Editing Mahou Sensou:Volume 1 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 3===

“Magicians aren’t born naturally.”

When she had finally settled down, she sat on the bed and said that.

“From the start, all humans possess a very miniscule amount of magic power. But as they grow into adults it becomes weakened. It’s approximately around the age of 25 when the pores which release magic power are closed and they can no longer become a magician. When a child comes into contact with magic power, the cells are stimulated and the pores open up in the body and they can create magic. In other words they become a magician.”

“You don’t possibly mean…………”

Takeshi suddenly understood something that had occurred to him.

It was at the school infirmary when Mui fired her gun.

“Right. When I shot at you with my gun your body was stimulated. In other words, I believe you became a magician at that time.”

Astonished, Takeshi just stared at her.

“As you saw shortly afterwards, among the people who had come was my brother.”

“That person was Tsuganashi?”

The tall, scary man with black hair, Takeshi was murmuring.

“Un. That was my nii-san. But, he’s different now.”

Mui said in a sorrowful tone.

“His memory has been changed by <Ghost Trailer>”

“Ghost……?”

“<Ghost Trailer>. ‘They are a spirit vanguard’<ref>Not really sure if this is correct original text is 『亡霊の先導者たち』.</ref> and are referred to as a community.”

When Takeshi heard Mui’s quiet voice, feelings of curiosity helped him calm down.

Sitting in front her shoulders were small and slender, with her head hanging down, Takeshi outstretched one hand a little bit.

Takeshi was still hesitant to believe Mui.

It didn’t matter what kind of person Mui was, after coming this far, he had to listen to the end, that much had not changed.

“They are trying to undermine the ideal of a magician.”

Mui had regained her composure.

That did not mean that her feelings of guilt towards Takeshi had vanished, after this Mui would have to face the reality of this issue.

“When you first saw magic, were you afraid? Or were you not afraid?”

Mui asked, Takeshi did not interrupt.

Then, Mui gave a small nod, as if it was natural.

“It’s generally the same reaction when a person sees magic. Scared, startled, because they don’t understand it, they reject it. Then, it would immediately change to anger and disdain. Since ancient times humans have always been afraid of Magicians, so it was decided that we would hide our presence. However, there are people who do not think this way. They are in <Ghost Trailer>.”

If one were to speak of the existence of Magicians, then Takeshi would not have believed it.

However, he had decided to not interrupt her story anymore.

For now, he would let Mui tell him everything and afterwards he would think about it.

“The Magicians desire a peaceful coexistence with humans. I am the same.  In order to facilitate this kind of relationship, Subaru Magic Academy, where I study, forbids the use of magic in front of the human public.

“……Magic, Academy?”

“Yeah. It’s a school for Magicians. This is their school uniform.”

Takeshi remembered the magic school in a certain fantasy movie he had seen.<ref>Harry Potter anyone?</ref>

No matter what, it was impossible for him to just accept it as reality.

“The academy is managed by an organization called <Wizard Breath> the largest community. There are several communities, a Magician can select one of them in accordance with their own ideology and way of life. Among them <Wizard Breath> is a prime example of those who express peaceful coexistence with humans. They held negotiations with government over in this world and were allowed to set up a school.”

“This world?”

“Right. This world. Subaru Magic Academy is located in the Collapsing World where there is another Tokyo.”

“…………”

Honestly, there was a limit.

Several times he saw Mui use magic, but to declare that there was a Magic Academy and another world, it’s not like he was agreeing with a child.

“Somehow……your story is beyond absurd……”

Noticing that Takeshi was dumbfounded, Mui had a wry smile.

“Yeah. It’s probably difficult to suddenly accept everything at once. But, I wanted to share it with you because you are a Magician.  I couldn’t just go and leave you behind without saying anything.”

“You must be joking. I have nothing to do with this.”

“That was before. But it’s different for you now.”

Mui stood up slowly.

“<Ghost Trailer> came after me because I was trying to bring back my brother, but now I think they will also be targeting you.”

“What do you mean?”

“They should have realized that you became a Magician as well.”

Takeshi looked up at Mui who was standing in front of him, the two of them stared at each other.

Takeshi saw himself reflected in Mui’s pupil, he couldn’t say that his face didn’t look exhausted.

With a small sigh Mui said,

“When <Ghost Trailer> captures a Magician they alter their memory to make them their comrade. Nii-san was probably the same way, after all it would be impossible for Nii-san to agree with their ideology.”

“Wa, wait a minute. Then why would those guys chase me?”

Mui stopped Takeshi and continued her story.

She told him about the present situation between her and her brother.

He couldn’t believe what she said.

She couldn’t understand what their reasons were, or why they would aim for her……

Nevertheless, Mui readily bowed her head.

“Yeah. Once you are caught they erase key memories and then replace them with others.”

It’s like gasping for breath after an impact.

