MQufMZYT

1
2However, the story changed when he became a direct descendant of the Yotsuba Family. He is not unqualified to become the husband of the eldest daughter of the Saegusa Family, both in terms of blood relations and power.”
3
4“I mean, Tatsuya-kun is even two years younger than me!?”
5
6“I don’t think an age difference of just two years would be a big problem though. …Does he even look younger than you to begin with? You look younger than Tatsuya-kun from my point of view.”
7
8“How rude! If you’re going to say that, then you don’t look any much older than him, you know!”
9
10“In what universe do I look younger than Tatsuya-kun?”
11
12“ ‘Oh, I can’t do this,’ ‘Oh, the terminal isn’t working right,’ ‘Oh, it won’t print out a report.’ You’re always just cozying up to Tatsuya-kun! Actually, isn’t it you who likes Tatsuya-kun more!?”
13
14“I have Shuu, you know!”
15
16“That’s not a reason to like or not like Tatsuya-kun, now is it!”
17
18Mayumi and Mari glared at each other face to face, then immediately averted their eyes.
19
20Both their faces were red. Normally, this would be the scene where they would exchange empty smiles, and move on to a completely different topic from their petty argument.
21
22However, that didn’t happen this time.
23
24Mari ended up flustered from their exchange of inflammatory words, but she immediately recovered her serious composure. A smile could be seen on Mari’s face as her eyes once again fell upon Mayumi.
25
26“Mayumi, what do you really want to do?”
27
28Mayumi, surprised by Mari’s unimaginably serious voice, looked back at Mari.
29
30“What’s with you all of a sudden?”
31
32Mari stared at Mayumi fixedly. That face could not possibly be joking.
33
34“It doesn’t benefit Tatsuya-kun’s sister, but is also holds no real downsides for you, Mayumi.”
35
36“What’re you getting at? I mean, I don’t think of Tatsuya-kun as anyone special…”
37
38“You don’t have to say any more. Just shut up and listen.”
39
40Having heard Mari’s strong words, Mayumi stopped making up excuses.
41
42“I intend to know why you haven’t had a boyfriend up until now. Regarding your lacking pursuit of a relationship between you and the eldest sons of the Juumonji or Itsuwa Families, I understand that it’s a modest protest against the future that was decided for you.”
43
44Mayumi didn’t object to Mari’s statement. It wasn’t that Mari hit the mark with her words, but Mayumi wanted to listen to everything Mari had to say first.
45
46“Didn’t you always tell me you never looked at Juumonji as a possible boyfriend? Is that because he’s the type of partner who would notice right away? Juumonji has always been a fellow Magician from the Juumonji Family to you, not even a fellow student. That’s why he sees you as Mayumi, the eldest daughter of the Saegusa Family, not someone who came from an all-girl’s school.”
47
48Mayumi listened to Mari’s words without saying a word nor showing a reaction. Her expression was reminiscent of a Noh mask.
49
50“You’re looking at him to see if he’s suitable as a member of the Ten Master Clans, not if he’s suitable as a partner. There’s no way feelings of love would arise like that. Respect, maybe, but not love.”
51
52Mari continued to speak, not paying attention to Mayumi’s lack of response.
53
54“But Tatsuya-kun is different, isn’t he? You were first introduced as someone older than him, and gradually came to like him, and then found out he was from the Ten Master Clans. I would like to consider my usage of like to mean affection towards the opposite sex, but I wouldn’t go so far as to imply it. However, you at least like him. Am I wrong?”
55
56“You are not wrong. I don’t think my liking of Tatsuya-kun is love, but everything else is as you said.”
57
58Mayumi answered disinterestedly; Mari nodded.
59
60“Incidentally, the person that you like is the person that they allowed to date the eldest daughter of the Saegusa Family. This would be your first experience.”
61
62“Hmm, that’s right.”
63
64“Well then, what’s your first step? No, wait, that’s not how this should be asked. Mayumi.”
65
66“What?”
67
68“Do you just want to wait without doing anything? Or do you actually want to do something?”
69
70“I don’t want to be passive, but what can I do?”
71
72“I want to tell you, ‘Find the answer yourself,’ but yeah. Well, here’s an idea; you have the chance to confirm how you really feel about Tatsuya-kun.”
73
74Mayumi said, “I know,” then she stopped.
75
76“What do you mean by that?”
77
78“If you know if you have feelings for Tatsuya-kun, you can align your interests with your father’s. You can act like you are being used by your father, but in reality it’d be you who’s actually using him.”
79
80“Using that sly dog, you say… That’s tempting.”
81
82Mayumi stopped short of hinting at an evil smile without realizing it.
83
84“…But that would involve a lot of work.”
85
86“You’ll know that once you actually try dating him, now won’t you?”
87
88“Date someone I don’t like? Rather, someone I’m not sure I like or not?”
89
90Realizing they had almost gone full circle with the denial, Mayumi surrendered and spoke her thoughts.
91
92“That wouldn’t be too weird, would it? Isn’t that a common saying? ‘Let’s start by being friends,’ or something along those lines?”
93
94“That’s not what you’d say to someone you don’t really know. We’re bound to start out as friends with our current relationship. And just what do I do when that fails? Say I dated him, and we went straight to being engaged. I can’t back off with just ‘Turns out being lovers won’t work out’ after going through all of that!”
95
96“So that’s how it is?”
97
98“Of course!”
99
100“I see… Well then, it seems your only choice is to date Tatsuya-kun without his sister finding out.”
101
102“How did you even reach that conclusion!?”
103
104“Didn’t you want to confirm it for yourself? How you feel about Tatsuya-kun?”
105
106“I told you that wasn’t the case…”
107
108“Well then, why are you discussing this with me?”
109
110Mayumi’s expression froze.
111
112“Haven’t you always come to me when you’re troubled? Even though it may be your first time dating someone who’s already engaged, isn’t being unable to solve this on your own the problem? If you think hard enough, shouldn’t you have just declined the proposal? Since he’s already engaged, the situation is borderline impossible as it stands.”
113
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115
116
117
118“…I did decline. But that sly dog would keep bringing it up again and again.”
119
120“Your father probably has seen through that, you know. The fact you don’t really object to it.”
121
122“……”
123
124“Mayumi. At this rate, you’d just end up going with the flow, indecisive until the end.”
125
126“Even if you say that…”
127
128Mayumi was stumped. She might break down if she went any further than this. Mari pretentiously turned her eyes to the multifunctional military watch wrapped around her left wrist.
129
130“——Our time’s up. Mayumi, you should properly think it over.”
131
132“Yeah. …Thank you, Mari.”
133
134Mari stood up while Mayumi also nonchalantly left her seat.
135
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138
139
140Tatsuya who had just arrived at home saw he had mail, which was unusual and forced a frown out of him. It wasn’t an email, but rather a discrete communication using the message board for First High’s students and alumni.
141
142The sender was Mari.
143
144Tatsuya thought that she might have sent it to the wrong person, but he couldn’t check that without opening the letter. He also thought of opening it using a trick to prevent the read receipt, but it would lead to a more cumbersome after effect. He wouldn’t mind if he didn’t have to meet Mari afterwards, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
145
146Even though he had a hunch this would lead to a meddlesome situation, he opened the message.
147
148The first thing he concluded was the message was, indeed, for him.
149
150The message started out as a simple seasonal greeting, asking about his recent condition, and how he had been doing as of late. It was unexpectedly written in a polite manner. It was probably the result of her military education.
151
152The heart of the mail was very simple.
153
154It was merely a question of whether they could meet the following night.
155
156It would be a good idea to keep this a secret.
157
158Well, normally that would be the case, but now that he had a fiancée, he needed her permission to meet a girl alone.
159
160Without sending a reply, he knocked on the door leading to the room next to his.
161
162“Watanabe-senpai said she wants to meet with Onii-sama?”
163
164Tatsuya saw abundant suspicion in Miyuki’s expression. If it was just a little flicker of doubt, he would write it off as an inevitability, but being distrusted to this extent was totally unexpected.
165
166“I’m as surprised as you are about this sudden invitation. The last time I saw her was during the graduation ceremony.”
167
168Tatsuya was nonchalantly playing the innocent.
169
170“Then what is her intention with this?”
171
172Miyuki didn’t think that Tatsuya was cheating on her, it was actually Mari who she was doubting.
173
174Tatsuya (in Miyuki’s perspective) is a very attractive man. Even though it was known that Mari has a boyfriend, Tatsuya would be a very desirable partner to have in an affair (again, in Miyuki’s perspective).
175
176“It isn’t a love affair.”
177
178He wasn’t only aware of what his sister was thinking, but he also frankly expressed that he saw through her.
179
180Miyuki’s face quickly became red.
181
182While observing his innocent sister, Tatsuya feigned ignorance and continued speaking.
183
184“Chiba Naotsugu-san is a good lover for Watanabe-senpai.”
185
186“…She might have had a fight with him.”
187
188Miyuki hid her embarrassment by stating her opinion with a disgruntled tone.
189
190“If she just wanted to grumble, she would have called Saegusa-senpai, right?”
191
192Miyuki’s easy to understand behavior made Tatsuya chuckle during their exchange.
193
194“…No, actually, it’s the opposite.”
195
196Taken by surprise, she put on a serious, albeit dazzling, expression.
197
198“The opposite… So that means Saegusa-senpai vented to Watanabe-senpai?”
199
200Tatsuya put on a completely serious expression and nodded back to Miyuki’s question.
201
202“It isn’t limited to just Watanabe-senpai. If a First High alumni had something to discuss, considering what’s happened recently, it would most likely be about the Yotsuba Family matter.”
203
204“Ah, that’s right.”
205
206There are also people who give suggestions without considering the time or place, and merely say it for their own convenience. Miyuki’s first thoughts went to that by reflex, but she also understood that there are some exceptions to this.
207
208“Even if you think about it, I’m going to ignore the exceptions we can’t do anything about.”
209
210Miyuki’s thoughts were plainly seen through again by Tatsuya.
211
212“……”
213
214Miyuki’s white skin became vermillion again.
215
216Without concerning himself with her looking at the floor, Tatsuya continued his reasoning.
217
218“If I were to guess as to who will take action regarding the notification given by the Yotsuba Family, the most likely culprits would be those from the Ten Master Clans. I assume that Saegusa-senpai was dragged into a scheme conceived by the Head of the Saegusa Family. Then, the puzzled Saegusa-senpai went to Watanabe-senpai for advice. Considering their relationship, this invitation isn’t a mystery at all.”
219
220“It can’t be!”
221
222Miyuki vigorously lifted up her face which still had a tinge of red to it.
223
224Intense anxiety surfaced on her face.
225
226“Why are you panicking like that?”
227
228He couldn’t understand why Miyuki got panicked, because of that Tatsuya paused his reasoning and asked why.
229
230“Could it be that… the Saegusa Family is scheming to make Onii-sama Senpai’s fiancée?”
231
232Miyuki’s thought took Tatsuya by surprise. This would definitely warrant her concern.
233
234“…No matter how you look at it, isn’t that progressing a little too quick?”
235
236Of course it wasn’t an impossibility, but Tatsuya was of the mindset it wouldn’t happen even if the chance was there. Mayumi’s nature wasn’t one that would be obediently married as a political piece.
237
238“I wonder…”
239
240Miyuki and Mayumi shared that trait, neither would readily become a puppet of their own parent. But if Mayumi shared her father’s decision——it would be a whole different story.
241
242“No, it isn’t like that.”
243
244To shake off her anxiety, she spoke words of denial to herself.
245
246“So then Onii-sama, what are you going to do with Watanabe-senpai’s invitation?”
247
248“I don’t have the luxury of ignoring it. Plus, I’m curious about why she went through so much trouble to contact me.”
249
250Tatsuya nuanced his words to mean “there is no other way” so he could avoid distressing Miyuki.
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255
256The next day, in the afternoon at 5:55 P.M., Tatsuya visited a café near the National Defense Academy’s Special War Skills Research Department’s auxiliary building.
257
258To make it brief, the Special War Skill Research Department is a course with a curriculum for Magicians focused on research and also training for combat Magicians. They conduct a lot of joint research and also have a secondary building near the Magic University.
259
260The Special War Skill Research Department’s students have been exempted from a dormitory lifestyle. Even so, Mari made the location for their appointment to be near the school building due to military drills they have on Sunday.
261
262Tatsuya arrived 5 minutes before the meeting time. Then at 5:59 P.M., he saw Mari’s figure.
263
264“Hey, sorry to make you wait. It’s been a while Tatsuya-kun.”
265
266“Yes, it has.”
267
268Under the coat, Mari was wearing plain clothes. Her pants-suit combo wasn’t rare in the university, nor in government or company offices.
269
270Chances are that she got it from the National Defense Academy, and it was a uniform.
271
272“I rented a room in this area.”
273
274Mari gave an explanation when she noticed Tatsuya gazing at her clothing. It seems she picked this place not because of being near the school, but rather that it was conveniently close to her place.
275
276“That’s right, we also had a drill today too… I feel bad for calling you out at this hour.”
277
278“Let’s ignore that for now. What’s your business with me?”
279
280Tatsuya wasn’t trying to push Mari away. Just like she had said, it was quite late for a man and woman to be meeting. Since they were close to the National Defense Academy, it wasn’t a strange sight to see students visiting this place… But to avoid misunderstandings, they decided to finish their matters quickly.
281
282“That’s right. We both have classes tomorrow, so let’s save the idle chatter for next time.”
283
284After stating her piece, she ordered a hot coffee from the terminal on top of the shop’s desk.
285
286“But I’d rather not leave with just having water. Please wait a little bit.”
287
288Just as Mari said, she didn’t say anything until her drink arrived. She was planning her words during the lull.
289
290By happenstance, the shop they were meeting at wasn’t an “old school” shop. It didn’t even take a minute from ordering for the completion ring to sound out. Mari came back from the counter and sat in front of Tatsuya, suddenly moving her face close to his.
291
292“Tatsuya, what do you think about Mayumi?”
293
294Without any preface, she whispered a question.
295
296“I think she’s a great Magician. She has talent, and also experience. As for her life and stature, she can separate them well. I have a good impression of her because of that.”
297
298In spite of that sudden question, Tatsuya answered it without any hesitation.
299
300“…You know, I hate that part of you.”
301
302Mari glared at Tatsuya with an annoyed expression. She could tell that he knew what she was getting at, even if he put on a face feigning ignorance.
303
304Tatsuya reacted to Mari’s glare without faltering. She didn’t even put her drink down.
305
306“Why do you want to know about something like that?”
307
308Tatsuya’s expression changed to a frown as he fired a question back.
309
310Mari didn’t answer Tatsuya.
311
312“I’m gonna ask again. What do you think of Mayumi as someone of the opposite gender? Do you like her? Do you dislike her? Please answer seriously.”
313
314“As someone of a different gender, it can’t be explained in such black and white terms.”
315
316“Even so, I want to hear it.”
317
318Tatsuya didn’t have any obligation to answer Mari’s question. With Tatsuya’s current situation, answering would bring him more trouble than merit.
319
320“I will say that I like her.”
321
322But he still answered. Not because of the pressure the girl in front of him was putting out, but rather out of curiosity as to what would come next.
323
324“As someone of the opposite sex right?”
325
326“Yes.”
327
328“I see…”
329
330Tatsuya didn’t have any sensibility on the feeling of “liking someone from the opposite gender.” It wasn’t within the extent of his limited emotional processing. Affection for a member of the opposite sex was of far lower priority than his fondness towards Miyuki. But he didn’t have to explain any of that to Mari.
331
332“Is that affection considered love?”
333
334“It is not. If I must say it, these feelings are more like sexual desire.”
335
336Tatsuya showed no embarrassment when delivering that line. Mari, on the other hand, was blushing.
337
338“Y-you have that kind of desire as well, huh?”
339
340“Mari was quite inexperienced on this topic,” Tatsuya thought. Even though premarital sex was a taboo in this generation, her reaction was very innocent for someone who had been in a relationship for a long time.
