Editing Rental Magica Volume 2: Chapter 1 (section)

===1===

Dear Itsuki:

When you receive this letter, you should be having your summer vacation right?

Although I wanted to be at the ending ceremony, but that detestable <Organisation>’s procedures, most likely wouldn’t give me the opportunity. Files, files, files, files, files, files, files! Although I knew that the <Organisation> was like a government agency, I didn’t know it would be this exaggerated!

That… although I know that the previous <Night> and the tender I put in were excluded, so it would be troublesome, but these procedures are slow, it’s really too slow! As the leader of <Goetia>, I have learnt the lesson that an overly large organization would decay.

Anyway, the part that the <Organisation> was keeping an eye on because of the previous matter, I have almost finished everything, so I could write this letter to report to you. You should tell your lazy cat-crazy onmyouji too!

And then—

I want to tell Itsuki something.

Thanks to the files being passed around by the <Organisation>, I am now in Paris. Summer in Japan seems to be very hot, so the fact that I am able to spend this period of time comfortably in France, this makes me very happy. When I was searching in the archives of the <Organisation>, I found a name that is linked to you as well.

That is…

…No, I’ll not mention it now!

I should be able to return to Japan next week, so I’ll tell you properly at that time. Before I go back, Itsuki should train bit by bit! Anyway you are without any ability, so your studies on magic should have no advancements, right? Honami can’t handle it alone, otherwise… When I return, it’ll be fine if I take you on for a little while. Eh, but, I will want an equal payment!

Then, I wish you a good magic.

Adilisia Lenn Mathers



“ – It’s really like Adilisia-san’s style of doing things.” It was morning, before the letter box of the administrative building.

As if stretching in boredom, Iba Itsuki couldn’t help but smile wryly.

He seemed like a youth who was younger than his actual age. His black hair was cut short, on that gentle and quiet face, his right eye was covered with a black eye patch that seemed to belong to a pirate. But on that youth’s body, even that eye patch seemed to give him a comical appearance.

“A good magic… is that so?”

He looked at the letter again.

There was a stamp that had the famous lion and heron and a magical circle at the bottom. That stamp was not made using an ink pad, but it was using the same wax like the seal of the letter. The letter itself had a faint rose watermark, and it smelled a little like flowers.

Itsuki always felt that he could see that kind of proudness from the letter, as if saying “if you want to read this letter, then read it!” from the sender. Itsuki gently touched his eye patch, then pushed the letter into his pocket.

(……)

He breathed in deeply, so that he could organize his feelings properly.

“…Al, alright, I have no choice but to escape…”

He relaxed his nervous expression, Itsuki persuaded himself in this way.

– Although he had been distracted by the unexpected letter, but his battle plan had only began now.

“…”

He stopped his breathing, leaning his back on the ledge of the main door. Ituski felt the feeling of old wood, stealthily touching the door handle.

The refreshing feeling of the rays of the summer sun shining on Itsuki’s eye lids.

(Ah, it’s the summer vacation now!)

Looking at this bright light, Itsuki finally understand this. Earlier that letter had clearly written ‘summer vacation’, but he had not felt the reality of the situation.

That was right! Since it was the summer vacation, then he had to play all he could. But this summer vacation, Itsuki had not been to the sea or mountain, even the all-nighter video games that he would play with Yamada and the rest every year, and the promise to go fishing with his cousin Yuuka in Canada, all these had not been fulfilled.

Of course he had to do this.

Or it should be said, this was a top priority topic.

The sounds of crickets chirping travelled from somewhere. Although the location of the administrative building of <Astral> was a western building that was built between tall buildings and seemed strange, but there were quite a lot of vegetation. Or to be more accurate, they had treated that piece of land that was untreated for various reasons as a courtyard.

Itsuki hid behind one of the trees.

His eyes surveyed his surroundings.

Alright, no problem!

His right eye didn’t hurt too.

Previously, he had been caught here once. Itsuki had been discovered because he had not been paying attention for a short moment, in the end she dragged him back without listening to his explanation.

After a week went by, Itsuki had practiced his plans at escaping. In his house arrest, he had scrutinized the scenes that he could see from the window, and had found the geographic information using the internet; then he had checked the patrols of the whole organization, discovering the time where the watch would be the weakest, and then using his right eye to check the effective range of the magic alarm system.

(This time I have to…!)

Determination and anticipation made him feel impatient.

He crept towards the narrow gap between the two buildings. No matter what, that magic dog was here. If he accidentally woke it up, then his hard work would go to waste.

Itsuki progressed step by step.

Every step he took, meant that the distance to his summer vacation was lessened.

