01x10 - Nine Schools Competition Part III

[bunniefuu]

FEBRUARY 18, 2096

Lina...

Tatsuya...

Did you hear?

Yeah.

I'm not going to be your friend.

I know.

We live in different worlds, after all.

Tatsuya, please wait.

I can see a parasite aura 30 degrees
to the right of the direction you're moving.

I see them, too!

Three of them. Two men, one woman.

A girl in a mask is approaching the parasites
from the opposite direction!

I came to Japan as one of the strongest
magicians in the world.

But my one-on-one with Miyuki
ended in my defeat.

And then, I suffered...

a total defeat to Tatsuya.

But at least...

At least, I'll carry out the role of Sirius...

the Stars commander!

Leave this to me!

Mikihiko!

ROQer!

Let's see.

That makes one!

One got away! Mizuki...

Can you see it?

I'm sorry, but I can't make out
individual movements from here.

Oh. Sorry, that's okay. Don't worry about it.

Angie Sirius!

What?

Could you not k*ll them
before we finish sealing them?

The cleanup is going to be a pain.

Nothing to do with me.
I just need to deal with the deserters.

Sirius's mission?

What I mean is, I want you to do that
after we seal the parasites' main bodies.

One of them already got away.

That isn't part of my mission.

I only need to complete my mission
and do the Sirius's duty.

That was Lina, right?

She looks like a completely different person.

Why'd you think it was her?

Her gestures, I guess.

The way she moves her arms, legs and head...
And you can tell a lot from the eyes.

I'm impressed.

I'm sure you know this,
but this is a secret, too.

okay-

And I'd like to say
the same thing I said to her to you.

Not to k*ll them?

Exactly. As long as the host body doesn't die,
the parasite can't get out of it.

Nonlethally disabling them
is more certain to do the trick.

Sorry. I just can't do that, Tatsuya.

I've been prepared
for my opponent to k*ll me

ever since I decided
I'd k*ll others with my sword.

So, when I think about me being k*lled...

Well, I can't leave them alive on purpose
and draw out their pain.

Well, I can't argue with that.

I guess I'll just have to put in more work, then.

You're late!

Shut up! We're doing the best we can-

Brother...

They are...

the Batto-tai.

A commando infantry platoon
belonging to the JGDF's First Division

and comprised solely of magicians
specializing in hand-to-hand combat.

But why would this platoon that's under
the Kudou Family's influence be mobilized tonight?

Panzer!

We'll take these guys!

Yeah. You and Miyuki
can go on ahead, Tatsuya.

Okay. I'll leave it to you, then.

Let's go, Miyuki.

Right, Brother.

All righty.

Let's take these guys out fast.
Then, we'll catch up with them.

Right! This shouldn't take long!

Brother...

What happened here?

Lina, get back!

Nobody asked you!

Parasites can literally use magic
just by thinking it.

Lina's greatest weapon
is her spell activation speed.

But even with her overwhelming speed,
up against six parasites,

both of us are forced
to prioritize defense. So...

MiYuki!

Yes, Brother!

You saved me there.

You're welcome.

Erika, Leo, be careful!

The parasite's main body is over there!

Doton?

Schild!

Leo, that's a parasite!

0h, crap!

Pixie!

Pixie, get over here.

At once, sir.

Honoka, you back up Pixie.

Right!

Erika, Leo, stay where you are.

Tell the others there, too.

Huh? Okay-

Right.

I agreed without skipping a beat...

but I have no idea
what "backing up" means here.

I have to get a good read
on her situation first.

VISITOR ARC X

Found it.

Found it.

Return to us!

I'm not part of you!

I...

belong to him!

Then, take this!

What is that?

There's a huge power
pressing down on that doll.

Tatsuya, what on earth is that?

The result of you not listening
to what my brother told you.

You went around k*lling every parasite
host body in sight without a second thought.

Now they're free and on a rampage.

Lina, how do you plan on making amends
for this mismanagement?

What do you mean by "mismanagement"?

I was just carrying out my mission!

Then, the least you could do
is clean up after yourself.

Can you do that?

Even my brother had to take
a passive method by sealing them.

Just watch! I'll do it!

