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Chapter One
Minami had been kidnapped by Minoru. Miyuki called Tatsuya for help, and Tatsuya quickly flew away from Miyako-jima.
Flying by his aircar from Miyako-jima in the Izu archipelago to Chofu, a suburb of Tokyo, took Tatsuya just 20 minutes at the beginning of the 21st century. Tatsuya wasted no ti in hurrying back to Miyuki.
Understanding Miyukis shock, Tatsuya didnt question Miyuki much. It was obvious to him that asking any further questions would only pressure her and would not be productive.
Yes, this is Ozaki.
Tatsuya contacted Yuuka over the radio, and was answered by her guardian, Ozaki Chiho. After a quick greeting, he asked her to explain the current situation.
Kudou Minoru attacked the hospital with the help of self-destructing parasitic dolls.
They were destroyed upon being disabled, thereby releasing the true bodies of Parasites which attacked passerby. The Juumonji family had to react to this threat, and Kudou Minoru used the chaos to break through the line of defense, allowing him to get into the hospital.
And Yuuka-san left to help deal with the Parasites? Tatsuya asked.
Yes, it was an order from Miyuki-sama.
Chiho's tone was slightly apologetic. Her excuse was effective, however, as Tatsuya could not complain about Miyukis decision. Yuuka had no grounds to refuse an order from the next head of the Yotsuba family, so Tatsuya accepted the excuse easily.
Minorus opponent was only Miyuki?
Tatsuya still didnt understand the details of the event and asked for clarification.
Yes. We have not yet established the details of what happened in the hospital, but Miyuki-sama is unhard. All four parasitic dolls that Kudou Minoru took with him to the hospital were disabled by Miyuki-samas magic, but Kudou Minoru still kidnapped Sakurai Minami.
Chihos explanation contained the approximate course of events, but Tatsuyas attempt to understand the specific details was not making progress.
Obviously, Miyukis Cocytus was what neutralized the parasitic dolls.
When Pledge was still in effect on Tatsuya, it was supported by Miyukis power, so as well as removing the limiter on Tatsuyas magic, removing the seal also allowed Miyuki to use her magical powers at 100%.
Miyuki's Cocytus was able to damage the Parasites true body
confird last winter in the battle at First Highs training forest. While with people, the Parasite rges
with the host, in Parasite dolls the Parasite just takes possession as the doll does not have a spiritual body to rge with. Because of this, Parasite dolls had no way to resist Miyukis magic.
Cocytus was a magic that did not allow leniency. Using this magic either resulted in death or failure. Minoru could withstand one hit with Parade, but he wouldnt fool her magic a second ti. Once Cocytus was used on Parade, Cocytus
which freezes activity of the mind, including Magic
would not allow Parade to be used again. Even if Minoru was not hit directly, allowing the main hit to be tanked by one of his Parasite dolls, Minoru would still suffer a decline in magical power.
The basic course of events was obvious to Tatsuya, but he couldnt possibly understand how Miyuki had allowed Minami to be abducted while remaining unhard. Even if Minoru had sohow found a way to beat Miyuki, he wouldnt have been able to do it by such a margin as to leave Miyuki unscathed. The only explanation was that Miyuki had allowed Minami to be kidnapped, but that didnt make any sense.
Therefore, the only explanation was that Minami and Minoru convinced Miyuki to let them go.
There was no guarantee that Miyuki would win in a fight against Minoru. If she hit him with Cocytus, Minoru would lose, but if Minorus magic reached Miyuki before this
she would lose. Of course, Tatsuya would not allow Miyuki to be hard, regardless of distance. As soon as an attack on Miyuki was started, Tatsuya would feel it, recognize the attack, and eliminate. Should the attack be one that could not be expanded, he would erase the enemy carrying out the attack. However, there were always exceptions. It was foolish to assu that Tatsuya was omnipotent. There were attacks he could not expand and enemies he struggled to eliminate. Minoru as he was now was not an opponent to be underestimated.
Miyuki had no reason to kill Minoru or take magic away from him. She wasnt even necessarily an enemy to the Parasites. Though Parasites were a threat to mankind, Miyuki was a fragile creature that could be destroyed unexpectedly, and her nature was relatively pacifistic. It was entirely possible for her to support Minorus love - however misguided he was in trying to turn Minami into a Parasite - if Minami agreed. If Minoru ca for Minami and convinced her to go with him, Miyuki might just smile, wish them good luck, and let them go
she was the type of girl to avoid fighting if at all possible.
However, Miyuki most likely would not have entrusted Minami to the current Minoru. If Minoru didnt give up on turning her into a Parasite for treatnt, Miyuki would probably have stopped him.
