03x09 - Ancient City Insurrection Part I

[bunniefuu]

SEPTEMBER 23, A.D. 2096

Big Bro Tatsuya, Ms. Miyuki...

It's been a long time.

Since the Nine Schools Competition, right?

You really made your
mark in that tournament.

We're humbled to receive such praise.

So, for you two to go out of your
way and come all the way here...

what did you want to discuss?

Uh, right!

I was personally instructed to
bring you this by the head.

Fumiya, do you know...

what's written in here?

Yes, I do.

I see.

This is a request for our cooperation
in apprehending Gongjin Zhou.

Brother, why would our aunt
request such a thing of us?

Regarding that...

I have been entrusted
with a message from her.

She says that if you should decline this
request, she won't have any objections.

Aunt Maya actually said such a thing?

Fumiya, let our aunt know that
we've accepted her request.

I'll be sure to relay that to her.

Now then, could you tell us
what you've discovered so far?

Sure.

About Gongjin Zhou,
after fleeing Yokohama...

he headed west by sea, arriving in Ise.

After that, though at one point, he was
captured on the Great Biwa Lake Bridge,

he managed to get away.

Currently, we're searching
the Ohara area in Kyoto.

Any information on his supporters?

- The Traditionalists, an organization of Ancient Magic
users in opposition with the families of the number Nine,

- THE TRADITIONALISTS

- are thought to be aiding
his escape efforts.

The Traditionalists, huh?

I've heard a little about
them from Master Yakumo.

Not only have they been gathering outcast
Ancient Magic users here in Japan,

but they've also been looking
to bolster the organization...

by sheltering tacticians who've
defected from the Continent.

Apparently, the Kudous also took
in some of those tacticians...

but is it possible that
they're aiding him, as well?

No need to worry about that.

Right after escaping from Yokohama, Gongjin
Zhou fled the former Ninth Institute...

and joined the Traditionalists.

Thanks.

That helps a lot.

It seems like our aunt's request really is
just about helping to capture Gongjin Zhou.

Why do you suppose she opted for a request
rather than an order just this one time?

You two probably don't know this, but our
aunt's commands are actually low-priority.

It goes without saying that keeping
Miyuki safe is the top priority,

but the next highest are the missions of
the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion.

Our aunt's authority to issue
commands follows at number three.

I didn't know that.

But until now, whenever she
instructed me to carry out a mission,

she's always done it in
the form of a command.

That was normal.

If she's using extraordinary methods,
she must have an extraordinary reason.

Does that mean that this mission
is particularly dangerous?

It's someone who seriously wounded
the head of the Kuroba Family...

and is even now fleeing from the
Yotsubas' attempts to track him down.

Neither capturing him nor getting
rid of him will be an easy task.

Will there be a battle?

Miyuki, don't give me that look.

It's not as if I'm going
to take him on alone.

Since what she's seeking of me is most
likely to block our target's escape route.

Is that right?

But from time to time, I'll
probably have to leave the house.

When that happens, Minami...

I want you to protect Miyuki.

Oh! Right!

In the Yotsubas' eyes,
you're Miyuki's guardian.

But for me, you're more than that. You're
one of the few magicians that I can trust.

When I'm not at home, I'm counting
on you to look after Miyuki.

Please leave it to me!

SEPTEMBER 24, A.D. 2096

Come to think of it, isn't it
about time to elect our chairman?

Last year, Ms. Miyuki was first
while you came in third, Tatsuya.

Are you not running this year?

Stop joking around. I never even signed
up to be a candidate last year, either.

Then, what about the Thesis Competition?

Hasn't anyone asked for your support?

As of now, no one's asked me yet.

Needless to say, I'll help if I'm asked to,
but I don't think I'm in the running this time.

What? But why?

Because it's going to be
held in Kyoto this year.

The Thesis Competition is held
alternately in Yokohoma and Kyoto...

but the terms of evaluation
differs depending on the venue.

In Yokohama, they rate
technological themes higher...

whereas in Kyoto, they're said to
favor purely theoretical themes.

I see. So, you wouldn't be able to make
the most of your specialties, Tatsuya.

Well, that's basically it.

SEPTEMBER 29, A.D. 2096

Hello? Tatsuya? This is Fujibayashi.

Sorry to bother you at this hour.

It's unusual for you to
be calling me, Tatsuya.

What's going on?

The thing is, I'd like to request
something of General Kudou.

My grandfather?

Yes. I'm not asking you as Lt. Fujibayashi,
who's also the Battalions' second-in-command...

but as a daughter of
the Fujibayashi Family.

I'd like you to set up a private meeting
between His Excellency and myself.

"Private"...

meaning it's related to a Yotsuba task?

That's correct.

Would you mind telling me
what kind of job it is?

To find and capture a
tactician named Gongjin Zhou.

I see.

And I understand why the Yotsubas would
want to ask for my grandfather's help.

So...

Yes. I'll ask my grandfather
when he can schedule it.

Thank you very much.

Brother, may I come in?