341
342Of course, Tatsuya had the common sense to not sexually harass Mari with those words.
343
344“Of course I have it. It’s a primordial desire to preserve one’s own lineage.”
345
346That wasn’t a lie. But Tatsuya didn’t share the whole truth that his upper sexual limit was predetermined. It has no capability to rule over his actions or thoughts. Miya’s Mental Interference Magic ensured this.
347
348Because of that, Tatsuya’s matter of “sexual desire” isn’t about to entice him to make out. This had no need to be said either.
349
350“Watanabe-senpai. You asked me about how I feel towards Saegusa-senpai. What do you plan to do with this information?”
351
352Mari hadn’t recovered from the shock she originally got from Tatsuya.
353
354Having the main subject of their meeting suddenly brought up, she consoled herself to stop her flustering.
355
356“Tatsuya-kun, would you want to try going out with Mayumi?”
357
358“…By going out, you mean like that, right? Does Senpai not know about Miyuki and I?”
359
360Tatsuya’s cold glare disheartened her, but she gathered her courage and continued.
361
362“I know that your little sister is actually your cousin, and you both are engaged to each other.”
363
364“So you should understand that Saegusa-senpai and I shouldn’t be going out.”
365
366Tatsuya’s gaze became even more frigid.
367
368Cooling magic should be his little sister’s domain, but Mari felt his look could freeze her to death. She was screaming internally at herself to stay awake, for some reason she had started hallucinating that falling asleep could cause her to die from frostbite.
369
370“Your engagement is being contested by the Ichijou Family. Isn’t that right?”
371
372“You are quite informed. Did you hear that from Saegusa-senpai?”
373
374The formal objection made by the Ichijou Family shouldn’t have reached her ears. The engagement between Tatsuya and Miyuki was legal——though, if the actual link between Tatsuya and Miyuki got leaked, they would be punished for forgery of official documents——, the Ichijou Family had already caused a scandal in the world of magic. With that in mind, this whole topic has been kept more or less private.
375
376“Oh yeah. Also, Mayumi is in the same situation as well. Hmm, saying this the wrong way will cause misunderstandings… Mayumi is in the same boat as the Ichijou Family’s eldest son. They’re both being ordered to fill the same role.”
377
378The iciness in Tatsuya’s glare vanished. It was replaced with a chill that made Mari shift uncomfortably in her seat.
379
380“That… is a shocking story.”
381
382Tatsuya’s remark was his evaluation of the Saegusa Family’s decision, but his heart was different. He shuddered in amazement at the revelation that Mayumi was made to be a fiancée candidate for Tatsuya. He was awed at Miyuki’s intuition being so spot on. Even though she is still considered a young lady, a female’s intuition is scary… that was the only thought in Tatsuya’s mind.
383
384“I think so too.”
385
386Mari’s casual remarks were welcomed by Tatsuya’s sharp tongue.
387
388“Do you really understand what will happen?”
389
390“What?”
391
392“The one who will be slandered by the public won’t be me, but Saegusa-senpai.”
393
394Mari’s eye suddenly tinged with soft light.
395
396“How kind of you.”
397
398“This amount of concern is normal.”
399
400Tatsuya’s gaze didn’t relax.
401
402“If Mayumi didn’t have feelings for you, I would have dropped this a long time ago. I told her she didn’t have to suffer from this, but she doesn’t understand her own feelings.”
403
404And then? Tatsuya asked back with his eyes.
405
406“Mayumi doesn’t comprehend how she feels about you. She doesn’t know the depth of her affection. No, it’s more like she doesn’t want to admit it. She’s running away from her emotions.”
407
408“Isn’t that because she understands her position in this matter?”
409
410“She does. Mayumi isn’t able to just choose someone based on love interest. Having a lover and being married are different things, so falling in love is pointless. That’s how she feels about it.”
411
412“Are you sure you aren’t overthinking this? There’s certainly a tendency to prevent high level magicians from being single, but it isn’t to the point where you can’t pick your marriage partner.”
413
414“How about you? Your little sister?”
415
416This time Tatsuya stayed silent.
417
418Mari didn’t pursue any further for information about those two.
419
420“I want to make her experience love. It may be an unneeded and meddlesome thing to do, but after thinking about her situation, I don’t want her to just throw in the towel. You’re a guy so you probably don’t understand what I’m getting at.”
421
422“You’re right. I don’t.”
423
424“Ok… well at least just understand this; Mayumi has recognized that she has feelings for you. You might be the first and last love that she has.”
425
426Mari’s words were full of sincerity. She was only thinking about her friend’s feelings.
427
428“You’re overthinking it again.”
429
430But Tatsuya threw that sincerity aside with only those words.
431
432“Tatsuya-kun, you!”
433
434“I don’t know her as well as you do, but Saegusa-senpai doesn’t seem like she’d be that weak.”
435
436Mari’s enraged tongue was stopped by Tatsuya’s objection.
437
438“Give up on this matter. Abandon it. She won’t be seen as an obedient child if she pursues this road. Even if I don’t return her feelings, she would eventually find someone. Right?”
439
440Tatsuya stood up, looking down at Mari who was at a loss for words.
441
442“And above all else, it’s impossible because I am Miyuki’s fiancée.”
443
444The payment for Mari’s drink had already been taken.
445
446And like that, Tatsuya left the shop.
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450
451
452Chapter 4
453
454
455
456
457Raymond S. Clark. He’s currently a high school sophomore located in USNA Berkeley, California. He had been one of Shizuku’s classmates during her foreign exchange student program.
458
459The high school he attends differs from a Japanese Magic High School in that it isn’t a facility that specializes in Magic Training. In this school, Magic Studies and Magic Practice are optional subjects. However, even the USNA can’t escape from the cruel lack of teachers related to Magical courses. Since the number of student applicants vastly outnumber the amount of teachers, each and every school comes up with its own entrance exam to select future students. Objectively speaking, Raymond’s school had turned into a “Magic High School”.
460
461That wasn’t implying he was a poor Magician. Among his peers, Raymond was at the top of his class. Still, it wasn’t enough talent to enter the Stars or something similar. His value and talent lay in another area.
462
463That’s how they’re called by the USNA’s Intelligence Agency. In reality, they aren’t so much an organization as they are a group of unaffiliated individuals with the same special ability.
464
465“Hliðskjálf” is the hacking system concealed within the USNA’s worldwide communication interceptor “Echelon III”. Only seven “operators” have access to it. That’s the ability shared between “The Seven Sages”, using Hliðskjálf, which greatly surpasses Echelon III’s legitimate operators, to gather information from anywhere in the world, earning them this title.
466
467Among the seven operators of Hliðskjálf, there was only one person who actually used the title. This person, on a whim, gave information to the USNA about an anti-government organization and introduced himself as one of “The Seven Sages”. This was, of course, none other than Raymond.
468
469Today as well, Raymond was swimming in the sea of information brought to him by using Hliðskjálf. He was a person who was zealous about acquiring knowledge. He also liked to investigate about specific things here and there, but amassing information without a specific topic was closer to being a hobby of his. For Raymond, Hliðskjálf was the greatest of his toys.
470
471That being said, in order to actually use Hliðskjálf, one has to define search parameters first. That is because the nature and the function of Hliðskjálf is to answer questions.
472
473Rays of light became characters as the search conditions were being specified. The terminal of Hliðskjálf was operated by the user’s brain waves and gestures in a VR (Virtual Reality) like environment made possible by the HMD (Head-mounted Display). The camera caught the movement of his fingertips, rays of light were projected in the virtual environment. The operator inputs the search criteria with characters of light, determining the settings with the assistance of their brain waves.
474
475Right now, Raymond was using the broad “Scandal of the USNA Army” terms for his research. A massive amount of information opened in the sky, being displayed in various “windows”. The window in the distance displayed only the titles of articles while the window close-by was displaying their contents. Another window was composed of diagrams with their accompanying text, another contained images, and another was a video. If you directed your eyes on a window, it would come closer, while looking away would send it away. As far as the eye could see, there were innumerable windows in every direction.
476
477Speed reading and memorization were Raymond’s forte. Tens of windows queued up as he progressively carved their contents into his head. However, he unexpectedly stopped this operation. A certain window’s content attracted Raymond’s attention.
478
479(The contents of an old depot for small missiles went missing…?)
480
481It would be no surprise if this fact had made headlines. Sadly, it wasn’t unusual to hear that old weapons that were planned to be scrapped had up and disappeared.
482
483The missiles that went missing were using C-20 (cyclotrimethylene trinitramine) as the main explosive ingredient for an infantry-usable anti-aircraft missile. Even though it had been used quite a bit during the war that lasted until 2020, the progress on nanotechnologies allowing explosions to surpass the previous limits had forced these weapons into obsoletion.
484
485(Still, it’s a well-tried warfare tool… I can’t think of this affair as just a matter of control negligence.)
486
487Raymond licked his lips at the perspective of having found something suspicious. His forté was his fast reading speed and good memory, but he also had some kind of sixth sense for detecting fishy affairs.
488
489For Raymond, the events occurring in the real world were like the grandest shows. The more substantial and serious the event was, the greater his interest became.
490
491He knew full-well that he was no superman. Even if his magical talent was first-class, it wasn’t anywhere near the world’s finest. He knew that he would never be an influential Magician. Nor will he ever become a hero travelling the world. ——No matter how much he wished for it.
492
493Raymond looked at his potential that way. That is why, by lending his power to real heroes, he could feel like he shared in their adventures. He could then enjoy watching the events unfold on the stage he had set.
494
495That’s what he thought, and Hliðskjálf made this a possibility.
496
497It was like Hliðskjálf had been made to allow him to do so.
498
499(Should I start by examining this from the management situation of the depot?)
500
501Even if he finds out where the missing missiles went, he wasn’t sure that this whole thing would end there. No matter the affair, it was always a human’s hand that caused it. Who could’ve put those weapons on the black market? Raymond started a search with a now all too familiar procedure.
502
503
504
505
506
507Before Raymond noticed the disappearance of the old missiles——two days before in fact——this matter had become a problem for the USNA Army. This wasn’t a matter that could remain within the base’s jurisdiction, so the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the USNA’s Intelligence Division had begun an internal investigation.
508
509The reason this matter wasn’t entrusted to the gendarmerie was because they suspected a terrorist organization was involved. Those missiles could be put on the black market and end up in the hands of terrorists. If that disaster became reality, it would mean that once those missiles had been used and their origin discovered, it would provoke a worldwide scandal. The Department of Defense was ready to do anything to prevent that.
510
511However, the investigation had already started six days ago, but it was now January 27th and things had hardly progressed. Despite the fact that it was a Sunday, the Number 2, Colonel Virginia Balance, was present in the office. She had a grim expression as she read the presented report.
512
513There were almost no clues whatsoever that would help in this affair.
514
515She understood from the very beginning that the perpetrators must’ve received inside help. To begin with, it was practically impossible to steal weapons from the military, as old as those weapons were, without the cooperation from the inside. However, even if they somehow managed to bribe the captain of the unit charged with guarding the warehouse, there was no way they could’ve taken the weapons without leaving any trace whatsoever.
516
517The comings and goings of weapons are double, if not triple-checked. In addition to an RFID[2] tag, the warehouses are equipped with biometric sensors, and moreover, it is impossible to open or shut the accesses if you are alone because the need for two people cannot be bypassed. They were investigating if there had been any anomalies in those systems, to no avail.
518
519Virginia was reminded of a point that was particularly perturbing her: how did they notice that something went missing?
520
521The loss of the missiles was noticed by the people responsible for checking stocks. However, if this theft was performed by an organization capable of completely bypassing the security of the warehouse, why didn’t they also falsify the stock records? These were obsolete weapons awaiting disposal. If they had modified the data to make it seem like they had been disposed of, no one would have noticed.
522
523It was as if someone had stolen them and allowed them to notice on purpose. Colonel Virginia genuinely felt that this was the case.
524
525(But then, who could’ve done that, and for what purpose? No, to begin with, who even has the capability to pull something like this off?)
526
527The lack of information made it impossible to reach a conclusion.
528
529Knowing so, Virginia was lost in unnecessary thoughts.
530
531Virginia collected herself at the sound of her phone’s ringtone, signaling a new email. It wasn’t an ordinary email either. It was a communication using a code that only top-level members of the Intelligence Division knew about.
532
533With practiced, machine-like movements of her hands, she transferred the contents of the email to an offline decoder as per procedure. It wouldn’t be readable on a device available due to the masses to prevent sharing information in plain text. When she saw the deciphered message and spotted the name of the sender, Virginia wore an amazed expression.
534
535“The Seven Sages”.
536
537Her eyes glistened as she read the contents. Forgetting to breathe as the pored over the contents, it took a few moments for her to compose herself after reading the email.
538
539“Are these kinds of things even permitted?”
540
541The secret information received from “The Seven Sages” stated that the President’s Assistant of the Deputy Chief of Staff took part in the matter.
542
543And even worse was the motive. If what was written here was true, then all of this was part of a much larger-scale plan that vastly exceeded Virginia’s expectations.
544
545Virginia stretched her hand towards the visiphone when her hand stopped.
546
547She was hesitating about who exactly she should call. No, to be more precise, she had no idea.
548
549To whom she should share this information with, and if she can even trust anyone with this, Virginia was at a loss.
550
551
552
553
554
555Angelina Sirius, High Commander in direct command of the USNA Army’s Magician Force, Stars, was enjoying a rare shopping break.
556
557Of course, she currently wasn’t walking around as the “Strategic-Class Magician Angie Sirius” but as the 17-year-old, Lina.
558
559Instead of going to the nearest town Roswell, Silvia Mercury First, nicknamed Silvie, who was accompanying Lina, strongly recommended that they extend their travel to Albuquerque.
560
561Since their mission last year in Japan, these two have been spending quite a lot of time together. Despite their age difference, Silvie treated Lina as if she was her younger sister. Lina’s utter lack of what could be called a normal girl’s common sense provoked a swirl of emotions inside of her, and she simply could not leave Lina alone.
562
563Today, like prior ones, was Silvie playing dress-up using Lina as the doll. However, Lina was also enjoying herself. Even though her fashion sense was on the questionable side, she like dressing up. To be fair, if the subject’s tastes were fine, there wasn’t much need to improve them.
564
565In this case, Lina didn’t have someone to look pretty for in comparison to Miyuki, which lead to a huge gap.
566
567But putting all of that aside, Lina was going back to the base’s lodging house in a very good mood, carrying her spoils of war. You could say that those were very fulfilling holidays. Even though she didn’t receive any mobilization orders as Sirius, a harsh session of training was waiting for her tomorrow. Today had been pretty refreshing, Lina was quite satisfied.
568
569However, her cheerful mood was immediately blown away by the mail she received on her room’s terminal.
570
571“An encrypted mail!?”
572
573It wasn’t that unusual for her to receive an encrypted mail containing secret orders. However, that a mail using the special encryption code only known of the High Commander, the Chiefs of Staff and the Captains of the Stars, arriving directly on her room’s terminal was a first.
574
575Could it be an emergency? In a mix of impatience and nervousness, Lina was waiting for the decoder to transcribe the contents of the mail.
576
577Shocked feelings surfaced in her expression as she started to read.
578
579“The Seven Sages…?”
580
581The name of the sender was “The Seven Sages”.
582
583“A joke?” was Lina’s first reaction but she dismissed that thought as quickly as it came. There is no way a mere hacker could access the Stars special encryption code. To begin with, the title of “The Seven Sages” wasn’t known by those outside the direct control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff HQ.
584
585Lina hurriedly resumed her reading. A few events without seemingly any relation to her duties were recorded.
586
587“Eh!? The mastermind behind the Parasite event!?”
588
589However, as she reached the end of the mail, information that was strongly connected to Lina started to appear.