Since leaving Tokyo, Tatsuya had not felt a single direct attack on Miyuki, and Chihos assertion that Miyuki was unhard confird this.
Then, Miyuki did not fight Minoru and overlooked his abduction if Minami? No, Miyukis distress at the event ant she surely did not overlook Minamis abduction.
Sothing unexpected happened so that she could not attack Minoru?
Tatsuya could not imagine what that should be.
Is Minorus current location known?
Putting aside his guesses on the events of how Minoru kidnapped Minami, Tatsuya started thinking about the pursuing Minoru. Given that the USNA and New Soviet Unions plan to sabotage the thermonuclear fusion reactor had for the most part co to a conclusion, the pursuit of Minoru beca the task taking precedence.
We dont have details of the vehicle used, but it has been found moving west along the main road. The Juumonji family head has already completed preparations for pursuit, Chiho answered.
Since the appearance of the vehicle wasnt known, surveillance systems would be useless, raising the question as to it was confird that he was heading west on the main road.
What was the basis of the conclusion that he was heading west along the central road?
We confird his location using Psionic radar to search for Parasites, Chiho responded.
This Psionic radar was not yet at a level such that it could be considered complete, but it was still effective in determining the approximate location and direction of movent. More points of observation would have to be established before the radar could determine exact location using multi-point searches.
If Minrou were in perfect condition, he would be able to thwart any attempt at following him by using Parade. The radar was nowhere near advanced enough to be able to break through the Kudou familys magic. Knowing this, Tatsuya ca to the following conclusion:
Minoru was damaged in a fight?
Minorus magical abilities had to have been deteriorated in a fight for Chiho to be able to be confident about his location, but this raised further questions. Was it temporary, or would it remain for an extended length of ti as a side effect? Was the nature of the damage in the Eidos, or was it ironically caused by overheating of his magic calculation area, similar to what happened to Minami?
He most likely received a strike from Miyukis Cocytus, but regardless of the cause, Minorus inability to use Parade provided an excellent opportunity to both bring back Minami as well as to capture Minoru without killing him.
Tatsuya was still slightly indecisive on whether to kill Minoru. This could have been because of so slight emotional attachnt, but more importantly, he couldnt predict what would happen upon his death, the mont his body was destroyed.
Minoru had retained his identity upon rging with the Parasite and swallowing the ghost of Zhou Gongjin. He was very different from the deserters of the USNA Army he fought last Winter and the magicians from Stars who Tatsuya had just defeated.
Though he was able to seal the magicians from Stars of First-magnitude class, he might not be able to use the sa thod on Minoru. Killing Minoru could release a powerful spiritual life form unable to be sealed by Tatsuyas sphere, and Tatsuya didnt want to take that risk. Tatsuya felt catching Minoru alive and putting him in a state in which he wouldnt be able to use magic was the thod with the fewest possible consequences. The only problem was the difficulty of putting the plan into action.
Capturing soone alive was far more difficult than simply murdering them. Minorus struggle in capturing Minami illustrated this difficulty. Tatsuya was not even sure he would win against Minoru in a battle for life and death if Minoru was in perfect shape; he would almost certainly not be able to capture Minoru alive, especially considering the magic available to Tatsuya. He needed to be ready to kill Minoru in the next fight regardless of the possible consequences.
Tatsuya asked his question about Minorus condition intending to capture Minoru alive if the situation allowed it, and killing him if not. Chiho answered his question understanding this, but her answer didnt provide much information.
It seems that Kudou Minorus masking and hiding abilities are weakened, but it isnt known how long this weakened state will last for.
With this confirmation, Tatsuyas thought scread, This is a chance.
Tatsuya arrived at the Aoba clinic in Chofu exactly 20 minutes after Miyuki called him for help. Flying back from the island to the clinic actually took less ti than the flight from Chofu to the island
the fact that the return trip took less ti than the initial
trip, a trip in response to an ergency request from the main Yotsuba house, indicated Tatsuyas priorities clearly.
Onii-sama!
Miyuki ran up to him and called him in an unacceptable manner under normal circumstances
forgetting to at least use Tatsuya-sama showed her distress.
Thankfully, there were no magicians from the Juumonji family in range to hear her as they had already set out to pursue Minoru, but Yuuka and the Tsukuba family staff were still in place. This wasnt that much of an issue considering they were still part of the Yotsuba family, but it still would have been more desirable for Miyuki to act as her position dictated. The Tsukuba family realized Miyukis distress, however, and didnt comnt on it.
