Antimagic Academy 35th Test Platoon - Volume 01 - Eienherjar wakes Read online

  "Oh, that idiot came to training with a plastic knife before."

  "Look at his waist, is that a sword? Rushing in without a gun, is that a joke?"

  It was as the student said, there was a sheathed sword hanging at Takeru's waist.

  Long eyebrows, closed mouth, jet-black hair with long bangs. His strong appearance could be described directly samurai-like. He stood out even more because the sword was making clanging noises as he walked.

  "That's a Japanese katana; it was a main Japanese weapon before the war."

  "The sword that becomes useless after cutting down two, three people? Why would he hang such a thing there? Is he an idiot?"

  "He IS an idiot, that's why he's been assigned to a Small Fry Platoon."

  Mockery sounded in the hallway, ridiculing laughter reached him from behind his back as he strode past. From behind he looked dignified, from the front he looked like a demon.

  His eyes already looked evil by nature, now that he was furious he looks like a murderer.

  Surrounding students escaped from Takeru's path because he was too scary.

  “...?! Haa...?!”

  Takeru noticed their reactions and changed his demonic expression.

  "No good, no good... patience Kusanagi Takeru... patience... I can't get angry every single time they badmouth swordsmanship...!"

  He sighed deeply, grimacing.

  "I'm different from my past self."

  He put his hand on the katana hanging on his waist. This is the only thing for him, his only way.

  He studied how to use it from the basics ever since he was a child. Apart from that, whether its dexterity or intuition, he's more clumsy than bad at it. He has no literature skills, no talent for painting. His motor skills are excellent, but he has no sports sense, his field intuition is a minus as well.

  And when it comes to skill in handling firearms, he's hopeless.

  His lack of knack for it is referred to as 'curse', not only he can't hit targets he aims for, it's on a completely different level. Bullets actually avoid their target no matter how he aims his muzzle, for example the bullet Takeru shoots at extreme short range will not even graze the target. If he squeezes the trigger at point blank range, by some twist of fate terrible explosion of gun's barrel awaits him.

  That's why, for Kusanagi Takeru his swordsmanship talent is the only thing left for him. Just his sword skills which none will ever praise, instead of that they'll just say there's no use for it in this day and age.

  Takeru calmed himself down, and took his hand off the sword.

  "It can't be helped... I will be criticized and abused, but this is the only way."

  If you were incompetent, you wouldn't enter high level AntiMagic Academy. That means it's fine to aim to become a high level Inquisitor. Takeru didn't think so.

  He aimed for this profession for a very serious reason.

  Money.

  Inquisitors are being paid well.

  To pay off the debt left by my ancestors... My parents are no longer in this world... Also for my beloved sister, no other job offers salary big enough!

  Takeru clenched his fists while looking at the sky outside the window.

  Please forgive me, my ancestors... I need money to survive.

  Now just to make money.

  Different from two years ago, that's all Takeru wanted.

  To become an inquisitor it wasn't enough to enroll in AntiMagic Academy, just as there was an exam from middle school to high school; high schoolers need to earn points by doing harsh quota.

  And that quota... is the biggest problem.

  "...ugh."

  Takeru stood outside of the room, holding his stomach depressed.

  He knocked while enduring a stomachache.

  "It's okay to enter〜."

  From the other side of the door sounded a curt voice.

  "W-wait a mo―"

  Takeru heard a shrill rushed voice, but he wasn't able to stop himself from opening the door anymore.

  The instant the door opened, he understood nothing.

  "............"

  "............"

  For some reason, there was a bunny girl in front of him.

  Furthermore, she was in middle of changing, two white bulges that were quite big for her height were in a condition where they are almost visible. Her chest aside, he looked at the long inorganic ears that were twitching.

  Why is there a bunny girl in the school? Wasn't this school serious before? Or maybe I'm dreaming? Such questions never appeared in Takeru's head.

