Aura: Koga Maryuin’s Final Battle

AURA 7

I stood still, as if I’d been struck.
I had no words. The moon diagonally spotlighting the landing; I started at that bewitching stage from a few steps below. I could only stare. I couldn’t move a single finger.
In contrast, the witch wasn’t looking at me. The face peering out from her hood, remained locked diagonally upwards, meaning she stared fixedly into the darkness of the school’s third floor.
Beautiful.
Not pretty or cute, beautiful was the correct term.
A blue robe that concealed her down to her feet, the cloth stained the deep blue of the sea, her shapely face shining through as a pale accent. Lowering my eyes, I caught sight of a shimmering, metallic knot hanging at her chest. Her mechanical, overly tall staff was fastened to her bosom by the slight protrusion of fingers.
The crystallization of moonlight clad in the blue of the night. Like an existence that had slipped out of a fog-covered kingdom of illusions.
My old wounds twitched in pain. Now this is shady as hell, they cried out. But the overwhelming detail standing before my eyes held it all down. Having encountered such an opponent, I had no idea how to cope.
On the contrary, if the other side noticed me, how would she react?

① She attacks → I run →The misunderstanding is cleared up, we reconcile and start working together, love may follow.
② “Run away!” she says as she fights the monster after her → I protect her →my quick wit fends off the monster, after which love.
③ She kisses me → The kiss is translation magic → the witch has to live at my house, there are some battles, after which love.
④ She collapses → I take her home and nurse her → the witch has to live at my house, there are some battles, after which love.

Hmm, the plot of number 4 was pretty much the same as three. Considering patterns and all, the modern trend would have me get straight up murdered for her to revive me with some high-level magic, but that requires a compensation and… no, I doubt this was the time for that.
Whatever the case. I swallowed my spit. Still searching for words, I opened my mouth.
“U-umm…?”
The girl’s sight slowly lowered to look at me.
As expected, the witch’s eyes were cold. Her piercing glare passed straight through me like an x-ray. That was a look, not at me as a person. A look as if she was doing little more than analyzing my physical information.
“What are you doing in a place like this?”
Moving my parched tongue, I somehow managed to pose the question.
The girl didn’t answer. She maintained a close watch over me.
Just as my anxiety was reaching a limit, all of a sudden, the staff emitted an electronic sound. The diode bulb-like portion on the tip that looked like it could serve as a blunt weapon blinked for just an instant. I didn’t really get it, but amazing.
The girl returned her eyes to the third floor.
“…… It’s here.”
“Huh? What is?”
Flustered as I was, an exaltation greater than ever before was born within me.
I see, something’s coming. Pattern two. Then how should I handle this?
Too timid to ascend to the landing, I turned just my head to follow the witch’s field of vision. A vague, whitish substance swayed irregularly in space.
“… What’s that?”
While I could see something like haze, I couldn’t make it out. I could only tell that the substance was squirming on its own as if searching for food. Ectoplasm? No way. My heart was still racing.

‘Researcher Confirmation Complete. Cross Check Conducted: 99.8% Match. While Minor Abnormality has been Detected Due to Influence From the Phenomenal Realm, it has been Identified as an Informational Entity. Henceforth, The Appropriate Information Shall be Recorded Under SumTotal Model Information Body Σ01145782-227-4567897’