Miyuki. I'm glad you're not hurt.
Tatsuya hadnt planned these words in advance, and Miyuki opened her eyes in surprise, not expecting words of concern. She at least expected questioning on the events or about Minoru, so his first confirming Miyukis condition ca as a shock to her.
Tatsuya was no less surprised by his words
while his concern for Miyuki was only natural, he was surprised that he had simply said what he was thinking honestly and openly without considering the words he was saying.
Thank you very much, Miyuki responded.
Miyukis response didnt make much sense on the surface, but her words of gratitude were natural thoughts to her given the situation.
However, like Tatsuya, Miyuki was surprised by her openness, and she hung her head slightly in embarrassnt.
Tatsuya-sama! Miyuki exclaid. It doesn't matter what happens to , after all, Minami-chan... !
Her short exchange of phrases with Tatsuya managed to suppress her panic, and she regained composure enough to switch to a more acceptable title for Tatsuya. Miyuki
leaned against him and froze in a pose that seed to call for a hug. Tatsuya gently laid his hands on her shoulders, and a slight tremor passed through his palms.
Tell
the details later. The main thing now is to get Minami back.
...Can you get her back? Miyuki asked?
I cant promise.
Tatsuya could easily tell soothing lies, but he didnt want to be insincere with Miyuki.
Minoru is strong, and his Parade is better than Linas. Even with his magical abilities weakened, I might not be able to detect him.
At this, Tatsuya paused briefly and slightly pulled away from Miyuki to look into her eyes.
But the longer I take, the harder it will be to save her, and I might end up being too late. It would be best to go right now.
Miyuki stopped shaking as she thought about how to respond.
Save thats right. What Minoru-kun is trying is wrong. And Minami-chan
what is she thinking
Miyukis words cast a bit of doubt in Tatsuyas mind - Miyukis words made it seem as if Minami left with Minoru of her own free will - but he had enough composure to not let it show on his face. This problem didnt have to be solved yet.
Alright. I'm leaving right away.
Tatsuya-sama! Please take
with you.
Tatsuya expected this request. Miyuki considered herself guilty of Minamis abduction for failing to stop Minoru. However, Tatsuya didnt yet understand her full motivation. If Miyuki had applied Cocytus to Minoru without hesitating, Minamis feelings would not have manifested in ti for her to act in such an irrational way.
Even if she ended up sad because Minoru was dead, Minami would still be safe.
However illogical, Miyuki felt guilty and blad herself for Minamis situation, so she
stubbornly wanted to correct her mistake herself. But Tatsuya did not give a favorable answer.
I can not.
Even Tatsuya could understand how she felt
if their situations were reversed, he would have wanted to go as well. However, Tatsuyas plan for pursuit did not allow Miyuki to co with.
I will chase from air with the Freed Suit. The maneuverability of the aircar leaves much to be desired.
The refusal was not due to possible danger, but due to the lack of suitable equipnt.
...I understand.
Miyuki was just as able to used flight magic as Tatsuya, but without a suit assisting her, she would only be a burden on Tatsuya. Understanding this, Miyuki did not beg further.
Tatsuya-sama, be careful. Take care of Minami-chan.
I will.
Answering Miyuki curtly, Tatsuya took off and flew westward.
Compared to the Mobile Suit used by the self-defense forces, the Freed suit developed by the Yotsuba family does not have the power assistance function and has an inferior quality data transmission channel, but it provides the sa amount or even higher protection in addition to its more effective stealth and ability to fly much higher.
Also, the data channel is only inferior at processing large numbers of simultaneous connections, and it has no problems processing external data under most circumstances.
The Freed suit should not be considered inferior than the Mobile suit, and its increased mobility and stealth makes it more suitable for pursuit then the Mobile suit which is specialized for fighting.
A translucent map of the terrain was displayed in Tatsuyas field of view. The map of the Boso area of West Kanto showed a red circle with a diater of about one kiloter giving the approximate location of Minoru, based on data from a psionic radar tuned to search for Parasites.
He didnt intend to waste ti near the Aoba clinic, but his conversation with Miyuki had taken 5 minutes. He was almost 30 minutes behind Minoru. Tatsuyas only advantage was that he could fly in a straight line at a higher speed than Minoru who was forced to travel on the road.
The translucent circle giving Minorus location was moving west near Mount Takao.
To catch up to him in five minutes, Tatsuya increased his flight speed to 400 km / h.
After abducting Minami from the hospital, Minoru headed west along the central road in a car prepared by the Kudou family. It was separate to the van on which the Parasite dolls were being transported
Minoru was on the "Van Con
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