Sure, it's all right.

Would you mind my asking who
it was that you were calling?

First Lt. Fujibayashi.

Brother, are you going to seek help from
the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion?

No. I asked Ms. Fujibayashi to act as a
mediator between myself and General Kudou.

Isn't that risky?

Aren't all communications with
the battalion being censored?

It should be fine.

It was the lieutenant's private
line that I just called.

It would be impossible to eavesdrop on a line that
the Electron Sorceress is using for private use.

Is that right?

Ms. Fujibayashi's private
phone number, did you say?

Brother...

Where did you acquire that number?

A Compound-Form? No, is
it a synthetic spirit?

Analyzing its compositional data.

Disassembly... activate.

Brother, what on earth was that?

Right.

A synthetic spirit was
lurking around our home.

Probably due to that job
request we got the other day.

Is that Gongjin Zhou person behind this?

It's probably the work of one of his
subordinates or the people sheltering him.

So, Fumiya and Ayako were being followed?

Surely not! Ayako and Fumiya
wouldn't let anyone track them!

It's probably deliberate.

Are you saying that those two
guided the enemy here on purpose?

Fumiya, are you
disgruntled about this job?

I don't have a problem
with the mission itself.

So, it's the conditions you
were given that you don't like.

Well, of course!

Knowing that we're being followed but
not being able to do anything about it!

I can never look Big Bro
Tatsuya in the eye again!

We'll never know the
truth unless we ask them,

but our aunt may be planning
to use me as a decoy.

No way!

Don't be angry.

But...

Anyway, using me as a decoy
is the sensible thing to do.

Since ultimately, I won't sustain
any injuries as a tactical ploy,

it's not wrong to put me in
the direct line of fire.

Brother!

Please don't speak so
disparagingly of your own safety!

It's not a matter of simply not dying,
of not sustaining any lasting wounds!

Surely you know that as well as anyone!

Miyuki...

Just how it would make me feel...

knowing that you'd been injured...

I'm begging you to please consider that!

I'm sorry.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH SCHOOL
ANCIENT CITY INSURRECTION PART I

OCTOBER 1, A.D. 2096

Today marks the launch of
the 2096 Student Council.

Our vice chairwoman is Izumi.

Our accountant is Honoka.

Our secretary is Minami.

And I, Miyuki Shiba, am your chairwoman.

Also, my brother will be
serving as our chief secretary!

Everyone, I look forward to working
with you in the coming year!

What's with this "chief secretary"
thing? It never existed until now.

You shouldn't go there!

I look forward to it, too!

Getting the chance to serve on the
Student Council with you, Ms. Miyuki,

with your combination of beauty and talent, and your
status as the first student in First High history—

Okay, okay. Let's settle down, all right?

Isn't it great that Tatsuya
stayed on the Student Council?

Yes!

Mikihiko, do you have a second?

What's the matter?

So honored to work with you!

- Take a look at this.

- I hope we can get closer and closer now!

- This is a shikigami's composition,
written onto an activation sequence.

Which brings me to my question.

When it comes to these sequences,
are there any differences in style?

Sure there are.

I think this might be from Shugendo.

What is this? It's been
modified in a weird way.

I see.

Now I get why you were
being so secretive, Tatsuya.

You got this data from an
underground site, right?

Why do you think that?

Because this shikigami is so
obviously for covert surveillance.

I see. So, it was something
dangerous. I'm glad I consulted you.

I'm going to delete this data.

Sorry to be calling so late at night.

Mr. Hayama, is my aunt there?

Master Tatsuya, I'm very sorry, but this
isn't a good time for Madam Yotsuba.

In that case, may I ask you to convey something
to my aunt about her request for a mission?

I'll be glad to.

For this job, I'd like to ask the Kudou Family
for their help in searching for the target.

I've already gone through the Fujibayashi Family to
secure a meeting with the Kudou's previous head.

Ah...

So, you've decided to ask for
the help of General Kudou...

rather than the Independent
Magic-Equipped Battalion?

I felt that it'd be wise to avoid becoming
indebted to the JDF over a Yotsuba task.

But it's all right to become
indebted to the Kudous?

It's highly likely that this Zhou person
has joined forces with the Traditionalists.

In which case, the best strategy
would be to get help from Nine,

which has long been hostile
to the Traditionalists.

Hmm.

Not only that, but the Kudous owe
me for what happened last month.

Whether they owe us or we owe them...

if it continues for an extended time,
we'll never be able to escape each other,

so I thought we should settle
up before that happens.

Despite your youth, Master Tatsuya...

you're certainly well-versed in
the subtleties of the world.

Fine, I will relay that to Madam Yotsuba.

I'd appreciate that.

By the way...

there's no need to report each time you
plan on obtaining someone's cooperation.

Madam has said that she'll be leaving
this matter to your discretion.

Madam, you heard what he said.

Forgive me, Mr. Hayama!

It's just that what Tatsuya said was so
adorable that I couldn't help myself!

I don't believe what Master
Tatsuya said is wrong.

