Part 7[edit]
(November 10th – Lanai – Star Lounge Shot Bar – From the camera in a handheld game system left on the counter)
Not all of the people had been controlled by Saronia’s magic.
Kamijou was shocked to hear President Roberto Katze say that, but he also seriously considered the possibility.
Someone was controlling the American government for their own benefit.
This person had used various methods to get politicians and government workers in their control.
However, there were some people that acted purely for their country and thus stubbornly refused to be used as pawns.
In that case…
“So whoever is really behind this uses the realistic methods as much as they can and then use magic to forcibly control the rest? So they’re eating into America both above and below the surface like that?”
“Probably.”
It was possible Saronia’s magic was not primarily a means of controlling people.
If that was the case, it had some effect that looked that way when used in a certain way.
It was similar to recklessly using the heat produced by a motor as a space heater.
However, that power was still quite a threat. It had been used to take control of an entire nation. This was especially true as the nation in question was the nation known as the world police and as the greatest power of the science side when it came to resources and economics.
And there was a single target that was both deeply involved with the American government and could not be controlled by realistic methods.
This was of course Roberto Katze.
As the president, he had sensed the occult encroaching on the government and the improper use of the Trigger. He had then done the unheard-of by heading out on his own without even the secret service guarding him. For someone trying to control the country from behind the scenes, no one could be more of a problem.
Was the enemy trying to get the president in a situation where they could control him in one way or another?
Or were they simply going to kill him so his authority would transfer to someone easier to control?
That man was the biggest target, but he had a daring smile on his face.
He said, “And in some cases, the occult could be used only as an example. You know, ‘Do what I say if you don’t want to end up like that.’ Or maybe it’s being used like an indulgence. If this rebellion is discovered and it turns out these people are going to have to take responsibility, the magician could just use her occult power to control them and make them look like a pure victim that was merely controlled.”
They did not know the specific conditions required for the magic.
Even if Saronia could only control at most a dozen or so people and could control them no better than poorly-made robots, no one could prove it.
The entirety of the US Congress would insist they had been controlled by some occult power.
All they needed was proof that some strange power was involved to some extent.
People who only believed what they saw would be tricked into thinking the tiny bit of the occult displayed before them had spread to every corner of the government.
“Eh? But…it’s the occult, right? We’re not talking about scientific esper powers here. What good will that be as a testimony?”
“Before the war, not much. But all sorts of mysterious phenomena were detected during World War III. The world is beginning to recognize the existence of the occult. Even if it is not accepted as official evidence in a trial, the people like me who are higher up than the courts and have started to come into contact with that darkness of the world might sympathize with supposed victims of the occult. In some cases, that kind of person has special measures he can take.”
“Like a presidential pardon…?”
“I doubt an emotional argument like that would be enough to convince someone, but it would be enough to help open them up to the idea. For those doing the tempting, that would be enough. After all, they have no need to actually make good on their promises.” Roberto Katze sighed. “When I think about it, it was odd that Roseline and I noticed that anything was odd. We are complete amateurs when it comes to the occult. We are not specialists like that Birdway, so would we really be able to tell at a glance whether someone was being controlled by the occult or not? I doubt it’s that simple. Magic power? Spells? I don’t know anything about those things, but I bet you need to have at least a working knowledge of it all to tell.”
“Then what did you notice?”
“An act. Insurance. Faking it. The ones who joined Saronia’s side via realistic methods wanted to look like they were victims of the occult in case they were ever found out. That was why an amateur like me was able to notice the change. In fact, if an expert like Birdway saw them, she may have been able to tell that they were not acting how someone being controlled would.”
“Who is it?” asked Kamijou