatsuya.
"These conversations about the fact that armed guerillas used Active Air Mine, is it true? The destructive power was Tactical class. I didn't think that the magic could have such power output." From Tatsuya's side of the blackboard spoke Mikihiko who came here from his class, but not out of curiosity, but because he was worried about Tatsuya.
"Active Air Mine does not have an upper power limit. Although there is a relationship between scale and speed, but depending on the magician the power can be higher. I appreciate your concern, but judging by the condition of the corpses, this magic was used." Tatsuya replied in an indifferent tone. Mikihiko's face darkened, and the whisper in the room became more active. Obviously, the topic of classmate whispers was news, which this morning was spread by the media.
Two days ago, the use of the Strategic Class magic in Africa caused numerous deaths. In the summaries of the Great Asian Alliance controlling this region, the number of victims, as of yesterday is close to 900 people. Although it was already possible to say that the scale of the losses is quite large, but the Western media speculated that the losses among local people alone could exceed 3000 people.
Armed guerrillas can also be considered part of the "local residents". Also, those who can be called terrorists, and not guerillas, like to hide among residents. However, it was also obvious that most of these people were still ordinary civilians.
And last night they took revenge. The military base of the Great Asian Alliance in Central Asia was attacked by armed guerillas.
Responsibility for the attack was assumed by the organization "Army of Liberation of the Nigerian Delta" (EAND: Emancipation Army of the Nigerian Delta). It was the armed forces that proclaimed that they were continuing the case of the international terrorist organization "Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigerian Delta" (MEND: Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigerian Delta).
Given the coincidence in time, it seems that EAND planned an attack on the military base of the Great Asian Alliance long before, regardless of the use of the Strategic Class Magic Thunderclap Tower. The answer to that indiscriminate attack was only a visible cause. But as a result, a sneak attack actually became an act of revenge.
In a statement reporting a successful attack, the key figure in the battle was a girl from the west coast of the Gulf of Guinea, a magician named Effia Mensah. And the magic she used was the same "Active Air Mine."
"Active Air Mine is magic that destroys solid objects with the help of vibration zones, in which compression waves are created. A person who falls into such a vibration zone will have all their bones shattered into, and he will die by turning into a soft bag filled with bloody porridge." Now that it was confirmed Effia Mensah was the first person to use this magic against people.
"Although Tatsuya-kun is the developer of the magic, aren't the victims the responsibility of the participants in that conflict? Tatsuya-kun isn't responsible for this."
Erika bit her tongue in irritation. Because among the classmates with confused faces, Tatsuya had one exception.
"... The moral responsibility for creating inhuman magic lies just on him.
"Oh really?" Erika's caustic remark answered in a menacing tone. This forced the speaker of those words, Hirakawa Chiaki to turn away also.
"Erika, stop it."
Tatsuya stopped Erika whose eyes were dangerously lit. The students sitting near Chiaki, fussed.
"Moral responsibility ...? The dynamite of Nobel, the atomic bomb of Einstein. You can give a bunch of examples." Muttered Leo in a bored voice. "Although those who say so, will have increased now ..."
In this place, there was no one who could refute these words.
◊ ◊ ◊
"You insist that the National Magic University isn't responsible, right?"
"The Magic Encyclopedia Index of True Names is only a collection of magical science research, and the National Magic University only plays the role of a research organization."
On the television screen, a representative of the National Magic University responding to the arrogant reporter's questions, spoke in a firm voice, but his face expressed that he was almost ready to surrender under the pressure of the enemy.
"So, you mean that the responsibility lies with the student of First High, who developed this murderous magic?"
The representative turned pale and began to protest.
"The First High student does not bear responsibility!"
However this panicky voice wasn't completely knocked down by the aggressive attitude of the reporter.
"In fact, this magic, developed by a student of a magic high school for the use in the Nine Schools Competition, claimed the lives of more than a hundred people."
"This was a military attack. Responsibility is borne by armed guerillas who used magic as a weapon, not a developer of magic."
"Is this true?"
"... What do you mean?"
The reporter broke into a broad smile, showing that this moment was exactly what he was waiting for.
"Even among conventional weapons, all sorts of treaties forbid things such as poisonous gases or expansive(?) bullets. At the international level, any inhumane weapon is considered illegal."
"Active Air Mine isn't a weapon!"
Realizing that the reporter wants him to say this, the representative of the university again changed their face. But even his heightened tone couldn't stop the reporter's language.
"But in fact it was used as a weapon."
"This ... This means that the responsibility is borne by those who used it."
"But if it has the word "mine" in the title, does that not mean that it was originally understood that it can be used as a weapon?"