590
591Lina had been sent to Japan due to the event that occurred on October 31st, 2095 A.D. She had been sent to uncover the identity of the user of the Strategic-Class Magic that ravaged the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, the “Great Bomb” (this was the name given to Material Burst by the USNA). However, once the Stars Members possessed by the Parasites started to desert and flee to Japan, as a part of her High Commander’s duties she ordered their “Disposal”.
592
593Lina was told that the Parasite outbreak was the result of an accident.
594
595Due to that fact, it was supposed to end with the deaths of the affected people. However, if this source was to be trusted, then the Parasite Affair had been purposely started and the perpetrator was responsible for the comrades that Lina was forced to kill. The added despair from her assassination duty would also be the instigator’s fault.
596
597This was definitely something that couldn’t be forgiven.
598
599“…The Mastermind of the Parasites is going to try to perform acts of terrorism in Japan by using old missiles he stole? This can’t be real!?”
600
601After she finished her reading of the mail, Lina found herself instinctively shouting about.
602
603This was information coming from a dubious source. There was no guarantee that it held any truth.
604
605A profiler working for the USNA Army had analyzed “The Seven Sages” and came to the conclusion that they most likely enjoyed the reactions provoked by their whimsical acts. Even if that mail truly came from “The Seven Sages”, Lina couldn’t shrug off the possibility that this was all part of an elaborate plan to play some kind of trick on her.
606
607Despite that, Lina believed this information.
608
609During the last stages of the Parasite Affair of last year, just like today, Lina had received information from someone using the name “The Seven Sages”. At that time, she didn’t have any reason to believe the information given either. But even still, she had believed it was the truth.
610
611This time was the same. Her believing it had no basis. There was no real reason for her to believe it.
612
613However, if she ignored this information and something happened afterwards she would deeply regret it.
614
615Being tricked, being manipulated and becoming a laughingstock wouldn’t compare to that.
616
617If the conspiracy recorded in the mail was the truth and became reality, then the USNA would have a great debt towards Japan. Considering Japan’s current state of tension, if USNA-made weapons were used in terrorist acts… Then it wouldn’t be surprising if Japan accused them of instigating terrorism on their territory.
618
619If you think about the difference in power between the two countries, the possibility of a war happening was rather small. However, that is if we’re only taking conventional war potential in account, and not something like the Strategic-Class Magic responsible for “Scorched Halloween”. If the range of that magic can extend even further than the Pacific Ocean——as another user of Strategic-Class Magic, Lina’s common sense denies the possibility of… the worst could happen.
620
621That is why she believes the information.
622
623Lina was convinced she had to stop this plan from reaching fruition. Not just obstructing, but actually killing the mastermind behind it as well.
624
625However, according to the information provided by “The Seven Sages”, the Mastermind “Jiedo Heigu” had already left the USNA for Japan.
626
627Indeed, it would be difficult for Lina to act outside of her country, let alone in Japan.
628
629Lina decided to consult about this entire scenario with the only person she thought could help.
630
631
632
633
634
635Virginia extended her hand towards the ringing visiphone.
636
637Her posture crumbled for a moment. She quickly recovered and pressed the button to accept the call.
638
639[Colonel, forgive me for calling unannounced.]
640
641Lina appeared on the screen, saluting in her purple-black Stars uniform.
642
643Seeing Lina’s appearance, as if she had just changed in her fresh, tight uniform, Virginia felt slightly nostalgic.
644
645“Major Sirius. Weren’t you on leave today?”
646
647Lina’s expression betrayed her surprise. She struggled to understand why Virginia was aware of her schedule despite the fact that she is not even under her direct command. From Virginia’s point of view, it was part of the course for her to know everything about the movements of a Strategic-Class Magician, one of the “Twelve Apostles”, the strongest magician of the USNA and High Commander of the Stars, Angie Sirius.
648
649“Don’t pay attention to what I just said. So, do you have any business with me?”
650
651Sincerely apologizing for the idle talk, Virginia enquired about the reason of her call.
652
653[Yes. Being blunt I require assistance from the Colonel about a report I received.]
654
655Being urged on by Virginia, Lina began exposing the matter.
656
657“Go on.”
658
659[Understood. To tell you the truth, in the period of time ranging from 0900 hours to 1632 hours when I was out, I received an encrypted message from someone who claimed to be a member of “The Seven Sages”.]
660
661“When you say the Seven Sages, are you talking about ‘those’ ‘Seven Sages’?”
662
663Hiding the shock, she received behind a poker face, Virginia responded so.
664
665[It was indeed the sender’s name. Although, I have no way of knowing whether it is the truth or not.]
666
667“Hmm.”
668
669Virginia nodded and urged Lina to continue through the camera.
670
671[Assuming that the source of information is indeed “The Seven Sages”, the report stated that weapons stolen from our army are going to be used in a terrorist attack. The target would be Japan.]
672
673“What kind of weapon?”
674
675[Infantry-Carried Anti-Aircraft Missiles.]
676
677“…Major, do you think such a case of theft actually occurred?”
678
679[I don’t have a definite answer. However, there are indeed rumors about weapons awaiting disposal being stolen from us.]
680
681Virginia uttered a sigh. If someone like Lina who was pretty much isolated from the regular military troops…
682
683If the information leaked so far that even a “Sheltered Official” such as her was aware of this matter, then that means it wasn’t just the staff in-charge of the weapons’ surveillance whose discipline was lacking.
684
685[Colonel?]
686
687A worried expression started to appear on Lina’s face. Knowing her, she might be thinking that she offended Virginia in some way.
688
689Virginia herself interpreted it so anyway. For her, this was rather vexing.
690
691“No, it’s nothing. Please go on.”
692
693[Understood. Even though there was no mention of a specific target, there were references concerning a Mastermind. The name was Jiedo Heigu. He became a political refugee following Dahan’s ruin, his Chinese name is Gu Jie. His estimated age would be between 60 and 90 years old. Black eyes and white hair, it appears that despite his Eastern Asian lineage, he possesses dark skin. There was a special note mentioning that he might be a survivor of the Kunlunfang Institute.]
694
695“The Kunlunfang Institute? Isn’t that the Magic Research Laboratory of Dahan that was exterminated by the Yotsuba?”
696
697[I think that is indeed the case.]
698
699They couldn’t possibly be thinking of taking revenge on the Yotsuba by using the missiles, could they? Virginia thought, but she immediately dismissed that hypothesis as nonsensical. If the Yotsuba could be dealt with as simply as that, they wouldn’t be feared as “Untouchable” throughout the world.
700
701[Furthermore.]
702
703While Virginia was lost in her thoughts, Lina continued her report.
704
705[It appears that Jiedo Heigu was the Mastermind behind the Parasite Affair.]
706
707Virginia had a look of understanding.
708
709“I see, so this was the main reason of your call.”
710
711Even if her intention was discovered, Lina didn’t cower.
712
713[Colonel. Even if the information about Jiedo Heigu’s relation to the Parasite Affair is the truth, I would like to know his degree of involvement. The deserters might have had no relation to the Parasite Outbreak, and could have been mere pawns. However, if this Jiedo Heigu has even the slightest link to this affair, I cannot overlook it. If I don’t pay him back with my very own hands, I won’t be able to get over it.]
714
715“Major Sirius. Are you telling me you want to go to Japan once more?”
716
717[Affirmative, Colonel.]
718
719Virginia frowned as if taken by a sudden headache.
720
721Allowing Lina to leave the country was a difficult matter. Even under the best circumstances, dispatching magicians to other countries should be done carefully. The degree of difficulty increases by several orders of magnitude if they were talking about the Strategic-Class Magician “Sirius”. One of the Strategic-Class Magicians of the USNA, Roland Bart, had been placed in the British territory of Gibraltar, but even then, there was almost no record of him going out of that base. To the extent that he is purposely called back to the USNA during his vacations.
722
723Having sent Lina in Japan last year was an exception among exceptions.
724
725Lina herself probably understood all of this very well. That is why Virginia also understood what this was about when Lina decided to call her. Moreover, Virginia fully understood Lina’s desire to take revenge on Heigu with her own hands.
726
727“…At this time I cannot give you an answer. Major, you will have to give me some time.”
728
729Lina couldn’t hide her surprise in front of the camera. For her, who thought that she would be immediately rejected, Virginia’s response was going in a surprisingly good direction.
730
731[Yes, I’m counting on you, Colonel.]
732
733The call ended with Lina’s appearance saluting on the screen.
734
735
736
737
738
739Meanwhile, Jiedo Heigu, or Gu Jie, was at sea.
740
741Even though up until a few days ago he had lived on the USNA’s West Coast, he didn’t possess USNA citizenship.
742
743Gu Jie’s homeland was Dahan, a country that had already disappeared.
744
745He used to belong to the Magician Development Institute of Kunlunfang. In the eventuality that Dahan would collapse, the USNA’s government would grant him refugee status, and as such, his social status was currently that of a normal refugee.
746
747However, at the time Gu Jie arrived on the North American continent in 2054, the country’s name was still the USA. Dahan’s collapse occurred in February of the year 2064 A.D., merely a single year after the destruction of the Kunlunfang Institute.
748
749After the collapse of Dahan, rather, the destruction of the Kunlunfang Institute, Gu Jie didn’t seek asylum from North America. He ran away from Dahan.
750
751The Kunlunfang Institute predated the division between the Great Asian Alliance and Dahan, and one could think of it as the main Modern Magic’s research laboratory of the old Eastern Asian region.
752
753However, that wasn’t the entire truth.
754
755The Kunlunfang Institute had earned quite the renown as a laboratory developing Modern Magic. But that wasn’t the only thing they had been working on.
756
757Both Ancient Magic and Modern Magic were being researched.
758
759However, just like the other countries, those two “factions”, so to speak, were at odds.
760
761Originally, the Ninth Institute in Japan was supposed to use the know-how of Ancient Magic to develop Modern Magic. That being said, it wasn’t researching both Ancient Magic and Modern Magic simultaneously. In the end, the Ancient Magic Users revolted, and the rebels also took over the Ninth Institute after the lockdown.
762
763Both groups turned into something similar to organizations, competing for leadership. Ancient Magic and Modern Magic users argued about each and every policy for the Research Laboratories, including objectives, budgets, and human resources.
764
765Even in the Kunlunfang Institute, both Ancient Magic users and Modern Magic users fiercely competed for control.
766
767Despite the fact that the Kunlunfang Institute was the main laboratory of Dahan, the internal dispute continued. No, rather, it intensified and this escalation would bring about a catastrophe before long. The Modern Magic side ended up winning the power struggle and banished the Ancient Magic users from the Institute. This happened in the year 2054.
768
769It was at that time that Gu Jie, as an Ancient Magic User, fled to North America along with his apprentice Zhou Gongjin. That’s why, under normal circumstances, Gu Jie shouldn’t have any grudge towards the Yotsuba nor Japan’s Magicians. The Yotsuba were the ones who crushed the Modern Magician sect, the ones who had taken over the Kunlunfang Institute. They should have been something similar to a “the enemy of my enemy is my ally” existence to Gu Jie.
770
771However, after Dahan’s collapse, Gu Jie decided that the Yotsuba and the Japanese Magic Community were targets for revenge. Exactly what kind of mental thought process led him to that conclusion, no one really knew.
772
773Was it patriotism?
774
775Did he feel like his own revenge of Dahan had been taken away from him?
776
777Was an enemy simply needed to maintain his subordinate’s cohesion?
778
779The only thing that was certain was that Gu Jie constructed a criminal network made up of Dahan’s deserters, that he exerts a powerful control over them and that his only known objective so far is revenge. As for the person in question, nothing else is known.
780
781When he was still alive, Zhou Gongjin had apparently compared his obsession to that of a “vengeful spirit”.
782
783Due to the lack of apparent reason behind his acts, it was impossible to convince him to stop. Having lost his last apprentice, Zhou Gongjin, he decided take matters into his own hands.
784
785However, Gu Jie’s direct, immediate fighting potential was low. Even though he was also a user of Ancient Continental Magic, the Magic that he possessed wasn’t suited for direct confrontation. If we’re talking strictly about duels, Zhou Gongjin was his superior. This was something Gu Jie himself was willing to admit.
786
787Gu Jie was proficient in techniques that used human organs or parts to create magic devices, like with the case of “Sorcery Boosters”, that is, to turn a human into a tool functioning similarly to a “Generator”, and magic for controlling corpses.
788
789He was the practitioner of the side of Magic that concentrated all of its vilest aspects, but ethical questions aside, he really wasn’t the type to fight head on. Actually, he had kept himself to just being a manipulator until now.
790
791For Gu Jie himself to come to Japan was proof that he had been cornered, and had no other choice.
792
793The international Anti-Magic Political Organization that he had been supporting, “Blanche”, had been considerably weakened by the pressure and measures taken by the governments of several nations. As the leader of the criminal syndicate “No Head Dragon”, he had also tried to spread rumors in both Japan and the USNA (with the cooperation of the Great Asian Alliance) but his plan ended in failure as well.
794
795Finally, he lost his envoy in Japan, Zhou Gongjin. Zhou Gongjin had been under Gu Jie’s command for more than 40 years, the last remaining person who had fled Dahan with him. With this loss, Gu Jie was forced to act by himself.
796
797Zhou Gongjin had been killed in October of last year.
798
799It was slightly past mid-January when Gu Jie left from the Los Angeles’ port.
800
801It wasn’t because he was mourning the death of his apprentice, nor because his plan had failed that Gu Jie took more than two months to make his move. It was the result of him waiting for the most appropriate time. Truth be told, he wanted to leave for Japan immediately and retaliate, however, if he failed to, then things would be over once and for all. He was conscious of that fact.
802
803With his magical skills, being too aggressive was impossible. That isn’t to say that his magical skills are nonexistent, but against a first-rate Magician, it was nowhere near sufficient. That was why he first needed weapons.
804
805If Blanche and No Head Dragon had been in a better state, a simple word of his would have done the deal, and a single month would’ve been more than enough to gather the materials.
806
807That would include the arrangements required for a ship that would cross the Pacific Ocean. As things are, he had to set up all of that himself. To be more precise, he found a random punk that he used as a disposable puppet, but since he had to go through the trouble of preparing him as well as giving him various orders, it was basically as if he had done all the work himself. Furthermore, to make it so that this puppet wouldn’t be traced back to him, he embarked it on the boat to get rid of it in the ocean.
808
809“Sir Gu. We can be expected to enter the port of Yokosuka tomorrow morning.”
810
811The captain of the freighter reported so to a Gu Jie who was looking at the sea in front of him. The deck of the freighter was completely covered by solar panels.
812
813“Just as planned.”
814
815Without any trace of exhaustion from the long journey, Gu Jie answered in a firm voice.
816
817Gu Jie is currently 97 years old. His outward appearance however was barely that of someone in his fifties. His hair was completely white, however, the wrinkles, sagging and age spots that one should normally find on someone of his age were inexistent.
818
819“And also, umm… Sir, my reward.”
820
821“I understand. Tomorrow at the morning twilight, I will apply my Magic.”
822
823“Thank you very much! Even after this journey ends, I promise my unwavering loyalty to you, Sir.”
824
825Gu Jie nodded with a pleased expression. Behind this mask however, he had nothing but contempt for the captain.
826
827The reward this captain was talking about. Longevity and perpetual youth.
828
829It was the truth that Gu Jie’s “surgery” could maintain a perpetual youth, his very own face was the proof of that.
830
831However, even if he could guarantee a physical youth, longevity was out of his reach. He couldn’t give genuine immortality.
832
833This surgery of his was a magic developed in the Kunlunfang Institute, and it was the very reason of his presence in the Kunlunfang Institute.
834
835Unsurprisingly, coming from humans with power, the Leaders of Dahan longed for perpetual youth. And while the Modern Magic Users in the Kunlunfang Institute replied that it was impossible, Ancient Magic Users assured them of the opposite. For the Ancient Magic Users whose position had fallen behind Modern Magic in the race of arms that the Kunlunfang Institute advocated, it had been a godsend.