On the surface, he's correct,
but it's not normal.

Normally, it's through owing and being
owed that you build and deepen bonds.

Master Tatsuya must not feel the need
for connections arising from such debts.

How young he is.

OCTOBER 5, A.D. 2096

I've been wondering about this...

but what is my role as
chief secretary, exactly?

I cannot bear to place you in a
position lower than mine, Brother.

I want you to be above
me even if only in name!

Is that right?

They made the synthetic spirit self-destruct,
and scattered the noise of the Psions.

I guess you could call it
a magical smoke screen.

Then, the next move will be...

Minami! Use Descending Whirlwind!

R-Right!

Whoa! What's going on?

Modern Magic?

No one told us they'd
be using Modern Magic!

I won't let you escape.

There shouldn't be any
lasting effects from this.

You've upped your game, Miyuki.

Thank you very much!

About that pair just now...

there's no question that they
were Ancient Magic users.

The spell one of them used to escape
was Sensory Interference Magic,

which makes it hard for
others to identify you.

It's the same type of spell Retsu
Kudou used at the opening ceremony...

for last year's Nine Schools Competition.

Meaning that they work for the Kudous?

No, according to Fumiya, the Kudous
have no reason to attack us.

They must work for the Traditionalists.

We learned two things
from today's as*ault.

First, the fact that we're clearly
being targeted by the Traditionalists.

The other is that the enemy
doesn't know who we are.

This is backed up by the fact that they
thought we were Ancient Magic users.

The enemy almost certainly
followed Fumiya and Ayako here.

They must know that Fumiya
and Ayako are Kurobas...

and that the Kurobas are in
charge of the Yotsubas' work.

But despite knowing that much, they don't know
how they're linked to us and the Yotsubas.

They don't even see us as
magicians serving the Yotsubas.

Meaning...

that they think we're Ancient Magic
users employed by the Kuroba Family?

The enemy may know of our existence,
but they don't know who we really are.

They have no idea why we were chosen
as the Kurobas' collaborators.

In other words...

there's a possibility that the enemy
might attack people other than us?

Shouldn't we put in a request to our
aunt or Mr. Kuroba for protection?

Let's not rely on Aunt Maya.

Then, Master Yakumo?

I have a feeling it's going to cost
us... but we have no choice, do we?

It seems like you've been
dragged into more trouble, huh?

So, you knew?

Mind if I ask you what it's about?

I've accepted a job in the Kyoto area...

and actually, I have a favor to
ask of you regarding this matter.

There's no need to be shy.

I do have some history with
the Traditionalists after all.

So, the branch of Ancient Magic users known as
"the Traditionalists" are involved after all?

They're not known as "the Traditionalists."
That's just what they call themselves.

So, what is this favor you have in mind?

Right. The enemy seems to have mistaken us
for Ancient Magic users hired by the Kurobas.

Which means that they could
launch an attack on my friends.

I see. So, you'd like me to
protect your friends, right?

Yes. Would you be willing to do so?

Sure.

If you want, I'd also be glad to lend
you a hand with that job of yours, too.

No, I couldn't ask you to help
me out with that, Master.

Internal strife between Ancient
Magic users wouldn't be a good look.

Well, well...

It seems like I'm still a long
way from achieving satori.

OCTOBER 6, A.D. 2096

I have something to tell you all.

Yesterday, after we left the
station, someone attacked us.

Oh no! You weren't hurt, were you?

Don't worry.

Neither Brother nor Minami nor
I sustained even a scratch.

That said, we don't know the
backstory of why we were attacked.

You don't even know who the perps were?

The police are looking into it, but all they
know is that they're Ancient Magic users.

So, it's not as if it was a
personal attack on Tatsuya,

but rather, there's a possibility that
they're targeting First High students?

Should we bolster the protection
detail for the Thesis Competition?

The upperclassmen have sufficient
protection, so they should be fine.

I'm more worried about all of you.

Since you're the ones I'm
closest to at First High School.

If that's the story...

Honoka, come over to my
place starting today.

Okay, I'll do that.

I'll be fine.

Needless to say, Miki, too.

You'll be all right, too, won't you?

Well, yeah.

The one I'm worried about is Mizuki.

Tatsuya, I'll be looking after
Mizuki for the time being!

No, our opponents are Ancient Magic users.

We have no idea what kind
of methods they'll use.

It'll be hard enough just
to protect yourself.

But to do that while
also guarding Mizuki...

you wouldn't be a good
match for that, Erika.

Okay, then, Miki, you stay with her!

My name is Mikihiko—

Wait, what?

Good idea. Mikihiko, can I count on you?

Um...

Is that okay, Ms. Shibata?

Yes. As long as you're okay with
it, Mr. Yoshida, then please do so.

All right. No matter what
happens, I'll protect you, okay?

All right! I'm counting on you!

We need to go to Nara to take care of something,
so our hands will be tied this weekend.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience,
but all of you, stay safe.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH SCHOOL
ANCIENT CITY INSURRECTION PART II