A third party’s voice resounded low and somber. I was surprised. Unlike the witch, the voice belonged to an older man.
“… Who? What? Where?”
There wasn’t anyone around besides the witch and myself. Despite that, the voice continued uninterrupted.
‘Physical Interference Level 3. Plenipotentiary Power Holder Requests for The Researcher to take Immediate Action.’
“… Understood. Shifting to Immediate Action”
The witch held up her staff.
“What sort of action? What are you going to do? Are you fighting? Is this a battle? It’s a battle, right?”
“……”
I was ignored.
“Your… magic… err, what can it…?”
What exactly was I expecting? With some strange switch flipped, even I couldn’t say myself.
“Ferula. Shamanic Field Driver, Stand By”
As if in response, the mechanical staff’s lamp lit up. Was this staff Ferula? Nonsense. A part of me knew it was nonsense. But that didn’t mean I suddenly understood what I was supposed to do so with my foot sewn halfway up a step, I continued to spectate.
The witch, on the other hand, was quick to move.
Clamber a few steps higher than the landing, she stuck out her staff towards the spiritual body (the mysterious voice called it an informational entity) squirming in the third-floor corridor.
“I see!” I understood then and there.
She planned to shoot some absurd magic projectile from the head of that stick. It’s that voice. She’s a magical girl.
I hurriedly leapt my way up to the landing and cautioned the witch. I got the feeling something bad would happen if I didn’t.
“H-hey! If you fire off something so dangerous here…!”
The school would fall apart, but… there I was, my heart racing at the prospect of an end to my normal life.
“Hey, witch!”
“… If you value your life, stand down, resident of the Phenomenal Realm.”
Those were the first words the witch ever said to me.
“Phenomenal Realm?”
“Informational bodies create physical influence by cracking into the logical rules of their target. A resident of the Phenomenal Realm with no protection has no way to defend against it.”
“I don’t get a single thing you’re saying.”
Truth be told, I had a general grasp. But understanding too fast felt a bit off, so I was acting just a little flustered.
“Spell-based attacks utilize the mutual deviation’s permeating effect to convert pure heat into parsable information. There will be no physical influence.”
Another mechanical beep from the staff. Could that be the signal it was done charging?
Adjusting the angle of her staff, she fixed it in the center of the drifting haze.
“Commence attack—”
I immediately protected my face with both hands. The blast wave I expected never came. I was sure there would be flames, or some wind, or at least a bit of a light show.
No physical influence. Word for word, there wasn’t a single visible phenomenon.
The haze remained zigzagging as healthily as ever.
“Hey… are you done yet? It’s kinda still there… that informational entity of yours.”
“Mission failed.” She haphazardly threw out.
“Say what?”
‘Researcher, SumTotal Model Information Body Σ01145782-227-4567897’s State has been Confirmed as Irregular. Stimulation through Spell Offense has Raised Physical Interference Level to Seven. Plenipotentiary Power Holder Advises for Immediate Evacuation.’
That exceedingly somber voice came out with some exceedingly dangerous-sounding lines.
“H-hey, I just heard retreat. Isn’t that kinda bad?”
The witch looked at me head-on.
“Resident of the Phenomenal Realm, you will be coming with me.”
“Come or not, I’ve got some stuff to… fine, got it.”
“… This way.”
The witch grabbed my arm and dragged me down the stairs. I was back on the second floor, en route to the first—
“Halt, resident of the Phenomenal Realm.”
“I’ve got a name, and it’s Satou Ichirou,”
I quickly shut my mouth. From the side of the first floor, a separate haze—informational body was approaching.
“Then here.”
She pulled me down the second-floor corridor. The school building had two sets of stairs. It was possible to escape from the other side.
We ran side by side a while. The haze in question showed no signs of pursuit. Her feet came to a stop. The corridor was just a tad too long to cross full speed, and she leaned her weight against her staff as she got her breathing in order. Her face was touched by a tint of red, making the impression she gave off somewhat younger.
“We must get moving. Stay close.”
This time, we were walking.
“Say… if I get caught by that informational entity, what happens?”
“Your original form and nature will be lost.”
“Y-you mean…”
Then I was totally in a life-threatening situation. This was far more serious than I thought.
“This is totally the right time for me to get angry and say, don’t drag me into anything crazy.”
“The Researcher had no part in your involvement. That is the fault of your lack of crisis-aversion abilities and foresight.”
“How could anyone be expected to foresee a witch in the school at night? In the first place, who are you?”
“……” She chose silence.
“Normally, a security guard’s all you should expect here.”
On that train of thought, there was one point I did notice.
“Say. By the way, were you fine getting through the school’s security sensors?”
It wouldn’t be strange for there to be some mechanical security. If such abnormality was disclosed to the general public… we’d be right at the clima… no, I mean, it would make for a huge ruckus.
“Not only in the front entranceway, there are also sensors stationed on every first-floor window. Additional sensors have been confirmed stationed around a portion of important sections.”
“The first floor…? I came in through the first-floor boys’ toilet.”
My blood ran cold at a realistic danger.
“Then be at ease.” The witch nonchalantly said. “The researcher did too.”
“So you’re the one who pulled out the window!”
“That is why the security system did not activate.”
“Whadaya mean?”
“All electronic security systems in this building have been seized. That is why the existence of a resident of the phenomenal realm failed to trip up any sensors.”