836
837The one who was developing the most promising magic among the Ancient Magic Users group was Gu Jie. Of course, it was his surgery of perpetual youth.
838
839It was in the year 2049 that he used his magic on his own body, like a test subject.
840
841To ascertain whether this magic could be used safely or not, he used it on nine apprentices in the year 2050.
842
843After 5 years had passed, it was confirmed that Gu Jie’s aging had come to a stop. His apprentices didn’t develop any side-effects either, and it was then thought that a magic of perpetual youth had been achieved.
844
845However, there was a drawback in this Magic. Certainly, this “Surgery of Perpetual Youth” appeared to stop the aging. However, if the person the magic is performed on doesn’t have the aptitude, the compensation for staying young is to consume their life force. In other words, one’s lifespan. There had been some cases of sudden death after three to six months.
846
847A magic that acts for eternity is impossible. This holds true for both Modern Magic and Ancient Magic. The surgery of perpetual youth consists of implanting the magic inside of someone who then continually applies it.
848
849This magic had been made specifically for Ancient Magic practitioners.
850
851What would happen if a Magician tried to perform a magic that he has no aptitude for?
852
853What would happen if this magic was used on someone who isn’t even a Magician?
854
855The surgery of perpetual youth gave the one answer to those questions.
856
857When the men of influence from Dahan, who had already received the “Surgery of Perpetual Youth” presented it to their kinsmen, Gu Jie explained to them the flaws in his Magic.
858
859The ensuing result was the purge of the Ancient Magic Users’ group.
860
861Quickly learning the failure of his experiment, Gu Jie took his apprentices and fled to North America.
862
86320 years later, Gu Jie realized that his magic also didn’t prolong one’s longevity either.
864
865He realized it with his own apprentices’ deaths.
866
867In the end, the surgery that he had developed could only stop the degradation of one’s outward appearance. The only reason Gu Jie lived up to this age was that he originally had a long life ahead of him.
868
869It was this kind of imperfect Magic that the freighter’s captain hoped for.
870
871From Gu Jie’s point of view, it was quite a laughable matter.
872
873The one who told the captain about the surgery of perpetual youth was none other than Gu Jie himself. To earn the captain’s cooperation, he had told him “there is a secret art that allows one to conserve his youth until the day of his death”. If you cooperate with me, I will apply this magic on you.
874
875It wasn’t a lie. Without a doubt, this captain will conserve his current youth until his death. Which will probably happen within half a year.
876
877Gu Jie himself was aware that his own time was getting dangerously short.
878
879“I will be pretty busy from tomorrow onwards.”
880
881“I will also help you once we land on Yokosuka. Please, feel free to ask me anything, sir.”
882
883Without any knowledge about his real intentions, the captain stated so in an elated manner.
884
885
886
887
888
889Even though Virginia had asked Lina to give her some time, she went into action pretty quickly.
890
891She left her office the morning of the following day and made arrangements for her journey. Her destination was the Stars Headquarters situated in the city of Roswell, New Mexico.
892
893Wrapping up all the urgent deskwork she had to do for the day, she used the encrypting device at her home to safely transmit the data via email.
894
895This encryption machine had been a gift from Kuroba Ayako, and the recipient of the email was Yotsuba Maya. The content of the email was basically the same as what Lina had reported to her, that an act of terrorism had been planned in Japan using stolen missiles and that the possibility of the mastermind, Jiedo Heigu, being a survivor of the Kunlunfang Institute was high.
896
897Virginia didn’t include the secret information that Lina had shared with her however. That is, an information related to the scandal on the USNA government. Even though Virginia formed an alliance with the Yotsuba Family she did not completely trust them. She had no reason to hesitate on cooperating with them, however, she couldn’t endanger national interests.
898
899The reply from Maya arrived when Virginia was eating. The content of the letter had simple words of gratitude for the information provided.
900
901This kind of message had no real importance for her, but she didn’t particularly mind. That was because this mail’s purpose was simply to seal the deal regarding their alliance.
902
903Finally, after reconfirming the schedule of each Stars Commander, she headed for the bathroom.
904
905
906
907
908
909Maya had received Virginia’s mail at 8:00 A.M., Monday, January 28th, Japan standard time.
910
911“Hayama-san, it appears that remnants of the Kunlunfang Institute are plotting an act of terrorism here in Japan.”
912
913“That is quite the important matter.”
914
915Hayama’s answer was rather neutral. Of course, he was aware of what Maya had gone through in the Kunlunfang Institute. Taking her feelings into account, it was perfectly natural for him to not return a proper answer at once, even if neither anger nor hatred could be felt from Maya’s voice.
916
917“An important matter? A mere stray dog who lost his home?”
918
919However, it wasn’t like Maya was completely emotionless. You could hear slight disdain in her voice.
920
921“Mistress, if there really is a survivor from the Kunlunfang Institute then that means he managed to escape from the previous Head of the Family.”
922
923Hayama lightly reproved her. Maya’s pride, to be more precise.
924
925“We have no idea what sort of unusual talent he might possess. I strongly recommend we stay vigilant.”
926
927“I understand.”
928
929Despite responding so, Maya’s lips curved into a smile full of disdain.
930
931“Still, what are they hoping to achieve with small missiles? Japan is not a zone of conflict after all. Moving around carrying these is practically begging to be captured, don’t you think?”
932
933“During the Yokohama Incident, the guerillas who had concealed themselves in town beforehand had managed to prepare quite a few missiles.”
934
935“That was thanks to the camouflaged warship they had as backup, wasn’t it?”
936
937Objecting on reflex, Maya retorted.
938
939“…Yet, it’s true that there is no guarantee that we will be able to successfully prevent this planned act of terrorism.”
940
941“Even a Magician would die if hit by a missile while in a defenseless condition. Moreover, depending on their objective, we might have to deal with danger in another form altogether. There is a possibility of them dismantling the warheads and using them as bombs too. Back during the times of war, these kinds of suicide bombing attacks were regular occurrences.”
942
943Faced with Hayama’s numerous examples, even Maya couldn’t deny the necessity of dealing with it.
944
945“Understood. Then let’s look for this Jiedo Heigu. A lot of our workforce is focused on the preparation for the Master Clan Conference, however, so we won’t be able to field too much personnel.”
946
947The Master Clan Conference will take place next month, in the beginning of February in 2097. In particular, this period was the reunion of the Ten Master Clans which happens once every 4 years.
948
949The Conference will decide the members of the future Ten Master Clans for a duration of 4 years. There were 28 Houses which had the qualifications to become a Member of the Ten Master Clans, and everyone was in a hurry to perform the final tasks in order to have an advantage for the selection.
950
951The selection will be decided by internal voting, and since only 28 Houses can participate, it will be nothing like large-scale elections or anything. However, it was necessary to make various arrangements as well as finding faults in other Houses to have the best possible odds.
952
953“Should we talk about this matter with the other Houses?”
954
955Maya pondered for a few moments before shaking her head from left to right at Hayama’s suggestion of asking for the cooperation of the other Clans.
956
957“I would rather not be a subject of gossip. Let me think… Alright, spread the rumor that terrorists targeting magicians have infiltrated the country. With this, we should expect them to make the necessary moves.
958
959Could you work on this until lunch?”
960
961“Understood, Mistress. They will be ready in two hours.”
962
963Search and Information Manipulation, giving his words this double—meaning, Hayama politely bowed.
964
965
966
967
968
9699:00 A.M., Japan standard time, January the 28th, Gu Jie’s freighter entered Yokosuka’s port.
970
971Immediately after landing, Gu Jie started to collect the required personnel for his plans. That being said, the arrangements had already been done beforehand. Despite losing the No Head Dragon Organization, Gu Jie had gathered quite the extensive know-how to make deals with the obscure sides of modern society during his days as a mastermind. As long as quality wasn’t a crucial factor, it wasn’t that difficult to gather personnel. No matter how prosperous a society is, unfortunate people exist.
972
973The target had been confirmed even before the landing. Of course, the location for the Ten Master Clans Conference had only been shared between the concerned. However, using Hliðskjálf would allow one to easily uncover that information.
974
975The super-hacking tool, Hliðskjálf. Gu Jie wasn’t the type to qualify anything as “super”, but the fact of the matter is, there wasn’t really any other expression strong enough to describe it.
976
977Hliðskjálf’s information gathering capability was effective worldwide.
978
979Gu Jie was aware that it was impossible to access information which only exists offline, however, in this day and age, information that couldn’t be found using the network was practically non-existent. No matter the complexity of the encryption, Hliðskjálf would decipher it.
980
981Even quantum encrypted transmissions that “cannot be intercepted without possessing the correct decryption key” can be completely overturned and rendered powerless.
982
983Who exactly invented this system? Who, and for what purpose, did this person send me this terminal? Even Gu Jie had first approached it with caution. Especially, when he discovered the hidden drawback in the system after having made a random search.
984
985This drawback became clear all too soon.
986
987Hliðskjálf records everything that the user investigates. The other Operators can also see it.
988
989Still, they have no way of understanding who exactly made the search.
990
991What they know is “what has been searched” and that’s it.
992
993Gu Jie remembered the disappointment he felt back then. That the system’s creator would be able to see what exactly he searched for had been within his expectation. Even though the identities of the seven operators was supposed to remain a mystery with this system, Gu Jie wasn’t the kind of person to take someone’s words as gospel (At least, that’s what he thought of himself). The administrator of this system, the person who most certainly sent this terminal to him, could probably understand who did what. If you were to acknowledge this fact and still wanted to use the terminal, then the fact that other operators could also search your history shouldn’t matter that much.
994
995Gu Jie didn’t have any hesitation in using Hliðskjálf.
996
997Of course, he always had in mind the possibility that the system could be lying. He didn’t use it for every piece of information he wanted, however. There have been plenty of times where he collected information without relying on it, for the reasons stated above. But still, Hliðskjálf was an extremely convenient tool.
998
999The problem he faced this time was that the Ten Master Clans might have predicted an attack if they had heard rumors of someone making investigations on the conference’s location. Gu Jie didn’t underestimate the power of the Ten Master Clans. It was also possible that if a person among the Ten Master Clans also had access to Hliðskjálf, an ambush would be waiting for him. Of course, he was extremely careful as to what keywords he used during his search, and just because things went smoothly up until now didn’t mean that this time would be the same.
1000
1001Taking this into consideration, he had prepared various plans in the eventuality of an ambush.
1002
1003Gu Jie’s purpose wasn’t to assassinate the Heads of the Ten Master Clans. Socially ending the Yotsuba Family that destroyed the Kunlunfang Institute was his goal.
1004
1005While seeing off his dolls who were heading towards the town of Hakone in freight vehicles, Gu Jie sneered at the dark pleasure swelling from within himself. These dolls had been made from various poor citizens of Yokosuka.
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011Even though Lina was slightly surprised at her training’s interruption, she obeyed the orders and headed towards the base’s control room.
1012
1013Her companion was the Commanding Officer of the Stars First Unit, Benjamin Canopus. He was the person Lina was relying on the most, Stars’ Number 2.
1014
1015“Ben, what do you think this is all about?”
1016
1017Canopus shook his head at Lina, whose voice betrayed a certain anxiety.
1018
1019“Truth be told, I have no idea. However, nothing in particular has happened recently so I doubt this is going to be a scolding or anything of the sort.”
1020
1021It wasn’t that rare for Stars Members to break things during their training. Things like training equipment, vehicles, and even facilities.
1022
1023Considering the Stars were training for combat situations, a certain degree of destruction couldn’t be helped, and this was even more valid when Commander-Class personnel were training. Lina had heard various complaints about the budget from the base’s commander.
1024
1025“I-I guess so.”
1026
1027Canopus looked at Lina with a smile while she was mumbling to herself words of encouragement. He had a daughter who was only 2 years younger than Lina, and because of that, he’d sort of developed parental feelings for her.
1028
1029Without knowing that her subordinate was pointing such warm eyes towards her, Lina tightly clenched her fists and was psyching herself up.
1030
1031——Lina was unaware that her childish, cutesy gesture was further prodding Canopus’ feelings.
1032
1033Somehow successfully managing to put her uneasiness in a corner of her heart, she straightened her posture and adopted——or at least she thought she had——a proper expression for someone of the military, then knocked on the door of the Commander’s Room. With a voice signaling her to come in, the lock of the door disengaged. Opening the door for herself, Lina instinctively raised her voice at the unexpected person in the room.
1034
1035“Colonel Balance!?”
1036
1037Right next to the commander of the base, who was behind his desk, was Colonel Virginia Balance sitting in a chair.
1038
1039“Major, what are you doing. Come in.”
1040
1041Ordered by the irritated voice of the base’s commander, Walker, who also had the rank of Colonel, Lina moved in front of the desk in a hurry.
1042
1043Canopus followed Lina with a composed attitude.
1044
1045“Major Sirius, Major Canopus, at ease.”
1046
1047Walker talked to the two people who saluted in front of his desk.
1048
1049“Yes.”
1050
1051Lina and Canopus both adopted the resting pose simultaneously.
1052
1053“Colonel Balance has something to tell to the two of you.”
1054
1055Saying so, Walker stood up.
1056
1057“Then, Colonel Balance.”
1058
1059Virginia stood up from her seat slightly after him.
1060
1061“Colonel Walker. Thank you for allowing us to borrow your room for a few moments.”
1062
1063Walker and Virginia saluted each other, then Walker went out of the room.
1064
1065Locking the door using the remote control, Virginia finally faced Lina.
1066
1067“Major Sirius, even though I think you already figured out the reason for my presence, it’s about yesterday’s matter.”
1068
1069“Yes.”
1070
1071As she said, Lina had guessed that this could be related to the request she had formulated yesterday.
1072
1073“It is unfortunate, however, that the Major’s request cannot be granted.”
1074
1075And the answer was as Lina had expected.
1076
1077“We cannot carelessly allow the High Commander of the Stars, a Strategic-Class Magician to leave the country.”
1078
1079Even though she had become accustomed to this reason, she still couldn’t accept it deep in her heart. Despite the fact that she fulfilled her duty when she was sent to Japan last year, it didn’t change the fact that she really wasn’t fit for such a task.
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085Thinking about it, dealing with a terrorist threat in a friendly nation that was allowed to exist due to her own army’s blunder was, in fact, considered an obligation of Stars. At the very least, those were Lina’s thoughts on the matter. Even more so considering the chances of the Mastermind being a Magician were exceptionally high.
1086
1087“——That is the official reason on the matter, anyhow.”
1088
1089However, Lina’s displeasure at hearing this was about to skyrocket.
1090
1091“The truth is, higher-ups are starting to wonder if the Major holds excess sympathy for Japan. Some are even fearing that the Major would consider exiling herself to Japan. In other words, there is an issue of trust.”
1092
1093“Wait a moment! I have sworn loyalty to this nation, haven’t I?!”
1094
1095“I know.”
1096
1097Virginia nodded with a calm expression at a Lina who instinctively reacted.
1098
1099“I am not doubting the Major’s loyalty. However, the fact you have Japanese lineage, and that you are still only a 17-year-old girl are causing them to doubt your allegiance.”
1100
1101Lina was mortified. For her, having mostly an Anglo-Saxon face, experiencing what basically amounted to racism was a first.
1102
1103Furthermore, considering it wasn’t face-to-face discrimination but instead being whispered behind her back, her head was starting to boil from rage.
1104
1105“I can’t really find any other word than utter stupidity to qualify this.
1106
1107However, it is specifically because such fools exist that we must avoid giving them any chances. Major, you are our nation’s greatest asset.”
1108
1109Still, despite her enraged state of mind, Lina wasn’t so far gone that she forgot her etiquette training and completely ignored the words of a superior. Those remarks had been spoken for her sake.
1110
1111“It is impossible to send Major Sirius to Japan. However, it isn’t like we can just leave this matter unattended.”
1112
1113Virginia took in a breath and put power in her next sentence.
1114
1115“That is why, we will send Major Canopus. Major Sirius, is this alright?”