  Takeru didn't try to understand it. He faced away towards the wall, and cried.

  There was a girl in a white lab coat laughing "puhahaha" while trying to catch breath. Takeru understood the situation instantly.

  Aah, this again...

  "Ki-ki-ki..."

  The bunny girl blushed, ready to scream any moment

  The next phrase would probably be "Kyaa", he expected that judging from her promising expression.

  In such a situation, Takeru was shedding tears for some reason.

  "...why the hell, are you crying?!"

  Her reaction was beyond Takeru's expectations, she instinctively kicked up.

  Takeru was hit in the solar plexus and flew out of the room back into the corridor.

  When he was twitching and foaming. The bunny girl came after him and grabbed his collar.

  "Why are you crying after seeing me as a bunny girl? Thinking normally, it should be me crying right?"

  "...no..."

  "Is my appearance so sad it makes you cry? Or is it so amusing? Are you saying I'm not attractive!?"

  "...Wro...ng... you have a nice body――"

  "!!!? You Pervert! Pervert pervert!!"

  Strangled Takeru turned blue, and the girl's eyes started watering.

  The reason he couldn't explain himself properly is because he was spewing foam out of his mouth, as well as the high speed digital camera's shutter held by the girl in the white coat, and she was laughing while looking at them.

  "Ahahaha. I didn't expect you to cry, I took some nice pictures."

  "It's your doing again...! I told you to stop playing with Usagi all the time...guah."

  "Becaaause she's so weak at old maid, it's a punishment game you know, punishment game. As the name states bunny outfit suits her, and her boobs are big too."

  "Don't get me involved with your cosplay hobby..."

  "Maybe you let yourself get caught on purpose? You timed your entrance to look at Usagi's body? You pervert, perverted brat."

  Even after being ridiculed that much, Takeru wasn't in the mood to get angry. The girl in the white coat was checked the photos on her digital camera.

  "What to do I wonder, maybe I'll spread these photographs on the school premises. Ufu, ufufu, a bunny girl's and a crying guy's pictures, and for no reason too, ufufufu."

  The girl in the white robe made an ominous proclamation, and the half naked girl jumped up.

  "Stop that!"

  Outside of the noisy room, Takeru was crying in the hallway.

  They were the members of 35th Test Platoon also known as "Small Fry Platoon" and the cause of Takeru's stomachache.

  Kusanagi Takeru is the captain of the 『Small Fry Platoon』.

  After entering high school, there is only one way to get promoted.

  General subjects grades aren't enough to let you graduate. The academy's test platoon system, you won't be able to become a second or third year if you don't complete that curriculum.

  It's made to make students more competitive, and allow them to gain investigative experience. The test platoon system is the biggest challenge to face before becoming an inquisitor.

  AntiMagic Academy students are organized into platoons from between students that were pre-selected, and they are to solve incidents in which magic was involved.

  From the start of opening ceremony, they don't get any equipment, information, or support except weapon parts. They even have to obta
in information themselves, that includes strategical planning for battles. Everything is up to students themselves.

  It's the Inquisition Board that determines the structure of each platoon. Changing members of platoon is not allowed. It's not a system where the hopeless people could group up together.

  For example,

  "We should seriously consider what to do, with our group like this.”

  *wham* Hitting a office desk, was a platoon member, Saionji Usagi.

  Sitting across opposite of Takeru is Suginami Ikaruga.

  The last one is Kusanagi Takeru who raised his head.

  "It's been half a year since we were admitted to high school! Half a year! Captain, do you know how many points have we earned?"

  Usagi asked, and Takeru made a depressed face.

  "...z-zero, I think."

  "Yes! Zero! Half a year and still zero! We need to think how to overcome this terrible situation!"

  Takeru shrunk as Usagi's spirit overwhelmed him and gripped his aching stomach.

  Ikaruga who was across, looked lethargic.

  "That being said, there's only three of us. What can we do? There aren't many cases we can handle just by ourselves."