The representative of the university couldn't answer the reporter's question, to which he had been directing this conversation from the very beginning. Modern magic was originally designed as a weapon. The magic written in the Magic Encyclopedia was inherently suitable for military use, and it was difficult to call Active Air Mine an exception to this rule.
"The consensus opinion of the international community lies in the fact that the possession and development of inhumane weapons is illegal. In order to avoid accusations of inhumanity from the world community to our country, shouldn't the University pay more attention to proper guidance over its students and the students of the magic high schools assigned to it?"
"Our University believes that in the case of the magic developed by the Japanese used in the armed conflict in Central Asia, the responsibility lies with the party that used it."
In the end, the representative of the university was able to complete the interview with just such an argument.
"Onii-sama, is it true that the international community isn't allowed not only to own, but also to develop inhuman weapons?"
As an exception, this Sunday, a press conference was held at the National Magic University. It seems that the University decided that such a quick reaction is necessary in this case. Immediately after the end of this live interview, Tatsuya, who was watching it at home in the living room, was asked this question.
Miyuki, who was watching TV with him asked. It's been 4 months already since they publicly ceased to be a brother and sister, but Miyuki's Onii-sama expression was absolutely not going to disappear anywhere. Recently, you could often see the defiant behavior which according to her attitude to this was read: "If no one hears, then it's okay."
"Who knows. Although the prohibition of possession is an obvious fact, but is it possible to completely prohibit the development of new types of weapons? After all, whether it's an inhumane weapon cannot be determined until it exists."
"You mean that you cannot say whether it will be inhumane until it is actually used for the first time?"
"You can tell that it will be a weapon, even at the design stage without using it. Because it is done for a specific purpose."
Turning to the interrogated Miyuki, Tatsuya shook his head with a smile.
"But when something is developed as a weapon, usually a lot of details are kept secret until the end of the manufacturing process. Because usually there is a certainty that if you publish details before the end of the project, then it will not be approved due to the recognition of inhumane weapons."
"Ah, that's the way it is."
"But in the case of magic, the situation may be different. For example, in the case of the airplane: it wasn't designed as a weapon, but can be used as a weapon. But if we exclude early cases of military use, modern aircraft are not used for battles, unless it is specially designed military aircraft. But in the case of magic, depending on the abilities of the magician even if he does not think to use it for military purposes, it can become both a simple weapon of murder and a weapon of mass destruction."
Tatsuya sighed slightly.
"To tell the truth, I didn't even think that there was another magician who can cope with this magic. Yes, and at such a time. I'm really glad that in the end it didn't affect Shizuku."
In Tatsuya's words, with these thoughts resignation was felt. But Miyuki didn't understand with what exactly he resigned himself. Therefore, she couldn't decide how to respond to these words.
◊ ◊ ◊
If you think about it logically, then Tatsuya isn't responsible for the fact that the soldiers and personnel of that military base of the Great Asian Alliance were victims. But in society there have always been people who, at least in the short term, don't behave according to logic. However, even though Tatsuya understood this he didn't expect that this would cause much influence.
After school hours, Friday, May 10, 2097.
"Guys, please listen."
When she returned from the teacher's room, without sitting down and even before she left the doorway turned to the others as soon as she entered the Student Council Room. Everyone immediately realized that it was a serious matter.
Tatsuya, Honoka, Izumi, Minami, Shiina. Looking around the five people, Miyuki continued to speak with a face that showed that she could barely restrain herself from crying.
"A message came from the committee for the Nine Schools Competition. The Nine Schools Competition for this year has been canceled."
Miyuki's voice trembled slightly. But we can say that it behaved perfectly.
Honoka and Izumi cried out in shock, and Minami and Shiina were frozen speechless.
"... Miyuki, can I have a look at the message?" "Even Tatsuya needed a few seconds to react to this.
"Yes ... wait a little." Still standing at the door Miyuki awkwardly went to her place. "... Here it is."
After waiting for Miyuki to finish moving her fingers over the terminal, Tatsuya opened the document file copied to the general catalog of the Student Council.
The other four, coming out of the daze, following Tatsuya, also opened the shared document.
"...All clear. So, it's still my fault?" Tatsuya said sighing.
"This isn't true!" Miyuki suppressed her emotions. It was anger that filled her.
"This is an outrageous false accusation! Onii-sama does not bear any responsibility at all!"
Simultaneously with the cry, the temperature in the room fell sharply. Miyuki not only stopped playing her role, but even forgot about controlling her magic.
"Miyuki, calm down."