“You seized them? How?”
She lightly held up her mechanical staff.
“With spellcraft,”
So it was a collaboration of magic and machinery.
“it is simple to seize control of a purely mechanical primitive sensor.”
“… I understand what you’re saying, but… that explanation won’t work on anyone else.”
I couldn’t only accept it so easily being who I was.
“This matter shall never come to the notice of any residents of the phenomenal realm. In this realm where let alone mana converters, let alone magical powers exist, no one is able to achieve visual confirmation of The Researcher.”
“I can see you just fine.”
The witch’s face drew close.
Her face, pretty like a masterpiece of glass, felt so perfectly crafted that when she closed in expressionlessly, it packed a perfect punch.
“W-what’s your problem?”
“Those eyes.”
“My eyes? What about them? Are you going to say I have mystic eyes or something?”
“……” She left about two seconds of pause. “Why do you know about the mystic eyes?”
“No, I was just making stuff up.”
“I am convinced. I have heard that magecraft once existed in the phenomenal realm. The Researcher shall henceforth regard Phenomenal Realm Resident A as a possessor of mystic eyes.”
She regarded me. It did seem I was a chosen human somewhat different from the others, and that was just swell.
“That’s all well and good, but… I have a name, and it’s Satou Ichirou. Quit it with the Phenomenal Realm stuff. It makes me feel all itchy.”
“Understood. Phenomenal Realm Resident A shall receive the designation of Satou Ichirou.”
“… You can just call me Satou or Ichirou.”
“Ichirou.”
“Y-yeah.”
Called Ichirou without warning, my heart skipped a beat. When was the last time a girl called me by name……
“Ichirou, we will descend the stairs and escape from the first flor boys’ bathroom. Understood?”
“Got it… ah, but I came here to get my textbook.”
“Your textbook and your life, choose which one you value more.”
“… Well my life, of course, but,”
“Then follow.”
The witch briskly descended the stairs.
Just who in the world was she, anyway? The staff and getup looked authentic, and I could tell she wasn’t acting on a whim. There were few out there who would pull such an elaborate prank. She wasn’t fake. And if she was real, that would mean—
“Hey… are you really from another world.”
“Classified.”
Could’ve seen coming. She was acting covertly, after all.
“That aside, you saved me back there, didn’t you?”
“… I am obligated to prevent phenomenal realm casualties as long as it is within the realm of possibilities.”
“I see. Whatever the case, thank you. I just thought I’d say that.”
“It matters not. Looking at the result, I have come upon the beneficial phenomenon of an encounter with a possessor of mystic eyes. If I am to gain your assistance, searching for the dragon terminal will become easier.”
“Yet another piece of grand-sounding jargon. Could you tell me what—?”
‘Researcher. Warning from Plenipotentiary Power Holder. Disclosure of Information to a Resident of the Phenomenal Realm is punishable by Disciplinary Action.’
The shapeless middle-aged voice.
“Whoa, there it is again!”
“Offering Explanation to Plenipotentiary Power Holder. There is a high possibility the resident of the phenomenal realm in question is an essential factor. I request a special exception to investigate and settle this case.”
‘Request Denied. This Search is Fully Possible for The Researcher to Execute Alone.’
“Until the reason prior informational entity was able to nullify our attack is identified, it is appropriate to think that the situation has changed. Taking the management of the irregular into consideration, gaining the cooperation of a bearer of mystic eyes will stabilize the success rate of any strategy.”
A long silence.
‘…… As a Temporary Measure, the Plenipotentiary Power Holder permits The Researcher’s Interference with the Phenomenal Realm. However, Interference Level Must be Kept at Level Three.’
“Understood.” The enigmatic conversation ended.
“I was wondering where that was coming from, but is it that?”
I looked at the witch’s chest. On the inside of her robe, hung at her far-too original inner collar, a large silvery-metallic pendant. The voice was coming from there.
“This is ‘Plenipotentiary Power Holder Credétat’. In order to execute this mission alone, a pseudo-intelligence and transmission interface granted all authority in regards to the operation by the ‘Central Assembly’.”
“Hmm, so it’s like an AI voice.”
And as that went on, we arrived at the boys’ bathroom.
“The researcher orders for Ichirou to halt.” The witch pointed with a grave face. “The window has been replaced.”
I took a peek too. It was firmly in place.
“It wasn’t there when I came in.”
Meaning the security guard put it back?” The moment I thought that, a single guard exited one of the bathroom stalls, his hand tightening his belt.
“Hm? W-who’s there’!? A thief!?”
A flashlight was shined our way.
The witch was quick to move. Stuffing a hand into her bosom, she took out a small spherical object and threw it into the room. The orb burst into a large mass of smoke. A smoke bomb.
“What!? Dammit!”
In no time at all, the room was buried in the smoke. The effects were only amplified in a sealed space. Shutting the door to the restroom, the witch yanked my arm and burst into a sprint. A shrill noise shriek echoed from the fire alarm. At this point, it was finally a huge ruckus.
“Crap, that was a guard!”
“The first floor is dangerous. I advise an escape from the second floor.”
“Why the second!?”
“There are no security mechanisms on the second floor, making escape a simple task.”
Oh really? Well, if a witch is saying it… what bothered me most was what terrible thing might happen if the security guard came into conflict with that monster from before. When I asked the witch, “The guardian or your life, choose which one you value most,” it foreseeably came to.
Well, I’m human after all. Sorry guard.