  It was just as Ikaruga said, there was only three members in Small Fry Platoon. Originally test platoons are configurations of six members, so there were three vacant spots in Small Fry Platoon, despite these vacancies, leaving the platoon still resulted with expulsion.

  A person who leaves the school had to be mentally ill or was involved in some strange religion.

  Also about leaving this striking trio... whether good it was good or bad...

  "At this rate we will really be forced to drop out! Are you still okay with that?"

  Saionji Usagi. Aiming to become a Witch Hunter『Dullahan』, her sniping skills aside, unexpectedly she's an idiot who makes ridiculous blunders during missions due to her stage fright. Her other abilities were all average, she makes an effort but it's nothing special. She is earnest but very prideful, she also appears to have a complex about her name, getting angry at people who called her with it.

  "Kusanagi is the only vanguard, it can't be helped."

  Suginami Ikaruga, intended to become a Blacksmith『Regin』. Having top scores after admission, she has perfect maintenance skills and was immediately recommended to join the Inquisition, but refused saying "Don't take away my youthful student life". It's not entirely clear whether she was serious or not. She's only interested in weapons development and modification, her maintenance skills are the top among the first years. From between the platoon members, she knows Takeru from middle school days.

  "...I'm ashamed."

  Finally there was the swordsmanship geek, Kusanagi Takeru. Hoping to join Knights『Spriggan』, zero shooting ability, zero maintenance skills, zero intelligence-gathering skills, general studies - nearly zero. He was confident with the sword, but had no opportunities to use it. When his sword is mocked blood rushes to his head resulting in a high chance of going out of control and dying an honourable death due to recklessness. Originally he wasn't the captain, but after two people quit, he was forced to become one. He couldn't influence fighting potential too much because he's unable to use guns. Even now he's no good.

  "Don't apologize like that! You're the captain! Please have more self-awareness!"

  Usagi hit the desk, *wham*, her face displayed irritation.

  Takeru scratched his head with a finger.

  "Even if you say that, basically... I'm not cut out for it."

  "P-please don't say such things! We're not in a position to say such things! And I have never thought of you as unsuitable for the captain position!"

  "——Do you have knotholes for eyes?!"

  On the side of the two discussing, Ikaruga let out a happy laugh.

  "Usagi-chan."

  "Please do not call me by my name! Don't add '-chan' in!"

  "To Usagi it looks like Kusanagi overburdened himself, so she wants him to do his best."

  "I don't really... but I really think Kusanagi is suited for the captain position."

  "Oh? How, come?"

  "U-umm like he worries a lot? Or working hard even though there are no results? And where he... how he feels about his comrades like... trusting maybe?"

  "Come on, isn't that the same for you?"

  Usagi's face turned beet red.

  Seeing her reaction, Ikaruga pursued further.

  "A man who can only use a sword, a woman who can only snipe, furthermore both of you are disadvantaged by your own specialization. You are so alike, you fit each other."

  My, my, Ikaruga shook her head.

  Usagi and Takeru looked towards her at the same time.

  "What, why are both of you staring at me."

  ""You're not the one to talk!!""

  "Oh my, really. We're comrades then. So we should be able to work together well."

  ""Why so positive?""

  The two responded with a tsukkomi to Ikaruga's proper attitude, the usual scene was back.

  That's how thanks to meaningless chatter the Small Fry Platoon activities are usually ending without them taking any action again.

  "Anyway. We're lacking information, do you have anything Kusanagi?"

  "I have something... but don't expect too much."

  Takeru put his hands in his pocket, taking out a piece of creased and torn paper he handed it to Usagi. It contained valuable information he managed to collect in the past few days. The state of the paper describes just how much effort he put in. It's truly Takeru's blood, sweat, and tears.

  Usagi goes "Mmm" as she checks the note.