- Wait, Lina!
- Shut up! You be quiet, Tatsuya!

I need to finish
this mission successfully!

If I don't...

then what am I even doing here?
Not to mention k*lling my comrades!

Then, a lightning attack!

It's not working!

How about compressed air b*ll*ts?

Ultrasonic waves!

Gravity shock wave!

It's coming, Lina!

Brother...

Miyuki may have the ability to detect the parasites,

but not the sense of vision
to get a bird's-eye view.

Because of that, the area of interference
is slipping out of position.

It's extremely taxing to think
about holding out in a situation

you don't know how long
you'll have to hold out for. At this rate...

the two might give in.

Physical attacks are out of the question.

If we have any chance,
it's magic that affects the mind.

It's the only way left.

Mikihiko, can you see
what's happening here?

Yeah. I'm in the middle of really
quickly making a sealing circle...

so wait just a little longer.

How likely is it that the sealing circle
will suppress all this?

To be honest,
probably less than fifty-fifty.

Mikihiko, it only needs to be for a moment.

Please just suppress it for ten seconds.

All right.

I'll suppress that thing for ten seconds
no matter what it takes!

Tatsuya, I'll help, too!

Great.

Mikihiko, start the countdown!

Okay!

Three!

Two!

One!

NQVV!

Miyuki...

Look.

This is...

the world that my brother sees.

I can see it, Brother.

There.

Cocytus.

Lunar magic?

Even though I couldn't see the parasite,
I sensed its destruction.

Such powerful lunar magic...

Miyuki, you...

You and Tatsuya both... What are you?

Lina...

Tell nobody what you saw just now.

Wh-What the hell?

In exchange, I swear to keep quiet
about your identity as Angie Sirius.

This applies to not only Miyuki and me,
but to everyone on our end involved in this.

Fine. If you'll stay quiet,
I'll keep you and Miyuki a secret, too.

Nobody would believe me anyway, I bet.

I see.

Lina...

Something else?

If you ever want to quit being a soldier,

I think I can help.

I have acquaintances who can help.

Wait, Tatsuya!
Why would you say that?

I don't want to stop being the Sirius!

I see.

Sorry, that was a weird thing to say.

Your Excellency Kudou,
I consider it a great honor to meet you.

My name is Ayako Kuroba.

I am a member of the Yotsuba's lowest ranks,
charged with serving our family head, Maya.

A representative of Lady Yotsuba?

No wonder you're so levelheaded
despite your age.

Incidentally, Your Excellency,
we don't have very much time to spare,

so there is one thing
I would like to ask you about.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

With all due respect,
I am given to understand

that Your Excellency's intent is to bring back
these sealed monsters called "parasites."

But to tell you the truth,

the errand I have been sent on by my family head
is to also collect the sealed parasites.

Is it?

Fortunately, there are
two sealed vessels here.

Shall we each take one...

Your Excellency?

Very well.

We'll take the friendly approach
and share the spoils evenly.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency.

Thanks to you, Tatsuya,

I'll be able to finish this mission safely.

Brother...

About Lina... Do you think
she'll take what you said to heart?

I'm sure Lina has
her own things to deal with.

She's certainly not the only one
who can't get herself to the place she wants.

But you still offered to help her anyway...

Why?

What do you mean?

Brother, why do you try to help Lina?

Do you have special feelings for her?

I just thought leaving the Stars
would be more convenient for the future.

Not just leaving the military, either.

The best option would be to have her
become a naturalized Japanese citizen here.

But that doesn't mean
I don't sympathize with her.

In a way, we're a lot alike.

Or maybe I should say
we belong to the same category of people.

Neither one of us had any real choice
in where we ended up today.

You could call me enrolling at First High
a choice I forced them to let me have,

but I don't think Lina even had
a little choice like that.

I was never given a choice, but one day,
I'll make one and choose for myself.

I figured I'd offer help out of friendship
if Lina wanted the same thing, but...

I guess it was none of my business.

That isn't true.

I'm sure that one day...

No, in the near future,
your consideration will reach her heart.

Because this incident must've made Lina
doubt her current self.

She may be a little simple,
but she's smart.

Miyuki...

"Simple"? That's pretty mean.

VISITOR ARC XI