Tatsuya didn't raise his voice, because he realized that this anger was because of him. But this does not mean that he didn't do anything. He stretched forward the index and middle fingers of his left hand folded together, and slightly waved them from right to left. The room suddenly returned to its original state. The frost that covered the windows disappeared without a trace, not even leaving condensation.
"Rewind ...?" whispered Shiina. However not only she, but all five girls including Miyuki heard an illusory sound, like a tape rewinding. This was a side effect of Tatsuya's use of "Regrowth" which reversed the raging cooling magic of Miyuki. As a result of the return of the information related to the "temperature" in the room to the state before the magic activation, ignoring all of its processes, the world itself returned to its original state, as if rewinding the phenomenon of cooling. The illusory sound that the girls heard was the noise of psion waves born when the reversed causal relationships created in the information dimension collided with the normal causal stream.
"... I'm sorry, Tatsuya-sama."
The realization that Tatsuya had to spend energy on her out-of-control magic, finally cooled Miyuki's head. She calmed down, as if the evil spirit that had possessed her had left.
"But Tatsuya-sama does not bear any responsibility." The Nine Schools Competition was canceled due to the irresponsibility of the tournament committee. Indeed, in the last few days there has been a lot of criticism associated with the Nine Schools Competition, but wasn't it because of last year's changes?
"That's right! The argument about Active Air Mine was only a little at the very beginning! Now the critics mostly focus on the strong military flavor that was present at last year's tournament!"
The attempts to console Miyuki and Honoka were related to a wave of hysteria in search for "responsibility for the creation of inhuman magic" which was raised in the media on Monday, the day after the press conference of the National Magic University. In particular, the adoption of "Steeplechase Cross-Country" as a competition at last year's tournament was criticized as being too militarized for high schools at the National Magic University.
There were certain reasons for this criticism. The "Steeplechase Cross-Country" was a training course used by the military in which they competed, comparing the results of their training.
And not only "Steeplechase Cross-Country". "Shield Down" was a competition organized for close combat training. " Rower and the Gunner" from the Navy training program had an even stronger military flavor than "Battle Board." The competitors themselves also had a feeling that the Nine Schools Competition was leaning towards the training of future soldiers.
Such a change in the mood of the critics was undoubtedly the work of the media. Tatsuya also thought so. It was difficult to say whose work it was. Perhaps Shizuku's father put his hand to this before his daughter became a victim of the media. Or are these companies that manufacture conventional weapons trying to prevent magic from becoming a substitute for conventional weapons by trying to stop the military use of magic?
If the latter, then we can say that their plan was crowned with success.
As a result, the attacked tournament committee voiced their thoughts that they regret that "magic invented for healthy competition was used by the armed forces" and announced the decision to cancel the tournament this year in order to conduct a review of the information management system of the National Magic University.
"... Really. Sorry that I made you so excited."
Tatsuya accepted the arguments of Miyuki and Honoka and apologized for his words. More precisely, he pretended to apologize.
◊ ◊ ◊
Hearing the bad news about the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition, not all students considered that in the cancellation of this major event the naiveté of the management system, which allowed the abuse of magic, is to blame. On the contrary, the students who agreed with the committees explanation for holding a review were undoubtedly very few.
"Shippou, did you hear?"
During club activities, Takuma was spoken to by his classmate and teammate Senkawa. These two were team mates in Monolith Code for the newcomer's division of last year.
"If you are talking about the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition, then I heard." Takuma answered trying to look calm. But on the contrary the unnatural intonation of his voice was oozing disappointment.
"We have another year, but you can only feel sorry for sempai. For them this is the last year of school and they thought they would have another opportunity."
"True ..." Takuma replied with a not very interested tone. Senkawa however didn't notice in this Takuma's message of "let's not talk about it."
"Listen, this cancellation it's only for this year right?"
"If they only need to revise the information management system, next year will everything be all right?"
"The truth. I would like it to be so." Senkawa honestly said in response to Takuma's words. "But still, using the information management system as an excuse? The truth is that if they don't eliminate the system of competitive competition and don't limit the use of magic, then next year, too, there may be difficulties?"
Takuma's face twitched. Senkawa took this as an agreement with his opinion.
"The magic made by a high school student would usually never be used in a war. Shiba-sempai most likely also didn't expect anything like this."
"... Shiba-sempai isn't responsible for the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition." Takuma's voice was more irritated than he had planned. And the answer itself was a surprise for Senkawa. He hurried to apologize.
"I don't think that sempai is to blame either. Now that you said that, I realized that he was only a victim of the media. But, you know ... "Senkawa glanced at Takuma's expression.
"But what?"
Takuma urged Senkawa to continue, and Senkawa had to do it without changing his face.
