It was finally the day of the 2096 Thesis Competition.
Tatsuya didnât participate in the Nine Schools security as one of the joint guard, but only came as a supporter, so that he could move relatively freely.
During the lunch break, Tatsuya met Mayumi with Miyuki who was freed from her judge seat in the Thesis Competition.
âI see⌠So the culprit who murdered Nakura-san has committed suicide.â
âWell, it was the result of us cornering him, so I donât know if you can say that it was suicide.â Tatsuya told Mayumi that the case of the murder of Nakura had been resolved.
âThatâs good. Since Tatsuya-kun has helped me to settle Nakura-sanâs grudge.â Tatsuya received a heartfelt smile from Mayumi.
âThank you, Tatsuya-kun. I will forget about what happened that night.â
âSenpai, that.â
âSee you. Work hard on the security work. Miyuki-san, good luck in judging.â
She didnât listen to Tatsuyaâs answer, Mayumi stood up from her seat and disappeared into the crowd.
âOnii-sama.â
In the tea room, Tatsuya remained with a bomb that had been thrown onto his hand, Miyuki forcefully smirked while staring at Tatsuya.
âWhat did she mean by that night?â
âNo, about that.â
âAnd? Please tell me if it doesnât trouble you⌠Or perhaps.â Miyuki put her hand on top of Tatsuyaâs while asking this question. âIs there any harm in me knowing about it?â
Miyukiâs hand was cold, yet it felt soft. Her hand had restrained Tatsuya in that place.
â â â
âââThis way, there isnât any need to position a sensitive alloy plate at the âengravedâ part in order to activate the engraved type magic. âEngraveâ is intended only to induce Psion flow, as we can see right now at the projected image, the same pattern of âengraveâ can be obtained after the Psionâs fill in. The essence of engraving magic, as you can see, does not depend on the engraving itself.â
After the main presenter finished his words, First High ended the presentation. A round of applause arose from the audience.
âIt is the greatest applause until now.â
Miyuki had been selected as one of the judges, she described the reaction of the audience in the auditorium next to Tatsuya. They also thought that âthe content was innovative enoughâ. Both Miyuki and Tatsuya agreed that First High could win this yearâs Thesis Competition.
âThen, Onii-sama, Iâll return to the judgeâs seat.â
âNext is Second High. Huh⌠whoâs that?â
âHuh? Isnât that Minoru-kun?â
The venue was filled with buzz. Perhaps, amazed by the beauty of Minoru who stood at the stage in preparation for the presentation. However, Tatsuya was surprised due to another reason.
Soon, there was an announcement from the facilitator.
âThis is an announcement to everyone in the venue. There is a change in the presenter from Second High, as the original presenter suddenly fell sick, thus the presenter has been changed.â
ââŚ.Miyuki, donât you need to go to the judging seat.â
âYouâre right. Then, Onii-sama, excuse me.â
Normally, the audience would leave their seats in the time between the announcement and the presentation. The audience who supported the schools also changed. However, this time, none of the audience left their seat.
The presentation from Second High began with a peculiar atmosphere.
âI will start the presentation of Second High. The theme is âThe Principle of Mental Interference Magic and the Theory behind its Activation Sequence.â
The buzz within the venue had just risen. Little was known about magic of the Mental Interference System. This is definitely an ambitious and revolutionary topic in magic research.â
âââAs you can see from this observation, when a person has recognized something, a Psion Information Entity is formed. Then, when this Information Entity is no longer recognized, the information body will break down. Itâs noted that for a Psion Information Entity, which forms due to recognition, is actively erased by the recognition target. For example, for momentary incineration, the object will start to collapse before the actual disappearance.â
âThe Theory of Psionâs being a particle that makes an Idea or a thought into a form has been proven by many observations up to the current date. It shows that the passive cognition of humanâs is what makes a Psion Information Entity, but itâs actually the active mental process that is what makes the Psion Information Entity.â
âI think, an Idea has to turn into the Psion Information Entity in order to create a reaction in the physical dimension from the mind. If we apply this theory, we can translate and categorize Mental Interference Magic starting from Telepathy to Sensory type âESPâ as a magic that uses a Psion Information Entity.â
âââTherefore, I believe a Psion Information Entity forms through the mind, the mind has characteristics that I have explained. Of course, my theory has not covered every characteristic, but if we can write the elements which are shown in this presentation into an Activation Sequence, we can speed up the formularization of Mental Interference Magic. At the same time, it will lead to magic that can counter or nullify Mental Interference Magic. This will also become an opportunity to remove any mythical fear towards Mental Interference Magic.â
âââIn this way, Mental Interference Type Magic is not essentially different from Four Great Systems and Eight Major Types. The mind forms a Psion Information Body within the correlation with reality. Correlatively, a Psion Information Body is formed from the mind. Thus, by building an Activation Sequence that can alter Psion Information Body, we can at least reform the current consciousness. This magic can alter the active consciousness through altering the cognition of a person.â
âIf a personâs mind is not divided into consciousness and sub-consciousness, instead has two parts within itself as present part and dormant part, I believe, every Mental Interference Magic can be developed into actual magic skill through observing and analyzing Psion Information Entity.â
Minoru concluded his presentation.
A moment of silence.
The venue was wrapped in a thunderous applause.
The 2096 National Magic High School Thesis Competition crown of victory was won by a freshman from Second High, with Kudou Minoru as an appointed main presenter.
It was the birth of a new star for National Magic University from the First to Ninth Affiliated High Schools.
â â â
At the same time, in the Yotsuba Main Manor, there was a more serious meeting held than the Thesis Competition.
âAs youâve heard, this time Shiba Tatsuya has faithfully fulfilled the mission despite not having any helping force, and even having successfully fulfilled the request of the client. He is a valuable resource for the Yotsuba and through this mission, I can see that loyalty is not an issue.â
While everyone showed a bitter face, Maya slowly opened her mouth.
âThis mission was set as a test for Tatsuya. The result is as reported by Hayama-san. Everyone, donât you agree?â
âWe can only acknowledge him.â
The head of Shiiba family, opened his long sealed mouth.
âHis power is certainly valuable.â
The head of Mashiba family also agreed.
âThis time he passed, only this time.â
The head of Shibata family did not hide his displeasure while raising his opinion.
âShouldnât we drop our strange prejudice?â
The head of Mugura family proposed, âI second that. If we think about it, we have expect too much of him from the beginning, hadnât we? Itâs time to judge him more objectively.â The head of Tsukuba family agreed.
âI think that weâd made a premature decision. Objectively, it is true that Shiba Tatsuya has a disproportionate talent.â
The head of Shizuka family prudently proposed so.
Everyone fixed their eyes to the head of the Kuroba family, Kuroba Mitsugu who had kept silent.
âKuroba-dono, what do you think?â
The head of Shibata family asked him.
âI have failed the mission this time. I believe Iâm not in any position to talk about this matter.â
A heavy silence fell upon the room.
A bland voice, which disregard the silence concluded the discussion.
âThen, letâs postpone the final decision until the New Year Celebration meeting.â
It was the final statement, until the final decision would be made on the New Year.
No branch families could object to the words of the head of Yotsuba Family.
(To be continued in âYotsuba Succession Arcâ)
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