(Almost…)

Sweat dripped down steadily, even these sweat made him feel good.

(Almost…)

To reach the street there was ten meters… eight meters…six meters…

(Just a little more…)

Through his eye patch, only Itsuki’s right eye saw it.

From the wall of the large building in front of him, a girl’s face popped out softly.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Itsuki shouted and fell back. He fell on the asphalt road, and then because of the pain that struck the tail of his spine he jumped up.

“Ow, ouuuuuuuuch-!”

The girl passed through the wall, running towards the youth who was in pain.

It was a long haired girl.

She was probably fourteen, fifteen years old, those shining eyes and energetic atmosphere, made a deep impression on people—she was that kind of girl: as long as she was in class, everyone would be able to get along well.

But this girl’s situation was different, her body was translucent and could be passed through.

“Kurobane-san…”

“I’m, I’m sorry. I thought that as of today, you wouldn’t be scared anymore…”

The ghost girl, Kurobane Manami bowed her head and apologized with a tone that said she was at loggerheads.

“N,No, it, it depends on the situation…’

“Situation?”

“Eh, eh. That, this, there are many reasons…”

Itsuki tolerated the pain, waving his hands in front of his face. No matter what, he had to smoke through this situation.

Kurobane was not an ‘enemy’.

Or it should be said, she was the only person who stood on his side in the entire administrative building. She was different from the other members, she was welcomed in after Itsuki had become the president, an intern student who had been personally invited by Itsuki. Now that the person who had discovered him was her, it could be said that is was luck within misfortune.

“Itsuki?”

“Ah, that…”

Itsuki thought frantically, at the same time he nodded his head awkwardly. If it were Kurobane, perhaps she might understand if he told her the truth.

“Actually…”

He didn’t even finish speaking—

“Pre~si~dent~ what are you doing~?”

A cold hand suddenly gripped Itsuki’s shoulder.

“…!”

Itsuki was pulled over forcefully, his vision also turned around.

When Itsuki noticed it, that youth had opened the fan in front of him.

The youth wore a safety windbreaker, on his shoulders, head and in his arms were cats, he had dark grey hair.

“Neko…Nekoyahiski-san…”

“Oh dear, I wanted to say that you were taking a walk in the early morning~ but it seemed rather strange. Your body check has not finished, what’s wrong, President?”

“…Mew?”

“Mew!”

“Miaow~”

“Meow~”

Four cats with different fur colours of black, white, spotted and trio-coloured, purred as if in agreement.

“Aaaahh~ Today’s purrs are beautiful too~ they resonate through tri-sahasra-maha-sahasra-loka-dhatu<ref>tri-sahasra-maha-sahasra-loka-dhatu: major world system</ref> ~ even the bells from Jetavana Monastery<ref>Jetavana Monastery: Jetavana was one of the most famous of the Buddhist monasteries in India. It was the second monastery donated to Gautama Buddha, after the Veluvana in Rajagaha.</ref> will turn green with jealousy, even the Maitreya Bodhisattva<ref>According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. </ref> from fifty-six years ago will listen attentively. No matter if it’s their calls, their tiny bodies, their fur colours, cats are definitely marvelous! This existence is so outstanding!”

Itsuki gathered his wits, retorting to Nekoyashiki who was praising the cats drunkenly:

“That… Compared to that, haven’t you checked enough? Be,because I have been undergoing body examinations ever since three days ago and I’ve been staying here ever since then!”

“What are you talking about? President. We moved the equipment out from the storage room with much~difficulty, if we don’t complete it using this opportunity, wouldn’t we be wasting the rare summer vacation?”

Itsuki wanted to shout: it isn’t that case!

Wouldn’t the summer vacation pass just like this?

Anyway, shouldn’t it be more free, more fun? Especially, since they were talking about the summer vacation of the first year at high school…

“…Eh?”

“—Ah! Found him, Nekoyashiki-san~”

This time, a girl carrying a large red bag came running over.

“Mikan?”

Just like what the meaning of what that bag represented, she was probably eight years old.

Not only that, her clothing were as if suiting the bag, she wore a red and white blouse and a red skirt—that was the genuine outfit of a witch.

“Nekoyashiki-san!”

Katsuragi Mikan waved her sleeve, as she pointed at the youth.

“Ah? Me?”

“Yes! Nekoyashiki-san, you let Sohryu and Byakko run into my garden again right!”

“Eh? Is it…like that?”

Nekoyashiki frantically looked at his arms.

At this moment, two of the cast seemed to want to escape Mikan who seemed cross—a white and three-coloured cat squirmed into his wind breaker.