"What if Shiba-senpai knew about the possibility of using that magic for military purposes? Or that it could give such an effect."
Takuma again twisted his face not from Senkawa's words, but from remembering the photographs of the victims published by the Grand Asian Alliance. It was quite a terrible sight receiving a high age rating, but Takuma was able to see these photos on the personal website of a single journalist.
"With the abilities of Kitiyama-senpai, she could have won "Speed Shooting" even without creating that magic. Did Shiba-senpai overdo it? From this point of view, it seems somehow ... reckless.
Since Takuma was silent and didn't agree, Senkawa's speech was getting quieter towards the end, and as a result he hesitated. But it wasn't because Takuma didn't approve Senkawa's opinion.
The fact was that everything was just the opposite, but Takuma didn't tell this to his friend.
◊ ◊ ◊
In First High there were relatively many students sympathizing with Tatsuya. The students of First High didn't forget that Tatsuya made a significant contribution to the overall victory last year and the year before. For this reason, there was doubt in their minds whether they should criticize Tatsuya.
However, it is quite obvious that in other schools the situation was completely different.
"Masaki!"
"Ichijou-senpai!"
The headquarters of the disciplinary committee of Third High. Despite the fact that Masaki wasn't the head of the disciplinary committee, all the students, including the nominal head of the committee, believed that the head of the disciplinary committee of Third High was "Ichijo Masaki." Even the president of the Student Council recognized him as the head of the entire Third School. Probably just because the president of the Student Council was a girl who wasn't part of the 28 Houses, or the Hundred Families, Masaki could be considered even higher.
But back to the main topic.
At the headquarters of the disciplinary committee, where Masaki spent his time waiting for work (the Disciplinary Committee of Third High didn't focus on patrolling like at First High, but worked in the form of responding to reports from students), two students burst in: his classmate, and Kokhai a year younger.
"What happened, you two?"
They were both his teammates at last year's Nine Schools Competition. Kokhai was a student who hoped to become a team ace in the tournament next year.
"Is it true that the Nine Schools Competition was canceled!?"
Hearing the question of a classmate, Masaki sighed.
"True. I just heard too."
"They canceled it because of that guy from First High!"
When any pupil of Third High spoke of a certain "boy from First High", it always referred to Tatsuya. Having received bitter experience in the Nine Schools Tournaments last year and the year before last, in Third High they began to consider Tatsuya as the main villain.
"This isn't true. To prevent the magic published in the Nine Schools Competition from falling into the hands of armed guerillas or terrorists, the information management system will be revised."
Masaki also thought of Tatsuya as a "guy who is irritating." Cooperation in the affairs of Zhou Gunzin and Gu Jie gave rise to small signs of friendly relations, but for Masaki Tatsuya was still a rival.
But that's why the unfair treatment of Tatsuya as a villain didn't coincide with Masaki's opinion. For him it was an indisputable fact that Tatsuya was a "bad guy", but he felt that it would be cowardly to ignore the false accusations of such an enemy that should be defeated in a fair battle.
However, the classmate and the Kokhai were not attached to Tatsuya in the same way as Masaki.
"But this revision became necessary because this guy created inhuman magic?"
"Right. Whatever the excuses, the main reason is this asshole!"
"Therefore, they didn't hesitate to use Tatsuya as a target, to which they concentrated disappointment and irritation.
"Maybe it's an excuse ..."
For Masaki, all the pupils of Third High were "allies", and Tatsuya was "the enemy." He couldn't decide to defend Tatsuya before a classmate.
"Ichijou-senpai, please forgive me. But why is it because of this one guy that we all have to give up the Nine Schools Competition?"
"Indeed. For example, it was possible to not cancel the tournament but to hold it without the participation of First High. As a last resort, you could just forbid that guy to participate."
"No, they couldn't do that. Such discrimination would be criticized in the media."
Thinking that excluding Tatsuya from the tournament alone is an unheard-of exaggeration, Masaki with a reserved expression called on the guys to be more careful in terms.
"P-understandable. How many more problems is he going to deliver to us?"
"Whatever genius engineer he's called, does he really think that he will be forgiven of everything he's done?"
However, the true meaning of Masaki's words wasn't passed on to a classmate or to Kokhai.
Similar conversations have occurred in the other magic high schools.
But none of the schools sent protests to First High. Each school made an official statement that there is no direct link between the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition and the military use of Active Air Mine. However, the next day, on Saturday, when details about the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition became known to everyone, attacks against Tatsuya spread among students of all magic high schools.
And the news that flew in from America, as if to drive Tatsuya even further into a pit, from which not to get out.
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