  "Eh... Fifth district's Sakatake-san, is rumoured to have a potted plant moving like tentacles... Somewhere in the back alley of school district there's a wall marked with runic symbols... Every morning after waking up, there's a smell of an old man on their pillows..."

  "The plant is a mimose. The runic words in the back alley are just a graffiti. The pillows are simply old. All of these can be easily written off as misinformation."

  Ikaruga cut in after half of it was read out.

  "All of it is useless."

  "...I'm ashamed, even though I tried hard."

  "This is really bad, there's only half a year left... half a year and we need 200 points! By securing insignificant F-Class and E-Class Magical Heritage, even the dirt would pile up and become a mountain, that would be enough. But we no longer have time for that!"

  Usagi lamented over their hopeless situation.

  Takeru felt similar to some extent.

  There was a ranking for Magical Heritage and magical incidents. The more powerful the history of theirs is, the more points you get. F is 5 points, E is 10, D is 20, and C is 30 points. Students are not allowed to take on harder cases.

  Certainly, if we dealt with E and F level cases we would have reached the quota. But now it's too late, we don't have enough time for that. If anything, we should go for high level ones.

  Even without thinking about it much, that was the only way if they wanted to succeed.

  Takeru was as worried as Usagi over the issue.

  "...it can't be helped."

  Ikaruga brought up a 3d image and opened up one of the folders. There was high quality information written in it, one that Takeru could never obtain no matter how hard he worked.

  "It's an irregular type that was supposed to be disposed of during Witch Hunt War... that's information on a D-ranked Magical Heritage. It's not really my field, but I'll look for you guys. Ikaruga-onee-san will help you with this pinch."

  ""Oooh!!""

  Takeru and Usagi leaned together side by side to look at displayed text.

  "Targeted by the witch hunters in the initial war. First edition book of Andolf Jaeger's 『Trackless Psalm』. Only original and the first edition contain magic power, presumably Andolf himself was applying magic to them during the first edition printing. It's a collection of nonsensical poems with no sense of integrity, but when you
read the poem from the beginning till the end, the magical technique encrypted in it activates the book's mental pollution magic. Readers go mad, gouging their own eyes out and commit suicide by biting off their tongues."

  Takeru and Usagi go pale after hearing such astringent description from Ikaruga.

  It's a Magical Heritage made just for killing people. It was definitely a D-rank case, and certainly an irregular type. Andolf Jaeger's had many fans even these days, it's a very valuable book from the collector's standpoint.

  "The original has already been sealed, and four out of five first edition books are in Inquisition's possession. One of the books disappeared from the scene while they were being seized. There's evidence that it was taken by someone, but the culprit hasn't been caught yet. That happened a week ago."

  From the two on the side leaked voices of admiration, Ikaruga continued further.

  "The important part starts from here, just the other day the culprit who got away with the remaining book was found. The trading organization he belonged to was destroyed in a sweep a week ago. The guy is on the run, and tries to sell it to another organization. The transaction is planned for today at midnight."

  "Fufu, how is it?"

  Ikaruga said proudly after she finished.

  "Amazing, how on earth did you acquire all of that information? How did you pinpoint him so easily? Just when did you investigate this, Suginami."

  "I didn't. There's no way I can do that, such thorough investigation. It comes from our year's top, 18th platoon."

  "...haa?"

  "It's information that comes from 18th platoon's devices I hacked. It was a piece of cake."

  "...wait, I just heard something I can't ignore. How could you do that."

  "I even shifted the transaction date written in the original file by one day. Their protection against hacking was really poor, information management is part of a Covert'sBanshee's duty as well, hahahaha."

  "Don't 'hahaha' me, isn't that a crime?!"

  "According to school rules, you can use any means of intelligence gathering."

  "Even so, it's dirty to steal something that someone else worked hard for!"

  "It's too late to say that, and it's too late to leave the interrogation to others as well."

  "Wha... even so, we should go to the 18th platoon, speak with them about this, and leave it to them."