Why did she grab his shoulder and cry, Takeshi wanted to give Mui a final warning, but he couldn’t do it.

"No matter how unpleasant it is for you, I want you to come with me. I have no choice but to protect you.”

“Protect me huh. <ref>This is Takeshi speaking in case you are confused, the previous line was Mui’s. Ore is what is used by males when they say I or me.</ref>

“When you get captured by <Trailer> you lose yourself. I want you to follow me. You may dislike the fact that you have become a Magician, I do too. That’s why, I beg of you, please come back together with me.” 

With a deep bow Mui pleaded.

“…………Please.”<ref>She use the humble form of please here.</ref>

Mui remained bowing, Takeshi could not tell her to get out.

Why had it become like this?

While he still didn’t believe everything Mui said, it was true that she was currently being chased by those guys.

Among the things Mui had told him was that those guys were also chasing him, because of his encounter with them earlier, he could safely say that this was a realistic fact.

With a look of half resignation on his face, a sigh was mingled within his words.

“So based on what you have said, what is my best course of action?”

With a look of triumph on her face, Mui slowly surveyed the room.

“Do you have a large mirror? Something like a full length mirror.”

“Mirror? There’s a big one in the bathroom.”

Takeshi had a puzzled look on his face, he wondered why Mui would ask such a thing. 

“Before that, you had better change your clothes, your appearance looks conspicuous.”

Takeshi still wore his Kendo Gi.

Takeshi wanted to say he knew that without her suggestion but for now he changed his clothes.

During the time he changed, Mui waited outside in the hallway.

Takeshi changed his clothes to a T-shirt and a pair of cotton pants and walked out of his room to where Mui was.

“Well, let’s go. To the place where only Magicians can go.”

Downstairs was quiet because his mother had gone out.

Takeshi informed Mui of the location of the bathroom, she had taken their pairs of shoes from the front door and then stood in front of the mirror that was in between the washing machine and the bathtub.

Takeshi stood beside her.

Mui and Takeshi were reflected in the mirror, as usual it looked like just a pair of high school students.

If they had been in the same class, Takeshi probably would not have talked to Mui even after a year, he was usually never seen with any girls nor did he ever talk with them.

However, whether it was the large eyes with black pupils, small raised nose, the slightly reddish tint of her round cheeks, and her tiny and tight mouth, she was quite lovely and left a nice impression.

She was the type that young men secretly dream about.

Takeshi became aware of this after seeing Mui in the mirror.

Under her slightly long bangs, dignified black pupils stared straight at the mirror.

Mui’s hand was on her waist, she pulled out her gun.

Takeshi stepped back involuntarily.

“……No way, that gun……”

It was unexpected, immediately following she rose up.

Mui turned the muzzle around and shot at the mirror without hesitation.

From the gun, a distinctly yellow shape erupted like a destroyed battle position, a yellow particle collided with the mirror at lightning speed. 

The particle rebounded, then scattered and dyed Takeshi’s view in yellow.

“It’s connected.”

No sooner had she said that, she stood on top of the sink and without looking at the mirror took a deep breath and jumped in.

“Eh!?”

When Mui jumped in and disappeared she caused ripples on the surface of the mirror, similar to what the surface of water would have.

Takeshi cried out in wonder and involuntarily staggered backwards.

“Wai, how can she enter? It’s got to be a lie!”

He timidly stretched out his hand and touched the surface of the mirror a little bit, once again silver ripples appeared in a vortex like drops of water had hit it.

“Hyaku!<ref>Hurry!</ref> If you don’t pass through it will close on your body halfway.”

Mui’s voice came through from the other side.

“Bo, body halfway……”

Takeshi released a ''gokuri'' sound with his throat.

His heart beat was fast and audible.

―To tell him to jump……

―Still, he could not completely take in the situation, and being told to go……

Takeshi was puzzled, that being the case, all he could do was raise himself up onto the sink.

It was unexpected, Magic and an Academy……in another world……

A person’s common sense would label it as absurd.

Mui’s voice was calling out on the other side telling him, “Hurry.”

Takeshi put his foot onto the sink, he tightly closed his eyes.

He did not what to believe anymore, he still didn’t understand a single thing.

His eyes certainly saw something resembling supernatural phenomenon, that was magic, <ref>Original text was マジック.</ref> the science that he always believed in had no explanation.

The exception would have been what Mui said.

However, Takeshi did not distrust Mui, concerning her brother she had on such a sad expression when she talked about him, she was not acting and the gloomy expression on her face was not a lie.

It was hard to believe in magic and another world, but her frank desire to regain her brother reached Takeshi.

Takeshi imagined that he would bump his head on the mirror and while his knee was still in the sink he would get thrown to the floor.

It would be real painful, he might crack his head.

Still, he had to go, with his jaw tightly clenched Takeshi jumped into the mirror.

☆☆☆