1116
1117“…Understood. I will be on standby for further orders.”
1118
1119Swallowing her dissatisfaction, she saluted Virginia.
1120
1121Virginia slowly nodded with a “very well”.
1122
1123“In that case I will start to explain in more detail the mission to Major Canopus. Major Sirius, you may leave.”
1124
1125“Yes. Then, pardon me, Colonel.”
1126
1127Even though a part of Lina had wanted to explain things directly to Canopus, she had no confidence that doing so wouldn’t generate jealousy, and that was why she obediently left.
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133“——The situation is as stated above. Major Canopus, do you have any questions?”
1134
1135After having explained to Canopus everything, from the stolen missiles to “The Seven Sages” information, Virginia inquired so.
1136
1137“No, I don’t, Colonel.”
1138
1139It is unknown if there will indeed be an act of terrorism in Japan, and their only source of information had been the suspicious “Seven Sages” as well. Is there any dissatisfaction to being given a mission based on such ambiguous intelligence? That had been the nuance in Virginia’s earlier question, but neither a question nor a complaint came up from Canopus.
1140
1141“I see. In that case, Major Canopus, there is something I would like to ask you.”
1142
1143“Yes, what is it?”
1144
1145Even though Virginia carefully scrutinized Canopus’ expression, not even a brow of his twitched. Feeling relief more than disappointment, Virginia carefully continued.
1146
1147“Major Canopus, no, allow me to call you Major Benjamin Lowes here.”
1148
1149In the middle of Virginia’s question, Canopus’ eyebrows moved ever so slightly.
1150
1151“The Major is blood-related to the Assistant of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Kane Lowes, right?”
1152
1153“Yes. I think the Colonel is already aware but the Assistant of the Deputy Chief of Staff and my father are cousins, and he is my mother’s cousin-in-law.”
1154
1155In other words, he is connected to the Lowes’ Family both by blood and marriage, and with this kind of close relationship it wouldn’t be exaggerated to say he’s part of the upper echelons of society.
1156
1157“To tell you the truth, the information brought to us by ‘The Seven Sages’ isn’t limited to what I talked to you about earlier. I wish it was some kind of mistake but…”
1158
1159Seeing Virginia hesitate, Canopus’ expression moved a little.
1160
1161His expression had a faint “It can’t be?” feeling to it.
1162
1163“It would appear that both the acquisition of the missiles and the terrorists leaving the country with them has been accommodated by the Assistant of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Lowes.”
1164
1165“…Are you saying that the Assistant of the Deputy Chief of Staff has been corrupted by the terrorists?”
1166
1167To Canopus’ question, Virginia shook her head with a gloomy expression.
1168
1169“If that was all there was to it, it wouldn’t be so complicated.”
1170
1171“So that means there are other points of concern?”
1172
1173Virginia frowned before opening her mouth to answer.
1174
1175“Truth be told, the possibility that he and the Deputy Chief of Staff decided to make use of Jiedo Heigu is higher than the corruption hypothesis.”
1176
1177While Canopus couldn’t hide his shock, Virginia decided to ask him something seemingly unrelated to the matter at hand.
1178
1179“Major. What do you think about the Humanist Ideology?”
1180
1181A popular opinion was that “humans have to live only using human abilities”, or at least that is the doctrine that the anti-Magician Catholic cults go by. Again, this was a mere excuse to agitate the anti-Magician sentiment.
1182
1183However, Canopus’ answer would be even more concise.
1184
1185“Mass hysteria. Still, to effectively use this, it would require influence as well as extreme prudence, I think.”
1186
1187“As a Magician yourself, don’t you feel threatened by all of that?”
1188
1189“If it seemed like it was about to escalate then I do think some measures should be thought of. We Magicians have no reason to bow down to false charges after all.”
1190
1191“…You seem to possess pretty radical opinions.”
1192
1193“Colonel, you’re misunderstanding something. I only think that it would be dangerous for the citizens if society didn’t allow them self-defense.
1194
1195Those calumnious would-be victims incite racism and discrimination, something that has a high risk of breaking down any country, ours included, so we shouldn’t take it lightly.”
1196
1197“I understand your stance. But that is not the problem at hand.”
1198
1199While saying this, Virginia had an unpleasant expression.
1200
1201“Lowes, the Assistant of the Deputy Chief of Staff, has a different thought process but appears to have arrived at the same conclusion as you.”
1202
1203Even though Virginia was peering into Canopus’ expression, he kept a cool, if somewhat brazen, expression.
1204
1205“However, this is the country of freedom. It is a necessity to guarantee freedom of speech. No matter how good the cause, we cannot suppress it. At the very least, politicians think so.”
1206
1207“I agree with this, Colonel.”
1208
1209“…That is where the group Lowes belongs to decided to act, and they planned on giving the Humanists a target other than them, another country.”
1210
1211“So that they can perform their act of terrorism in Japan, and feel satisfied enough to not do it here as well?”
1212
1213“Your sarcasm is unneeded, Major. This is something I don’t agree with.”
1214
1215Virginia reproved with a sour look, a Canopus that was wearing a smile full of derision.
1216
1217“Forgive my rudeness, Colonel.”
1218
1219Thinking that he had gone too far, Canopus genuinely apologized.
1220
1221Seeing Canopus apologizing, Virginia realized that she might have been too high-strung herself and decided to resume the conversation.
1222
1223“Putting that aside, if the information given by ‘The Seven Sages’ is to be trusted, Lowes’ group’s objective isn’t even the terrorist act itself.”
1224
1225“In other words?”
1226
1227“It is nigh-impossible to limit the damage of a terrorist bombing to only the planned targets. Citizens will also unfortunately get involved in this.”
1228
1229“That is…”
1230
1231It was the first time since entering this room that Canopus wore such an expression.
1232
1233“With this kind of weaponry, it would be impossible to harm a Magician unless they were taken by surprise. However, if you were to prepare a bomb using tens of those missiles’ destructive power, it would be difficult even for Members of the Ten Master Clans of Japan. Although a high-ranked Magician could definitely survive the explosion with a heatproof barrier, the civilians who happen to be in the area wouldn’t have a chance. If the explosion came from all directions, then even protecting the innocent would be next to impossible. As a result, only the civilians would suffer casualties. This was the scenario envisioned by ‘The Seven Sages’.”
1234
1235“And since Magicians of Japan let innocent civilians die under their very eyes, the Humanists would take them as their new target. Their energy would be concentrated on Japan, thus, the anti-Magician movement in our own country would weaken. Moreover, the risk of Humanists resorting to radical measures out of frustration would decrease, is that it?”
1236
1237“Indeed.”
1238
1239Canopus’ eyes had a sharp light to them.
1240
1241“In that case, my mission will be to restrain Jiedo Heigu’s act of terrorism before it happens?”
1242
1243“What I ask of you is in fact much more than that.”
1244
1245Virginia took a provocative stance.
1246
1247“After last year’s Parasite Affair, the Japanese authorities definitely won’t see us in a good light. It will probably be impossible to capture Heigu on Japanese soil without alerting them. That will lead to an inquiry as to why we captured Heigu, and then they’ll discover the weapons he planned on using had come from us.
1248
1249However, if this act of terrorism actually succeeds, the origin of the used weapons will probably be discovered as well. I think that it would be much more disadvantageous to not stop it beforehand.
1250
1251The difference between losing weapons and having them purchased from a black market by a terrorist versus letting a terrorist steal our weapons is quite vast.”
1252
1253“…So we’re going to let innocent Japanese citizens be massacred?”
1254
1255“I have already secretly warned Japanese Magicians about Jiedo Heigu’s group of terrorists.”
1256
1257It wasn’t as if Canopus could completely agree with Virginia. However, he couldn’t dispute the fact that there was a need for the USNA Army to cover their position. Before being a Magician, Canopus was a military man. This fact was one of the biggest differences between him and the virtuous Lina.
1258
1259“Major. Your duty is not related to the execution of Jiedo Heigu’s act of terrorism, whether it is before it happens or afterwards, your mission is to assassinate him. His plans will probably still be realized even if he is killed, but you need not worry about that. According to ‘The Seven Sages’, Heigu doesn’t seem to be using aerial transports. If he is on the sea, you may use ‘loud’ means to get the work done. Do not allow the Japanese to capture him.”
1260
1261“Understood.”
1262
1263Faced with the image of a saluting Canopus accepting the duty bestowed upon him, Virginia couldn’t help but feel guilty.
1264
1265“Forgive me, Major. Even though we understand this kind of dirty work isn’t part of your duties, considering the possibility of our opponent being a peculiar Magician is high, we need to meet him with an eminent Magician of our own.”
1266
1267Canopus stopped saluting and without putting on a tough act, shook his head.
1268
1269“You need not worry yourself, Colonel. If anything, I would like to express my gratitude for choosing me. I do not want the High Commander… I don’t want Lina to suffer the pain of assassination work, as much as I can help it.”
1270
1271Saluting once again, Canopus left the commander’s room.
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277Canopus arrived at the Japan-USNA Joint-Base of Yokosuka on January 29th, 1800 hours, Japan standard time.
1278
1279Due to the frequent wars throughout the world over a 20-year period, most countries decided to call back all their troops to their respective territories, thus, things like the U.S. Forces’ Bases in Japan had disappeared. However, after the U.S became the USNA, the alliance between them and Japan had continued, but changed. Each country installed bases on their lands, bases that could be used freely by the other nation. The base of Yokosuka was one of those. (That being said, those bases’ activities were close to nonexistent).
1280
1281Of course, the fact that the Stars First Unit Commander, Canopus, came to Japan remained a secret. Immediately after arriving, without even going out of the base, he went on a destroyer ship towards the sea.
1282
1283The warship that Canopus was on headed south, towards the Sagami Bay, and it passed by a small cruiser of 20 meters in the middle of the sea area between the Boso Peninsula and Oshima. Canopus jumped from the destroyer to the small cruiser when the two were close enough. This boat had been camouflaged using Optical Magic which could reflect even infrared rays. Although a faint shadow would probably appear on stratospheric surveillance cameras, discerning its identity should be impossible. With this, Canopus could be smuggled into the country safely.
1284
1285This small cruiser was originally something that the USNA embassy possessed for leisure purposes, thus, to use it for information gathering, its power output and the hull’s outer armor had been reinforced. Of course, cutting-edge sensors had been installed as well. Despite the fact that this cruiser didn’t have many weapons, so long as Canopus was on it, this wouldn’t be a problem at all.
1286
1287Canopus turned the cruiser towards Sagami Bay. The cruiser went south, following the Izu Peninsula, then at Cape Irozaki turned north towards the Suruga Bay. Due in part to the slow speed at which he sailed, it was already nearing midnight when he found the target ship.
1288
1289It was a small freighter which had its deck entirely covered with solar panels. When sailing, the arms on each of the sides of the hull would open up, like a Tobiuo’s wings, and the thin solar films would then increase the power generation. This auxiliary power source uses a photocatalytic hydrogen production model built into a regular fuel cell, and with nearly all the energy required coming from the sun, this type of freighter had become the main transport model in the latter half of the 21st century.
1290
1291This freighter had been mentioned along with the presumed date at which Jiedo Heigu left the USNA. However, this ship was supposed to arrive yesterday in Japan. That is why the ship’s inspection was unnecessary, so they decided to search the port at which it had anchored.
1292
1293“Major, is it that ship?”
1294
1295The captain of the ship who served as an officer in the USNA’s Marine Corps talked to Canopus with a mix of awe and fear in his voice. As a temporary subordinate under his command for this mission, he had been told about Canopus’ background. The Stars were already a unit whose reputation was close to that of legendary, and factor in that he was now talking to one of its best field officers, and you get that result. Albeit, this captain wasn’t aware that “Canopus” the Number 2, was right behind “Sirius”, so he didn’t need to be that tense. If he had been aware of Canopus’ rank, it was quite possible that he wouldn’t have been able to focus on his work to begin with.
1296
1297To the captain’s question, Canopus expressed a bitter smile. Seeing this smile without an ounce of intimidation or malice, the captain’s tension softened a little.
1298
1299“My apologies but ships really aren’t my forté. You guys should have much more expertise on this subject than I do, right?”
1300
1301Understanding that Canopus implicitly asked “Isn’t this something you of all people should bring answers to?”, the captain straightened his spine.
1302
1303“Pardon me, Sir. There is no mistake that this is the ship in question.”
1304
1305“Of course, I will trust you on this matter.”
1306
1307Canopus adopted a serious look and nodded, and a breath of relief escaped from the captain’s lips.
1308
1309“Captain.”
1310
1311“Yes, Major?”
1312
1313The captain answered with a tone fitting of the serious expression Canopus was wearing.
1314
1315“Keep that ship under surveillance. Since Heigu brought this ship all the way from Yokosuka to Numazu, he might be tempted to use it again to escape.”
1316
1317“Understood. I will immediately contact local agents.”
1318
1319“We will continue observing the vessel tonight.”
1320
1321“Major, aren’t you going to the mainland?”
1322
1323“We’re already past the planned time for landing. If we are to successfully complete this mission, we must avoid drawing attention as much as possible.”
1324
1325“Sir, yes, sir!”
1326
1327Nodding silently, Canopus turned his attention towards the freighter.
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333Persuaded by Virginia, Lina graciously decided to give up on going to Japan. She thought that sending Canopus wasn’t a mistake. Thinking about it, if they were to exclude Heavy Metal Burst, he might even be stronger than her, Sirius, since he was a veteran combat Magician. Lina kept repeating to herself that he never failed his duties.
1334
1335Still, Lina had come to a point where it was unbearable to not do anything.
1336
1337“…It’s true, I cannot do anything. I have to obediently remain here.
1338
1339However, if it’s about warning a fri… an acquaintance, then there should be no problem!”
1340
1341Despite the fact that no one was listening to her monologue, she felt the need to hurriedly correct herself before she could utter the word “friend”.
1342
1343Looking left and right with a red face, no matter how you looked at it, it was her excessive self-consciousness.
1344
1345Was she aware that her actions were a bit childish? Lina cleared her throat——which was quite a cutesy act in and of itself anyway——and looked towards the vision console.
1346
1347It was currently two hours past midnight. In other words, that meant Lina had been worrying until that time, but it also meant that it was just six o’clock in Japan. Even though that wasn’t planned at all, it was just what she hoped for.
1348
1349Although she had decided to phone them, if she gave herself the time to hesitate, it would have been too late. Lina psyched herself up in front of the console and dialed Miyuki’s number.
1350
1351After five blips, the screen’s light turned on. Looking at the display, her rival appeared, and compared to a year ago, her beauty had even further increased.
1352
1353[My! Lina, it’s been a while.]
1354
1355Neither envy, fear, reverence nor admiration transpired from her gaze, and she was only looking at the person named “Angelina”. Lina remembered the illusion of the water concealing her heart melting away.
1356
1357“Hello, Miyuki. It’s been awhile indeed. Is everything going well?”
1358
1359[Yes, thanks to you. Did you lose some weight I wonder? Are you alright? Aren’t you busy with your work?]
1360
1361Calling her role as the Stars’ High Commander, the duty of the Sirius, as just “work”. This spontaneous boldness gave Lina pleasant feelings.
1362
1363“My weight actually increased you know? Maybe I became more muscular.”
1364
1365[Hmm… It looks like you did shape up a bit. I’m a little jealous.]
1366
1367“Miyuki… I told you that when someone such as yourself talks like that, it sounds like sarcasm. Moreover, what’s up with you? Getting even more beautiful like that. When are you going to feel satisfied and stop?”
1368
1369[I could say the same to you, it really sounds like sarcasm when you say such things… If it seems like I look beautiful, then it’s only because of Onii-sama.]
1370
1371Lina suddenly had dejected feelings. Really, if the situation had been different… such thoughts wandered in Lina’s head, feelings of disappointment.
1372
1373“…Ah that’s true, Miyuki is now engaged to Tatsuya, right. Congratulations.”