“Ah, hey! Byakko, Sohryu.”

“Mew, mew!”

“Miaow~”

The two cats let out weakening calls, bowing their heads.

“Really! Didn’t I tell you, I’m doing some research on morning glories, I told you not to let Byakko and Sohryu to run into the garden right? The pots have been messed up thoroughly by them! As their owner, you have to let them listen to you properly!”

Mikan lectured with her hands on her hips. It was clearly the summer vacation, but Mikan still carried her bag, it probably was because she was doing research for her homework.

She turned to Itsuki and said:

“Ah, good morning President Onii-chan. Ne, President Onii-chan should say something!”

“Eh, eh, that, that’s true…”

Then Itsuki started laughing dryly.

(…)

Taking hold of the opportunity when Mikan turned on Nekoyashiki as she was unable to forgive him, Itsuki slowly edged towards the wall.

He had reached this step, Itsuki did not give up on escaping.

The plan can still continue, his summer vacation would not vanish!

Itsuki held this strong thought, stealthily walking: -exchanging glances with Kurobane.

“Ah…!”

“Ah!”

Opening her mouth slightly, Kurobane nodded at him.

(It’s alright, escape now…)

Her pink lips seemed to say. Perhaps she had probably figured out Itsuki’s plans from his moves, Kurobane secretly made a way for him.

(Thank, thank you…)

Itsuki wept gratefully. This time, he was really going to step towards his summer vacation.

He dashed out.

In a split moment—

The vision of his right eye under the eye patch contorted.

“Eh—!?”

“I pray under the power of the moon. Using the protection of the wind and the mistletoe, stop the calamity in the southwest.”

Words that held power sounded in the morning air.

At the same time, something fell from the front and stabbed into the alley.

The asphalt beside Itsuki’s foot cracked into fragments, the path in front of him was also cracked, blocking any chance of Itsuki moving forward.

After the grey dust settled down, a cute mistletoe dart sprang out from the middle.

“…Ah, ah, ah!”

Itsuki looked at the sky in despair.

Towards the ripples of this magic, he was so familiar with ‘seeing’ it that it was becoming detestable. Or it should be said, because this was the day that the witch was not here, so Itsuki had picked this day to escape.

“—You’re so noisy in the morning, what’s wrong?”

A girl sitting on a broom was floating midair calmly.

She was sitting horizontally on a broom’s with ogham http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogham  Old irish words carved on it, shoulder length brown hair swung with the morning wind. The girl’s straight nose bridge gave people a chilly 
feeling, her eyes under the thin framed spectacles were a pair of blue eyes that were as clear as a lake and gave a chilly feeling. Before the summer vacation, she always wore a sailor suit under her cloak, but now she had changed to an elegant western suit.

“…Honami-san.”

“Ah, welcome back, Honami Onee-chan!”

The witch smiled at Kurobane and Mikan in reply.

“I’m back. Kurobane-san, Mikan and Nekoyashiki-san.”

Honami Takase Ambler—an official member of the Celts Magic.Witch’s witchcraft lesson, sketched a bow in the air. She learned how to bow properly when she was studying in London, no matter from what angle it looked very elegant.

Followed by—

“Then, what are you doing—President?”

Honami turned around, looking at the youth plastered to the wall of the building.

“…”

However, the youth’s eyes weren’t locked on the earlier magic, or the girl.

--It was the end of the broom.

At the end of the broom Honami was sitting on, there were four large baggage.

Itsuki couldn’t help but press a hand to his chest. It couldn’t be said that it was a prediction, but it was a was a feeling of confirmation that made his heart beat quickly. No, perhaps it should be an obvious feeling of fear?

He extended a trembling finger, pointing at the baggage.

“…That, Honami, that is…?”

“Reference books for the presidential duties and books on magic. I borrowed around a hundred books from the <Organistaion>. If we had to buy them, the treasury of <Astral> would not be able to handle the amount.”

“…A hundred books?”

Crack! Something in Itsuki’s mind seemed to shatter.

Ah ah, this was the fatal wound! It was the last attack, the mortal wound that a human body would not be able to bear.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Of course these are to strengthen President’s lessons. Since it is a rare long vacation, I’m planning to officially proceed from today onwards?”

Under the tacit understanding of everyone, Honami’s two jobs were these.

--The secretary and the president’s educator of <Astral>

“…”

With the despairing blow, Itsuki knelt on the ground.

Behind Itsuki’s kneeling body, there was an old bronze plate on the wall of the building, on the metal plate were these words.

<Magician Dispatch Company. Astral

– We rent magicians to meet your needs>