Chapter 10
The next day was Sunday, October 28.
The day of the 2096 Thesis Competition had finally arrived.
Tatsuya, who had joined the Nine Schools Joint Security Force merely as a supporter of First High School, had relatively more freedom to move about.
During the lunch break, Tatsuya met Mayumi, who had come to the venue, accompanied by Miyuki, who had been temporarily released from her judging duties.
"I see... The person who killed Mr. Nagura committed suicide?"
"He took his own life because we were pursuing him, so perhaps it can't really be called suicide."
Tatsuya told Mayumi about the resolution of Nagura's murder.
"That's better. That means you avenged Mr. Nagura, Tatsuya."
Mayumi smiled at Tatsuya as though a thorn had been pulled from her chest.
"Thank you, Tatsuya. In that case, we're even for what happened that night."
"Senpai, that was-"
"Well then, goodbye. Do a good job with security, all right? And you too, Miyuki, good luck with the judging."
Without listening to Tatsuya's reply, Mayumi stood up and disappeared into the crowd in the lobby.
"Brother..."
In the café, all that remained were Tatsuya, holding the bomb Mayumi had tossed him, and Miyuki, looking at the bomb with a false smile.
"What did she mean by what happened that night?"
"No, well, that..."
"That was? If you don't mind, please tell me. Or..."
Miyuki placed her hand over Tatsuya's palm.
"Is there something you can't tell me?"
Miyuki's hand was a little cool and felt very soft. And that hand was holding Tatsuya captive there.
"-As you can see, a plate of induction-sensitive alloy bearing an 'engraving' is not a prerequisite for activating Engraving-Type Magic. The 'engraving' merely serves to guide the flow of psions. As you have just seen, the same effect can be achieved simply by projecting psions onto a model of the 'engraving.' We have concluded that the essence of Engraving-Type Magic does not lie in its dependence on an engraving as a physical object."
First High School's presentation, led by Isori, came to an end. The audience gave them a great round of applause.
"That's the loudest applause so far."
Miyuki, who had been excused from judging because it was First High School's presentation, sat beside Tatsuya and commented on the audience's reaction.
"The content was very innovative too. I'd expect no less from Isori."
Tatsuya also praised the content highly. At this point, both of them felt victory was in their grasp.
"Well then, Brother, I'm returning to the judges' seats."
"Second High School is next... Hmm? Is that...?"
"Oh? Isn't that Minoru?"
An uproar swept through the venue. Most of it was probably amazement at the beauty of Minoru, who had stepped onto the stage to prepare. But Tatsuya and Miyuki, of course, were surprised for a different reason.
At that point, the emcee made an announcement.
"First, an announcement for everyone present. Second High School is changing its presenter. The original presenter has suddenly fallen ill, so a replacement will be presenting."
"...Miyuki, you need to get back to the judges' seats."
"That's right. Well then, Brother, excuse me."
Between presentations, more than half the audience usually stood up. It was also when spectators changed which school they supported. But during this preparation period, not a single person stood up.
Amid a strange atmosphere, Second High School's presentation began.
"We will now begin Second High School's presentation. The topic is 'A hypothesis concerning the principles of Mental Interference Magic and the matters that should be described in its Activation Sequence.'"
The uproar in the venue grew louder. The principles of Mental Interference Magic had remained almost entirely unexplained until now. A paper researching them would undoubtedly be both ambitious and innovative in the field of magic studies.
"-These observations show us that when a human being perceives something, a new Psion Information Body is formed. And when the object can no longer be perceived, this Psion Information Body collapses. What deserves attention here is that when the person actively eliminates the object of perception-for example, by burning it up in an instant-the Psion Information Body formed through perception begins to collapse before the object is actually destroyed."
"-The numerous observations you have seen are consistent with the hypothesis that psions are particles formed by consciousness or thought. It is not passive human perception that produces psion information; rather, active mental processes form it."
"-I believe that when human consciousness, or in other words the mind, performs an action that has some effect on this physical dimension, consciousness must be converted into a Psion Information Body. If we adopt this hypothesis, we can explain how perception-type 'supernatural powers,' such as telepathy, also make use of Psion Information Bodies."
"-I believe that the Psion Information Bodies formed through consciousness-that is, through mental activity-possess the characteristics you are now seeing. Of course, I will not claim that this explains all their properties, but if the factors shown here are described in an Activation Sequence, it should greatly accelerate the formulation of Mental Interference Magic. This is also connected to the development of counter-magic that nullifies Mental Interference Magic. That should dispel the superstitious fear of Mental Interference Magic."
"-Thus, Mental Interference Magic is not fundamentally different from magic of the four systems and eight types. Whenever the 'mind' has a connection to the material world, it forms a Psion Information Body. This is a Psion Information Body that represents a state of consciousness. Therefore, simply by constructing a Magic Sequence that can change this Psion Information Body, we can at least change a specific intention directed at this world, the active consciousness. This magic can change a person's perceptions and active intentions."
"-The human mind is not divided into active consciousness and subconsciousness. If a single consciousness has both a manifest part and a latent part, I believe that all Mental Interference Magic can truly be developed as a technology by observing and analyzing the Psion Information Bodies produced by the formation of consciousness."
Minoru gripped his manuscript tightly.
There was a moment of silence.
Then thunderous applause filled the venue.
The 2096 National High School Magic Studies Thesis Competition. The crown of victory shone upon Second High School, which had chosen the first-year student Kudou Minoru as its main presenter.
It was the moment a new star was born among the First through Ninth National Magic University Affiliated High Schools.
At that moment, at the Yotsuba main family's residence, a presentation was taking place on a smaller scale but with greater gravity than the Thesis Competition.
"As you have heard, in this incident, Shiba Tatsuya faithfully carried out his assignment even without being compelled to do so, and achieved the result the client requested. I believe he is a useful asset to the Yotsuba, and there is no problem with his loyalty to his work."
Amid a group of frowning faces, Maya spoke slowly.
"This assignment was a test for Tatsuya. The results were just as Mr. Hayama reported. Don't you all agree?"
"I suppose we have to."
The head of the Shiba Family opened his tightly closed mouth.
"This ability is certainly valuable."
The head of the Mashiba Family voiced his agreement.
"He passed this time. What about next time?"
The head of the Shibata Family spoke without concealing his displeasure.
"Perhaps we should put aside our strange preconceptions."
On hearing the proposal from the head of the Takekura Family,
"I agree. Now that I think about it, weren't our expectations too high from the beginning? It's about time we looked at him objectively."
The head of the Tsukuba Family nodded.
"I think it is still too early to make a final judgment. If we are speaking of an objective assessment, it is also an objective fact that Shiba Tatsuya's talents are excessively unbalanced."
The head of the Shizuka Family argued for caution.
Everyone's eyes turned to the silent head of the Kuroba Family, Kuroba Mitsugu.
"What is your opinion, Lord Kuroba?"
The head of the Shibata Family prompted him to speak.
"I failed in this assignment. Therefore, I do not believe I am qualified to comment on this matter."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Untroubled by it, a calm voice brought the discussion to a close.
"In that case, let us reserve our conclusion until the New Year Celebration."
It was a declaration that the final decision would be made in the coming New Year.
The heads of the branch families gathered there could not object to the words of the Yotsuba Family head.