1374
1375[Thank you very much, Lina. Still, the news spread pretty fast it seems.]
1376
1377“Well, we’re talking about the ‘Princess’ of the Yotsuba. It’s normal to bear an interest.”
1378
1379[Is that true? Then could it be that Lina called to congratulate us?]
1380
1381Lina was taken aback by Miyuki’s happy smile. And with this she remembered the purpose of her call.
1382
1383“Umm, no, sorry. It’s not really for that.”
1384
1385Hearing Lina’s apology, Miyuki slightly cocked her head to the side, but rather than being ill-humored, she was puzzled.
1386
1387[Oh my, in that case, is it an important matter?]
1388
1389Lina wanted to ask why Miyuki would show her such a cutesy face, but refrained from doing so and swallowed her retort.
1390
1391“Indeed. It’s probably a very important matter.”
1392
1393[…Would it be better if I called Onii-sama I wonder?]
1394
1395Thinking for less than a second, Lina nodded her head at Miyuki’s proposal.
1396
1397“Yes. It would be better for Tatsuya to hear this as well.”
1398
1399[Please, wait for a moment.]
1400
1401The screen entered suspension mode.
1402
1403It took roughly three seconds for the display to turn on again, and for Miyuki’s beautiful figure to reappear.
1404
1405[Lina, long time no see.]
1406
1407“Yes, Tatsuya. It has been a long time.”
1408
1409Tatsuya was sitting next to Miyuki. To Lina’s surprise, the distance between Tatsuya and Miyuki wasn’t zero.
1410
1411[I guess this would be the time where we slowly talk about how things have been going around each other, but you seem to have important business to talk about. Let’s leave the friendship talk for the next time, then. What did you want to consult us about.]
1412
1413“You haven’t changed, Tatsuya. I must say, I like that straightforward personality of yours.”
1414
1415Immediately after saying this, Lina thought “Damn it”. Using “I like” to qualify an aspect of Tatsuya while Miyuki is right next to him, isn’t that like pouring fuel on the already lit fire that is called “Miyuki’s jealousy”.
1416
1417However, once again unexpectedly, Miyuki remained calm and composed.
1418
1419This was incredibly eerie to Lina.
1420
1421“Umm… Miyuki. Aren’t you angry?”
1422
1423[Eh, about what?]
1424
1425Miyuki replied with a face that explicitly told she had no idea what Lina was talking about.
1426
1427From Miyuki’s point of view, it was natural that other women would be attracted to him, or at least find likeable points about him, so there was no reason to get angry about such trivial matters. Lina wasn’t aware of that fact however.
1428
1429“Well, let’s forget about it.”
1430
1431If she doesn’t care about it then there’s no reason to press the issue.
1432
1433Thanks to that, Lina was able to get down to business.
1434
1435“Tatsuya, Miyuki, do you remember about ‘The Seven Sages’?”
1436
1437Tatsuya and Miyuki looked at each other.
1438
1439[We remember.]
1440
1441The one who answered was Tatsuya.
1442
1443[Have you received some information from those Seven Sages?]
1444
1445While picturing Raymond Clark’s face, Tatsuya asked Lina this question. There should be no way for her to know about “The Seven Sages” identity. Never mind that Raymond was one of them.
1446
1447“Spot on.”
1448
1449As Lina didn’t have any telepathy or unusual mind powers, she couldn’t see what image went through Tatsuya’s mind at the moment. Lina also didn’t have observation powers on a level where she could see through Tatsuya’s poker face.
1450
1451“According to the information we received from them, remnants of Dahan have planned an act of terrorism in Japan.”
1452
1453Having received an answer to her own question, she answered Tatsuya’s.
1454
1455“The Mastermind is someone named Jiedo Heigu. His Chinese name is Gu Jie. He is a presumed surviving Magician from the Kunlunfang Institute… What’s wrong Miyuki?”
1456
1457Miyuki was about to raise her voice but quickly held it in, and having seen that, Lina inquired for the reason of her response.
1458
1459[The name Kunlunfang Institute holds a very special meaning for us… Forgive me for interrupting you.]
1460
1461The truth was that they had heard this name already from Raymond, that he was another member of “The Seven Sages”, Miyuki quickly covered up with a lie as Tatsuya didn’t have any reaction.
1462
1463“Ah, I see…”
1464
1465Lina knew about the connection between the Yotsuba and the Kunlunfang Institute. Considering it normal for the Yotsuba Successor to react vividly at the mention of a “Kunlunfang Institute Survivor”, Lina didn’t press the issue.
1466
1467“You might have already guessed, but we think that the possibility of the Yotsuba being Heigu’s target is pretty high.”
1468
1469[I see. Indeed, this line of thought seems to be the most plausible. Is that the reason Lina contacted Miyuki?]
1470
1471“W-well, yeah, that’s how it is.”
1472
1473Hearing Tatsuya say “I think the same”, Lina started to blush without any particular reason.
1474
1475[It’s true that both Miyuki and I are related to this matter. There is also the possibility that Miyuki would be directly targeted.]
1476
1477“Tatsuya… Don’t talk as if it’s someone else’s problem. There is a possibility that you could become a target as well.”
1478
1479To a Lina who stated so with an amazed voice,
1480
1481[It would be convenient if I was their target.]
1482
1483Tatsuya answered with a fearless expression.
1484
1485“…Well, I guess so. If they make you their target, I guess things would be wrapped up in short order.”
1486
1487Hearing his answer, Lina instinctively consented.
1488
1489Even Lina didn’t understand the extent of Tatsuya’s true power. Even though, at first, she had thought that he was a Magician skilled in Mental-Interference Magic, she came to doubt that assessment during their final battle with the Parasites.
1490
1491In a word, Tatsuya was, and still is a mysterious Magician. However, if anything, Lina couldn’t question his ability. Lina couldn’t even imagine how Magicians who had no choice but to rely on the little missiles they stole would go about dealing Tatsuya.
1492
1493[Lina, what’s wrong? You have the face of someone who just lost all her worries.]
1494
1495Lina violently jumped up at Miyuki casually revealing her thoughts.
1496
1497Why was she feeling so relieved after confirming that Tatsuya wouldn’t be done in so easily.
1498
1499“No, well, you know.”
1500
1501Hampered by the noisy sound her heart was making, she couldn’t form a proper sentence.
1502
1503“You see, how should I say it…”
1504
1505Looking at the wry smile of Tatsuya, Lina remembered how irritating it could be.
1506
1507“Ah, geez! See, to sum up, I just wanted to.”
1508
1509To tell you about Heigu, was what she was about to say, but she managed to seal her lips right before saying it.
1510
1511[I see… In other words, you were in such a hurry to tell us about Heigu that once you did what you called for, you felt relieved, is that it?]
1512
1513“Yeah, that’s right!”
1514
1515Lina showed quite the grand reaction to the figurative lifeboat that Tatsuya sent her.
1516
1517“Ah…”
1518
1519While Lina was rapidly getting redder,
1520
1521[I see. Lina, thank you very much.]
1522
1523Tatsuya ignored it and expressed his thanks to Lina.
1524
1525“Y-you don’t need to thank me! I just thought that if I didn’t tell you guys I’d have trouble sleeping, that’s all! Well then, Tatsuya, Miyuki, good night!”
1526
1527Forgetting the time difference between their countries, Lina cut off the transmission after rapidly saying her goodbye.
1528
1529She violently took off her clothes and slipped between the sheets without even putting on her pajamas.
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535Chapter 5
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540A week had passed since Tatsuya and Miyuki had received that phone call from Lina.
1541
1542Lina’s communication had been last Tuesday, and since today was Monday, six days had passed. There were still no clues about the terrorist attack or Heigu. This was the case not only for Tatsuya, but also Maya and Canopus as well, none of whom had made progress in the search for Heigu.
1543
1544Furthermore, today was February 4th. The Master Clans Conference would be held in two days’ time.
1545
1546The Master Clans Conference is the summit for the Japanese Magic Community. Even for Ancient Magicians who didn’t even accept the Ten Master Clans as the Leaders of Magicians, they couldn’t deny the influence of the Master Clans Conference. Especially this year, the Ten Master Clans Selection Meeting would be held on the second day. It would decide the next Ten Master Clans for the next 4 years, which heightened the Magician’s concerns even more.
1547
1548The students of First High, too, were restless since early morning.
1549
1550Though they were only High School Students, being Magicians themselves, they couldn’t help being concerned. Especially for people who are related to the Ten Master Clans and the 18 Assistant Houses, or people associated with the Ten Master Clans whose probability for selection was low, were anxious to the point of being incapable of concentrating in school.
1551
1552As Miyuki entered Class 2-A, the students reacted by freezing in shock, and silence fell upon the room.
1553
1554“Good morning, Shizuku, Honoka.”
1555
1556Miyuki greeted Shizuku in the seat in front and Honoka standing adjacent to Shizuku. With a greeting, she removed the spell on her classmates.
1557
1558“Miyuki!? Why did you come to school!?”
1559
1560Honoka let out a voice similar to a scream. With that, Class 2-A was filled with the loud buzz of commotion.
1561
1562“Why… Isn’t today a weekday. For a High School Student to come to school is a given, isn’t it? Or since when have I been ostracized by my friends? Or could it be bullying?”
1563
1564Miyuki tilted her head with one hand on her cheek, making a troubled expression.
1565
1566In response to the unexpected counter-attack, Honoka was bewildered.
1567
1568Shizuku too had a face which indicated that she had no idea as to how she could assist her.
1569
1570However, the troubles of the two did not continue for long.
1571
1572“I apologize, that was a joke.”
1573
1574A quick smile slipped out of Miyuki that turned into a giggle.
1575
1576“I thought you would be absent? Today’s the Master Clans Conference after all.”
1577
1578“Y-Yeah!”
1579
1580Honoka who followed-up, anxiously drew closer to Miyuki.
1581
1582“Miyuki, is it fine to not go to the Conference? After all, this time, they’re holding the selection meeting, too? Since you’re the successor, ah…”
1583
1584Honoka covered her mouth with her hand, showing an expression that she messed up.
1585
1586The classmates who heard this, turned away all at once.
1587
1588“Even though I would prefer it if you weren’t so bothered about it…”
1589
1590Miyuki put on a smile of embarrassment. But the classmates who, until recently, were concerned about her, couldn’t help but worry about her attendance.
1591
1592“So Miyuki, is it okay to not go?”
1593
1594Following Miyuki’s statement, Shizuku asked a rather bland question to break the sour mood.
1595
1596“Well, I wasn’t invited to go.”
1597
1598As Miyuki answered while smiling, gazes which seemed to say “Eh?” gathered around her.
1599
1600“I wonder if Honoka and Shizuku don’t know this. The venue of the Master Clans Conference is a secret to everyone except the attendees. For the 18 Assistant Houses attending the Selection Meeting, as of today, they are only informed about the approximate location, with the specifics about the room being used still unknown.”
1601
1602“But Miyuki is…”
1603
1604To Honoka revealing her surprise, Miyuki pleasantly smiled.
1605
1606It paralyzed Honoka’s tongue and throat.
1607
1608“I wasn’t invited. Thus, I don’t even know where the meeting will take place. It’s not that I take no interest in the contents of the meeting but if I don’t even know the general location, there’s no way I can go, right?”
1609
1610“That’s true.”
1611
1612In place of Honoka who had started blushing quietly, Shizuku nodded in agreement to Miyuki’s words.
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618At the same time, something similar was happening in Class 2-E.
1619
1620“Hmm? Tatsuya-san, why did you come to school?”
1621
1622“Good morning, Mizuki. To greet me with such a question in the morning.”
1623
1624“Eh, ah, no, about that… I’m sorry.”
1625
1626It wasn’t that Tatsuya particularly felt uncomfortable but for him to say such a thing was natural. Tatsuya had never taken long periods of absence from school, so to be questioned, “Why did you come to school”, on a Monday, the question coming out of nowhere was nothing less than a rarity.
1627
1628But on this day, it wasn’t just Mizuki who seemed to have forgotten her common sense.
1629
1630“Tatsuya-kun, is it alright for you to come to school!?”
1631
1632Opening the window noisily, Erika cried out loud without any prior greeting.
1633
1634“Erika… why do you all want me to be absent?”
1635
1636The sight of Tatsuya frowning in displeasure, beside an embarrassed Mizuki entered Erika’s sight.
1637
1638“A, ahahahahahahaha.”
1639
1640Realizing her attitude to be a little senseless, she revealed a false smile.
1641
1642Some things were impossible, even for her.
1643
1644“But still, Tatsuya. Isn’t today the start of the Master Clans Conference? Is it fine to not go there?”
1645
1646Fortunately for Erika, she wasn’t the only one who dared to venture into the minefield.
1647
1648“Why would you want to know?”
1649
1650In response to Leo’s question, without trying to play the fool, Tatsuya curiously asked a question of his own.
1651
1652“I think that to not be interested would be strange.”
1653
1654As Erika replied to Tatsuya’s question, Leo nodded his head in agreement.
1655
1656“These two are really getting along now,” Tatsuya thought while putting out another question.
1657
1658“As I said, why? Well, it does seem the amount of interested people is rather numerous but…”
1659
1660While saying that, Tatsuya glanced backwards, and his classmates hurriedly averted their eyes.
1661
1662“If you think that my relation to the Yotsuba Family is a good enough reason, then you would be mistaken. Just because a person is blood-related to the Ten Master Clans does not mean he or she can participate in the Master Clans Conference. For example, as the successor of the Juumonji Family, Juumonji-senpai attending is a given but, Saegusa-senpai is unlikely to be attending.”
1663
1664“…So that’s how it works?”
1665
1666Leo wore a face that lost interest. Conversely, Erika had an expression that seemed to express her content.
1667
1668“Therefore, even if I did know the location of the conference, I’m not interested in going. In the middle of the conference, rather than to be bored waiting, it would be more beneficial to go to school and take lessons.”
1669
1670“But still, aren’t you interested in the contents discussed in the Master Clans Conference?”
1671
1672“I’m not allowed to attend, so even if I wanted to go now, I have no way of doing so. All the results of the conference will be publicized. There’s no way for me to know the process of the discussion.”
1673
1674“Haa… in the end, we only need to follow the announcement huh?”
1675
1676“That is indeed the case.”
1677
1678If the discussion ended here, it would have been resolved under the category of small talk.
1679
1680“In the end, powerless small fry Magicians can only follow something you decided? That sounds like something Ten Master Clans-sama would say.”
1681
1682A loud monologue resounded throughout the quiet classroom which had been listening to Tatsuya.
1683
1684The source was diagonally behind Tatsuya. More accurately, it was diagonally behind Mizuki.
1685
1686“What? You have something you want to say?”
1687
1688Using her sharp eyes, Erika glared at Hirakawa Chiaki, the student who had voiced such words.
1689
1690Chiaki didn’t answer Erika’s question. If that was the extent of her reaction, it would have ended fine. But, Chiaki looked away.
1691
1692Erika’s eyes twitched upwards at the provocation.
1693
1694Erika, who was at the window, walked in through the door. Then, she headed towards Chiaki.
1695
1696“Wait a moment! Chiba-san, calm down!”
1697
1698The one who hastily blocked Erika’s way was a male student.
1699
1700Not yielding to Erika’s spirit, he tried to resolve the situation peacefully as if he was the class rep. The student in question was Tomitsuka, a man who fit the definition of a worry-wart.
1701
1702“Tomitsuka-kun, could you stand down? I have something to say to that girl.”
1703
1704“No, that will definitely end badly!”
1705
1706Tomitsuka, who certainly understood what Erika meant by “something to say”, tried desperately to dissuade Erika.
1707
1708But, as if to ruin his efforts, Chiaki stood up behind Tomitsuka.
1709
1710“Isn’t it true?”
1711
1712“What?”
1713
1714Over the shoulder of Tomitsuka, the two girls glared at each other.
1715
1716“Chiba-san, err, lessons will be starting soon…?”
1717
1718Acting like a shield for Chiaki, Tomitsuka still tried to arbitrate the issue.
1719
1720“There’s still 5 minutes.”
1721
1722But was tragically shot down.
1723
1724“So, Hirakawa-san, answer me?”
1725
1726The intensity of Erika’s gaze was such that it could even cause a grown man to shudder.
1727
1728Chiaki’s knees were currently trembling, but she still bravely replied.
1729
1730“The fact he’s related to the Ten Master Clans! Are you telling me I’m wrong?!”
1731
1732“And? It may be true that Tatsuya-kun is related to the Ten Master Clans, so what? Even if someone’s parents are from the Ten Master Clans, the children aren’t necessarily involved as well.”
1733
1734“Sophistry. Chicanery. Being a member of the Yotsuba Family behind our backs, he hid it and deceived us!”
1735
1736“Perhaps a young girl who was fortunately brought up in a normal household may not know, but children who do not take their parents’ surnames is not a rare occurrence in the Magician Community.”
1737
1738Chiaki’s tongue was tied and she was unable to reply due to the fact she knew Erika was telling the truth. That fact was common knowledge.
1739
1740“Wha-Why…”
1741
1742“Nn? If you have something you want to say, just be out with it.”
1743
1744Erika’s contemptuous tone angered Chiaki. Rage broke any reason left in her.
1745
1746“Chiba-san, why are you getting angry because of that guy!? Do you like him or something!?”
1747
1748The classmates who had been spectating the argument frowned. This was because Chiaki’s reasoning was sorely lacking in dignity for a High School Student. To put it crudely, “Whether someone likes someone or not, what does it matter? Aren’t you being an idiot?” was what they felt.
1749
1750“Are you an idiot?”
1751
1752Erika spoke those thoughts aloud.
1753
1754“Do I like Tatsuya-kun? I’m not so reckless.”
1755
1756Hearing Erika’s objection the students of Class 2-E tilted their necks in puzzlement.
1757
1758“To be a love rival against Miyuki, I’ve seen the horrors it can bring. I’d rather not risk my life in such a dangerous scenario for love.”
1759
1760If Miyuki had heard her, the situation wouldn’t have ended so simply.
1761
1762Even sympathizing with that statement would be dangerous. But, excluding Tatsuya, Chiaki and Tomitsuka——In short the spectating students of Class 2-E——deeply nodded in agreement at Erika’s words.
1763
1764“Ah, to seriously argue against such a dolt, I must look like quite the fool.”
1765
1766Saying that, Erika briskly walked out.
1767
1768“Tatsuya-kun, I’ll be returning. See you next time.”
1769
1770“Ah, see you next time.”
1771
1772Returning a wave to Tatsuya, she smiled and left Class 2-E.
1773
1774The end result was that Chiaki successfully drove off Erika.
1775
1776But Chiaki was left standing and trembling in embarrassment.
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782For High School Students, the conference might seem like something casual, but for the participating adults, the Master Clans Conference is nothing less than a serious duel, which concerned their very lives.
1783
1784The venue was in Hakone, held in a rented conference room in a luxurious hotel. As the start of the meeting approached, the seats of the round table were filled.
1785
1786Casually dressed in a copper brown sweater, that wrapped his tall and sunburnt body, was the cutthroat Head of the Ichijou Family, Ichijou Gouki. Residing in Kanazawa, he had recently celebrated his 42nd birthday a few days ago. His occupation was being a Seabed Mining Company President.
1787
1788With her hair tied up, and donning an elegant kimono, was the Head of the Futatsugi Family, Futatsugi Mai. Residing in Ashiya, 55 years old. She was a major shareholder of a Food Industry Company.
1789
1790Wearing a jacket on top of a polo shirt, coupled with a rough look, was the petite yet athletic middle-aged Head of the Mitsuya Family, Mitsuya Gen. Residing in Atsugi, 53 years old. He, for lack of a nice way of putting it, was an International Arms Dealer.
1791
1792Enveloped in a wine red formal one piece was the beautiful Head of the Yotsuba Family, Yotsuba Maya. No matter how one looked at it she looked to be only 30 years of age, but she is actually 47 years old.
1793
1794Neatly dressed but also having a plain appearance, like an unrefined businessman was the Head of the Itsuwa Family, Itsuwa Isami. Residing in Uwajima, 49 years old. He was the director and the owner, of a Shipping Company.
1795
1796Short, yet straight, brown hair, and wearing a pantsuit, the glamorous woman was the Head of the Mutsuzuka Family, Mutsuzuka Atsuko. Residing in Sendai, 29 years old. She was the owner of a Geothermal Power Plant Excavation Company.
1797
1798Somewhat old fashioned and reminiscent of the elite businessmen of the 1980’s to 1990’s, was the Head of the Saegusa Family, Saegusa Kouichi. Residing in Tokyo, 48 years old. Wearing lightly colored spectacles, even indoors, was a characteristic trait of his. He is a Venture Capitalist.
1799
1800Wearing a three-piece suit without a tie and his hair gathered up, was the Head of the Yatsushiro Family, Yatsushiro Raizou. Residing in Fukuoka, 31 years old. He was a lecturer in at a university and a major shareholder of a Multi-Communication Company.
1801
1802Dressed in an overseas brand three-piece, the white-haired gentleman was the Head of the Kudou Family, Kudou Makoto. Residing in Ikoma, 64 years old. He was the shareholder, investor and creditor of various Military Industrial Companies.
1803
1804The bald man in full formal Japanese attire, a haori hakama, was the Head of the Juumonji Family, Juumonji Kazuki. Residing in Tokyo, 44 years old. He was the owner of a Civil Engineering and Construction Company that has a connection with the National Defense Force.
1805
1806These were the current Ten Master Clans, and their respective Heads. In addition, only Juumonji Kazuki was accompanied by his son, Katsuto.
1807
1808Once all the members were present, the door closed. The one who locked the door was the youngest of them all, Katsuto.
1809
1810“Juumonji-dono, has your condition improved?”
1811
1812The first to speak was the eldest, Kudou Makoto.
1813
1814All Families were equal within the Ten Master Clans. There was no hierarchy of any sort. Such a belief was obvious due to the usage of a round table in the hotel.
1815
1816But to carry out a meeting without a chairperson was unconducive. So among the Family Heads, it had become an unwritten law that the eldest would have the role of facilitating the meeting.
1817
1818Makoto inquiring about Juumonji Kazuki’s health condition was due to the fact that previously he had been absent from the Master Clans Conference, with Katsuto going in his place. For the other Heads, it had been actually 3 years since their last meeting with Kazuki.
1819
1820“In regards to that, I have an announcement to make to everyone.”
1821
1822Hearing Makoto’s words, Kazuki stood up. Speaking while seating was the standard in the Master Clans Conference so his attitude seemed to give the feeling that it was an important announcement.
1823
1824“This may be sudden but, I, Juumonji Kazuki, will use this meeting as a means of handing over the seat of Head of the Juumonji Family to my son Katsuto. With that in mind, I would like all of you present to bear witness.”
1825
1826Exchanging glances with surrounding members, while staring at Kazuki, each Head had varied responses but, not one of them freely chattered.
1827
1828“That is quite a brash thing to say.”
1829
1830Makoto said on behalf of all the other members present.
1831
1832“I have been considering this for quite some time. Having reached adulthood, I believe Katsuto has also been thinking about it. Occupying the seat of the Head and having no ability as a Magician… such a thing, not only speaking for the Juumonji Family, but for the Ten Master Clans, would not be desirable. Thus I’ve made such a decision.”
1833
1834“You mean to say, you can no longer use magic?”
1835
1836The person who asked this was Ichijou Gouki. In the Master Clans Conference, difficult topics that had to be broached were numerous.
1837
1838“Since 3 years ago, I have been suffering from a disease that has caused a decline in my magic power. 2 years ago, I was at the stage where I could no longer fight, as such virtually left all the duties of being Head to Katsuto. And then 3 months ago, I lost all use of my magical abilities.”
1839
1840Kazuki’s explosive message reverberated amongst everyone.
1841
1842“A sickness that causes a decline in magic? This is the first time I heard of such a thing. I know this is impolite but, as a Magician this is a big problem. Do you have more information? Are there no cures?”
1843
1844The person asking was Saegusa Kouichi. For him, when in the Master Clans Conference, talking came first and the debate second.
1845
1846“Saegusa-dono, such a worry is unnecessary. For it is unique to the Juumonji Family.”
1847
1848“Unique only to your family? Are you sure?”
1849
1850“Saegusa-dono.”
1851
1852As Kouichi tried to question further, he was softly chided by Maya.
1853
1854“It would be better if you refrain from asking anything more than that.”
1855
1856“That is true. Do not pry into the business of other families. That is a rule not only followed by the Ten Master Clans, but the Magic Community as a whole. It is as Yotsuba-dono says, shall we cease such questioning? Juumonji-dono has already said that Magicians of other families will not catch such a disease, isn’t that good enough?”
1857
1858Futatsugi Mai followed up on Maya’s opinion. After Kudou Makoto, as the next eldest, she held the role of being the arbitrator during the Master Clans Conference.
1859
1860“Very well, I understand. Juumonji-dono, I apologize for my actions.”
1861
1862Kouichi withdrew quietly. Let alone Maya, he had no reason to be stubborn towards Mai.
1863
1864“No, I don’t really mind it.”
1865
1866As Kouichi replied as such, Kazuki faced Maya and Mai and showed gratitude with his eyes.
1867
1868“Now then, everyone. Are there any opinions about the Juumonji’s Succession?”
1869
1870About Kazuki’s question,
1871
1872“Even without our presence, I know it would be fine for the Juumonji’s Family matters to be settled internally, but… I have no objections. I would happily bear witness to the succession of Katsuto-dono.”
1873
1874“I too have no objections. Rather, I think it’s quite an honor. I would happily be a witness.”
1875
1876As Maya raised her volume, Mutsuzuka Atsuko continued. Atsuko had an admiration for Maya, so often when disputes broke out, she would often take Maya’s side. One of the Yotsuba Branch Families, the Shibata Family’s eldest son, Katsushige commuted to Sendai’s Fifth High School. Such a thing was partially due to the friendliness of Atsuko to Maya.
1877
1878“I have no intention to protest against other family’s succession matters. I wish Katsuto-dono the best of luck in his future role as the Head. It’s unfortunate for Kazuki-dono, but, for putting forth so much effort for the Japanese Magic Community, thank you for your hard work.”
1879
1880Perhaps because of what happened earlier, Kouichi actively showed his support.
1881
1882With both Maya and Kouichi accepting Kazuki’s proposal in concert, the remaining Heads congratulated Katsuto, and gave words of appreciation for Kazuki.
1883
1884“Now Katsuto-dono. As the new Head of the Juumonji Family, please sit in that seat.”
1885
1886Lastly, Makoto prompted Katsuto, recognizing him as the Head of the Juumonji Family.
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892Sent by Katsuto to this room, Kazuki left the room, Katsuto sat in the seat for the Head of the Juumonji Family. With that adjustment, the Master Clans Conference began.
1893
1894“Then Ichijou-dono.”
1895
1896“The mountain recesses of the Hokuriku-San’in regions have seen no movement that might become a problem. There have been no signs observed that the New Soviet Union and the Great Asian Alliance are working on an intrusion.”
1897
1898Prompted by Makoto, Gouki made a report on the observations of the activities of opposing governments.
1899
1900“Mutsuzuka-dono.”
1901
1902“The Tōhoku region has seen no irregularities.”
1903
1904“Futatsugi-dono.”
1905
1906“Hanshin is as usual. Should there be any eyesores, I will immediately set out to clean it up.”
1907
1908“…Futatsugi-dono, be careful. Itsuwa-dono.”
1909
1910“No movements have been observed in the Shikoku region.”
1911
1912“Yatsushiro-dono.”
1913
1914“Much like the Hanshin region, the Kitakyushu region is as usual.”
1915
1916“Is that so? Keep a look out and be careful.”
1917
1918This report was in regards to the activities in the areas which each family was in charge of. The Hokkaidō, Ogasawara and Okinawa regions were under the jurisdiction of the Magicians from the National Defense Forces, even the Ten Master Clans could not raise a hand so easily.
1919
1920Other than those areas, the mountain areas of the Hokuriku-San’in region is under the Ichijou Family, Tōhoku the Mutsuzuka Family, Hanshin-Chūgoku the Futatsugi Family, Shikoku the Itsuwa Family, the Kyushu area excluding Okinawa was under the Yatsushiro Family, and Kyōto—Nara-Shiga-Kii the Kudou Family. Furthermore, the Mitsuya Family actively provided the know-how to the Magicians of the Defense Forces and of the applications of the Third Research Laboratory, while cooperating with the other Houses of the “Three”.
1921
1922The Saegusa Family as well as the Juumonji Family were in charge of the Kantō region, including Izu, while the Yotsuba Family is in charge of Tōkai as well as the Gifu-Nagano Prefectures.
1923
1924“Saegusa-dono.”
1925
1926“The Kantō region has had an increase in anti-Magician activities. It’s not at the level where interference is necessary, but I think sooner or later we will have to make a move. Also, there was some suspicious activity in Yokosuka. Perhaps they are planning sabotage.”
1927
1928“Does Juumonji-dono share the same thoughts?”
1929
1930“In regards to the anti-Magician movement, the Juumonji Family and I share the same opinion as Saegusa-dono. In regards to the saboteur, it is unfortunate, but we couldn’t catch him.”
1931
1932“Hmm. Regarding the so-called Humanists, let’s discuss this later. Then, Yotsuba-dono.”
1933
1934“While absent in Kantō, the Humanists have begun encroaching upon Tōkai. Now then, Saegusa-dono, Juumonji-dono.”
1935
1936“Yotsuba-dono, what is it?”
1937
1938Addressed by Maya, Kouichi answered with a smile. In that smile, elements other than sociability were slightly mixed in. The only time Kouichi would show a fluctuation of any emotion was when the other member of the conversation was Maya.
1939
1940For Maya, she had never directed a gaze of concern towards Kouichi.
1941
1942No matter what, she would always return a look that seemed to say whatever.
1943
1944“There is suspicious activity in Izu. We propose tighter surveillance.”
1945
1946Now was no exception. Glancing coldly and uninterestedly at Kouichi, the eye that seemed to ask why are you looking at me, then only gave a perfunctory reply.
1947
1948“I understand. If you don’t mind, could you explain a little as to what kind of activity it was.”
1949
1950The one who said so in a dignified voice was Katsuto. Though surrounded by seniors, he seemed to be indifferent to such a fact.
1951
1952“I don’t mind. Last week, a small cargo ship that arrived at the Yokosuka Port via the North American route is currently anchored at the Numazu Port. We were observing that cruiser owned by the USNA Embassy. As of now, the embassy’s cruiser disappeared but, our surveillance of the cargo ship is still continued.
1953
1954“Yotsuba-dono, do you know of the whereabouts of the cruiser?”
1955
1956Kouichi posed another question towards Maya.
1957
1958“I don’t know. Perhaps it is at sea.”
1959
1960Though it seemed like Maya gave an irresponsible reply, originally it was supposed to be Kouichi that was responsible for investigating. The Juumonji Family is better suited for combat. so even though both were in charge of the Kanto-Izu region, the Saegusa Family was in charge of the investigation work.
1961
1962“Very well, our family will investigate this issue. With the increase in anti-Magician activity… if that cargo ship has humanist passengers, then the USNA authorities might chase it as well. Numazu is Yotsuba-dono’s territory but, the issue is that ship entered the harbor of Yokosuka. Our family will continue to pursue this as well.”
1963
1964Obviously understanding that, Kouichi summarized the situation flawlessly.
1965
1966“Eh, I look forward to working with you.”
1967
1968Nodding, Maya did not further discuss the topic of Heigu’s boat and Canopus’ cruiser.
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974As the regular reports concluded, the conference room’s atmosphere changed.
1975
1976“Kudou-dono. Firstly, I have something I would like ask about this location.”
1977
1978The remark which heralded trouble was made by Kouichi.
1979
1980“Saegusa-dono, go ahead.”
1981
1982With a sighing expression of patience, Makoto prompted Kouichi to go ahead.
1983
1984“Very well, thank you for sparing me some time.”
1985
1986Saying that, Kouichi faced Maya.
1987
1988Once again, a certain mood drifted from Mutsuzuka Atsuko to Yatsushiro Raizou. Kouichi (with a gentlemanly attitude) turned to Maya, something that could be said to be a familiar sight in the Master Clans Conference.
1989
1990“Yotsuba-dono, congratulations on your decision about your successor.”
1991
1992“Thank you.”
1993
1994Both Kouichi and Maya had fake smiles plastered on their faces.
1995
1996Beneath the façade, Kouichi had a provocative glimmer in his eye, while Maya returned a cold gaze. No matter how one looked at it, both seemed ready to fight.
1997
1998“But, regarding your son’s engagement issue, I’m afraid I cannot agree to that.”
1999
2000“Why? If I remember correctly, personal issues like marriage have no necessity to seek approval from the Master Clans Conference. Am I wrong?”
2001
2002Before any voices of approval could be interleaved, Maya rebutted Kouichi.
2003
2004“Indeed if it was only a marriage, I wouldn’t be saying this. But when the possibility of ruining potential talent exists, it’s a different story.”
2005
2006With the exception of Kouichi and Maya, everyone’s eyes focused on Ichijou Gouki.
2007
2008Gouki’s mouth was twisted into a bent shape, with arms folded. His face seemed to voice his thoughts “In such a place and time…”
2009
2010How does consanguineous marriage impact a Magician’s quality? Such research has not made much progress, and thus is a topic yet to be concluded. Some researchers have claimed it is harmful, while some have claimed it beneficial. But, above the fact that the risk of genetic abnormalities is assumed, it is considered that it is better that marriages with blood relationships too close be avoided. Actually among the Numbers, the law tends to discourage even marriage among cousins.
2011
2012Kudou Makoto interlaced his fingers on the table, closing his eyes. From the side, he looked like he was deep in thought.
2013
2014“It’s just an inclination, it is not forbidden. There are real examples too.”
2015
2016The one who refuted Kouichi in a weary voice was not Maya.
2017
2018“Eh. Just as Yatsushiro-dono said, even among the 28 Houses, there are sanguineous couples. But in that case, they have different mothers. Considering Yotsuba-dono’s current case, it cannot be discussed on an equal basis.”
2019
2020“Even if they weren’t cousins, you can go back to the grandparents and find the father is related by being cousins with the other’s husband. Even when the blood relations are distant, the element of risk still exists in sanguineous marriage, doesn’t it?”
2021
2022This time it was Mutsuzuka Atsuko who refuted Kouichi’s claim.
2023
2024“The risk is never zero. The only question is to what degree, Mutsuzuka-dono.”
2025
2026But, Atsuko’s remark could not cause Kouichi to falter.
2027
2028“The reason I object to the Yotsuba Family’s Successors’ engagement, is that they are monozygotic twins, with very close blood ties. No different from a marriage between half-siblings. Is that not the case?”
2029
2030Atsuko did not reply. Kouichi ignoring his emotional intention, his logic held persuasion.
2031
2032“A marriage between cousins may be recognized by law. But if it becomes a marriage between half-siblings, then it could even be called a circumvention of the law.”
2033
2034“Saegusa-dono, that is going too far.”
2035
2036Futatsugi Mai gently restrained the extreme phrase, circumvention of the law. But, Mai didn’t seem to show any intention to oppose Kouichi’s claim.
2037
2038“Apologies. I’ve indeed gone too far. Please forgive me, Yotsuba-dono.”
2039
2040Maya ignored Kouichi’s apology.
2041
2042“So in the end, what do you want to say Saegusa-dono?”
2043
2044Ignoring everything, she cut straight to the point to seek what Kouichi’s request was.
2045
2046Stopping even Kouichi’s smooth tongue, Kouichi’s face in the direction between Itsuwa Isami and Mutsuzuka Atsuko, staring at Maya.
2047
2048“What I seek is very simple. I believe the successor to the Yotsuba Family, Shiba Miyuki-dono, and Shiba Tatsuya-dono’s engagement should be cancelled.”
2049
2050Maya returned Kouichi’s stare.
2051
2052Both Maya and Kouichi’s line of sight met.
2053
2054Hidden beneath his light colored lenses, the emotion that crossed his remaining left eye was either joy or hatred.
2055
2056“My apologies. May I add in something?”
2057
2058The person who cut into the high tension between the two was Ichijou Gouki.
2059
2060“Yotsuba-dono, though our family has yet to receive an answer from yours, I should admit that what Saegusa-dono has said was influenced by us. As such, could you please consider our request?”
2061
2062“The issue regarding the request for the engagement between your family’s Masaki-dono and Miyuki?”
2063
2064“Yes.”
2065
2066Returning a face of fortitude, Maya languidly sighed deeply.
2067
2068“Masaki-dono is the Ichijou Family’s successor is he not? Miyuki has also been confirmed as the successor of our family. Even if I put aside the fact that it is inappropriate of you to request an engagement when a prior one has been confirmed, what you speak of is impossible.”
2069
2070Maya clearly sought to offend Gouki——or so was her guise——
2071
2072Gouki replied in a chilly tone.
2073
2074“I apologize for being rude. But we too are making a serious request. It is not a joke of any sort.”
2075
2076“A serious request? To seek the hand of my niece who’s already engaged to someone, what part of that is a serious request?”
2077
2078“My son genuinely hopes to tie the knot with Miyuki-dono. If you were to accept our proposal of marriage, then we intend to give Masaki to the Yotsuba Family.”
2079
2080The round table was astir. Carrying the title of “Crimson Prince”, Ichijou Masaki demonstrated a degree of power that’s combat worthy of that title even at the age of 13, also during the 2095 Yokohama Incident, even now as a 17-year-old youth, his reputation as a first-class combat magician is well known throughout the Ten Master Clans.
2081
2082For Gouki to say that it would be fine to let go of such an heir. No matter how one looked at it, the deal was very much favorable to the Yotsuba Family. Since there was no amount of deception in Gouki’s words, even Maya had to recognize the proposition.
2083
2084“Is that so? But I still cannot accept your request.”
2085
2086Although the discomfort disappeared from Maya’s expression, her attitude did not turn cold.
2087
2088“…The reason, may I hear it?”
2089
2090“For Ichijou-dono, as a parent, to hope to fulfill your child’s wishes, that is something I understand as well. But if Ichijou-dono has considered your child’s feelings, then as an aunt, I must also consider my niece’s feelings.”
2091
2092“Miyuki-dono’s feelings?”
2093
2094“Yes. My niece, Miyuki, likes my son Tatsuya. I believe that Tatsuya too cares for Miyuki. I wish to respect both their feelings.”
2095
2096To Maya’s words, Futatsugi Mai and Mutsuzuka Atsuko both deeply nodded. Such words after all resonated more easily with the female gender.
2097
2098“Are Miyuki’s feelings unmovable? Could you perhaps give Masaki a chance?”
2099
2100“A Chance?”
2101
2102“Miyuki-dono likely does not know much about Masaki yet.”
2103
2104“Is that not the same for Masaki-dono? Aside from appearance, your son likely does not know much about Miyuki.”
2105
2106Subtly saying “Masaki was only attracted to her looks” made Gouki feel very ashamed. Despite it being the truth, he was defiant.
2107
2108“Thus, I hope you would give them a chance for them to become acquainted. If both of them get to know each other well, and still she refuses to choose Masaki, then we will give up.”
2109
2110“Ichijou-dono… Are you aware that since earlier, your family has been rather disrespectful to both Miyuki and Tatsuya? Especially towards my son, Tatsuya. What Ichijou-dono is saying can only be interpreted as calling Tatsuya inferior as a man in comparison to Masaki-dono.”
2111
2112Gouki was at a loss of words. He had no intention of saying so but, he may have spoken out as a doting parent.
2113
2114Towards Maya’s harsh words, even Mai, who’s role as the stopper, did not say anything to chide her. This was to say that the majority of the Family Heads felt that Gouki should be accountable for what he said.
2115
2116Then Kouichi who did not think so, once again dredged up his claims.
2117
2118“However if one were to shelve their romantic feelings and look at it objectively, I think an engagement between Masaki-dono and Miyuki-dono would be a good match. More than anything, it would avoid any harm that could come from a sanguineous marriage.”
2119
2120“Saegusa-dono… Are you saying that Miyuki-dono’s feelings are not worthy of consideration?”
2121
2122Mitsuya Gen, who had been silent until then, reproved Kouichi in a bitter voice.
2123
2124But Kouichi did not withdraw.
2125
2126“Suppressing one’s emotions to a degree is necessary, especially as a successor to one of the Ten Master Clans. Is that not the case for everyone here?”
2127
2128No voice of objection gave rise. What Kouichi said, everyone present knew.
2129
2130“Also, Miyuki-dono is still young. If she were to get to know Masaki-dono, she may change her feelings.”
2131
2132“Is that so… chemistry between a man and a woman, if they do not get to know each other, one will never know.”
2133
2134The first voice who supported Kouichi, was Itsuwa Isami.
2135
2136But the one who was most surprised at Isami’s words was most likely Kouichi. Though not apparent in his expression, Kouichi doubted Isami’s intent in his heart.
2137
2138“I too thought it was a good pair, requesting for an engagement with Saegusa-dono’s daughter, but… Mayumi-dono and Hiroshi’s character didn’t mix well, and in the end it did not go anywhere.”
2139
2140As Isami said, right before the Master Clans Conference, the Itsuwa Family broke off talks of marriage.
2141
2142“Kouichi’s claim that an engagement between the Ichijou Family’s Masaki-dono and the Yotsuba Family’s Miyuki-dono is reasonable. Their marriage will bring more and more development to Japan’s Magic Community. Not to mention Ichijou-dono has said he is willing to give the Yotsuba Family Masaki-dono, I don’t think it’s such a bad deal to Yotsuba-dono.”
2143
2144With Isami’s support, the winds began to change. In that instant, the tail wind was definitely blowing for Kouichi and Gouki.
2145
2146But that wind was about to be broken in an instant.
2147
2148“Itsuwa-dono. Our family does not consider or seek benefits from Miyuki’s marriage.”
2149
2150Isami awkwardly looked down. Having realized his intention to induce discussion about short-term gain and loss, Maya flatly rejected him.
2151
2152“I understand your stance; Miyuki is still young. I cannot say that the possibility of her feelings to change is zero. But that is as far as I can say, I think Masaki-dono should put in his own effort to move Miyuki’s heart. If Masaki were steal Miyuki away from Tatsuya, then even I wouldn’t tie up Miyuki. To the Yotsuba Family, we will serve any command from Miyuki, but we may yield regarding the seat of the son-in-law.”
2153
2154“So the engagement is not annulled?”
2155
2156“In exchange, you would not mind if Masaki-dono were to go after Miyuki-dono?”
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162Makoto and Mai confirmed Maya’s meaning.
2163
2164“That interpretation is fine. In the first place, dare I say, that Miyuki and Tatsuya’s marriage is a legitimate thing recognized by the law. It’s not anything that must result in accepting any objection by the law, is it?”
2165
2166To Maya’s words, Mai nodded.
2167
2168“It is certainly as Yotsuba-dono said. Sanguineous marriage does indeed carry some risk. That said, Saegusa-dono’s claim exceeds the scope of decisions that can be made in the Master Clans Conference.”
2169
2170Mai then moved her gaze from Kouichi to Gouki.
2171
2172“Ichijou-dono, is that fine? Yotsuba-dono has said that despite Miyuki-dono’s engagement, she will allow your son to interact with Miyuki-dono. The parents will not interfere with anything beyond that.”
2173
2174“…I understand. I will convey that to my son.”
2175
2176“I too, am fine with that.”
2177
2178Both Gouki and Kouichi decided to lay down arms.
2179
2180“By the way, the allowing of one to date while they have a fiancée also apply to Tatsuya-dono?”
2181
2182Of course, Kouichi was not of the type that would raise the white flag without conditions.
2183
2184Under the gaze of Maya and Mai, Kouichi made a smile.
2185
2186“As Itsuwa-dono has said earlier, the talks for the engagement between Itsuwa Family’s Hirofumi and our Mayumi have broken down. If it goes well, I was hoping for Mayumi to marry Tatsuya-dono.”
2187
2188Kudou Retsu had been once referred to as a “Trickster” due to his magic, but perhaps in terms of personality, Kouichi possessed similar traits.
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194As everyone was tired from the miasma thrown by Kouichi, the Master Clans Conference had a break.
2195
2196Then ten minutes later, this time it was Maya who began with a bombshell.
2197
2198Not an iffy thing like Kouichi’s claim, but a big scandal.
2199
2200“Everyone, I have something I would like to say.”
2201
2202“Oh. An issue raised by Yotsuba-dono is indeed rare. What would it be about.”
2203
2204Encouraged by Makoto, Maya smiled at Kouichi.
2205
2206A shudder ran down the spines of the rest of the Ten Master Clans Heads’. The extent of their antagonism was such that even Katsuto who had yet to see it felt the same.
2207
2208Maya slowly opened her glossy red lips.
2209
2210“Has everyone heard of a man that goes by the name of Zhou Gongjin?”
2211
2212The moment Maya said that, Makoto’s body stiffened. Though Kouichi did not show any reaction but non-reaction was the same as saying that he indeed had knowledge about the subject.
2213
2214“Zhou Gongjin…?”
2215
2216“Yotsuba-dono, isn’t that the famous Zhou Yu of Wu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?”
2217
2218Maya shook her head while smiling in response to Mutsuzuka Atsuko and Yatsushiro Raizou’s questions.
2219
2220“Basing his headquarters in Yokohama’s Chinatown, he’s an Ancient Magician born on the continent. Taoists, I believe they were called, correct, Kudou-dono?”
2221
2222“A, aah. Ancient Magicians from the continent are often called as such.”
2223
2224Makoto used all his strength to suppress his body from trembling.
2225
2226“Kudou-dono, what happened? You seem to have a bad complexion.”
2227
2228“No, it’s nothing, Mutsuzuka-dono.”
2229
2230After tilting her head at the suspicious attitude of Makoto, she turned back to Maya’s direction.
2231
2232“So, what about this Zhou Gongjin?”
2233
2234“Anti-Magic International Political Organization ‘Blanche’. Hong Kong based International Crime Syndicate ‘No-Head Dragon’. The sabotage forces of the Great Asian Alliance that caused the Yokohama Incident. And then the incident that took place in the heart of Tokyo, the Vampire Incident which took the world by storm: ‘Parasites’. He is the man who helped orchestrate all of this, the mastermind that brought chaos to our country, or should I say, the mastermind designated to cause trouble in Japan.”
2235
2236The conference room had a bustling atmosphere.
2237
2238It wasn’t that there was an increase in chatter, there were barely ten people in the room. It was not a topic one could freely discuss with those next to them.
2239
2240But even so, the shock that took away the calm and composed attitudes of the Heads of the Ten Master Clans stemmed from Maya’s short speech.
2241
2242“Yotsuba-dono.”
2243
2244Facing Maya, Raizou softly raised his hand. It seemed to be an unintentional habit from university.
2245
2246“Just now you used the word ‘designated’ in past tense, which is to say he has already been disposed of? Or that he has fled the country?”
2247
2248“Assisted by Ichijou Masaki-dono, and Kudou Minoru-dono, Zhou Gongjin was killed by Tatsuya last October.”
2249
2250Makoto expressed a feeling of surprise. He had heard the report from Masaki but he didn’t hear from Minoru.
2251
2252However, the change in his facial expression was not noticed by the other Heads. This was because all eyes were concentrated on Maya, excluding Kouichi, Gouki and Makoto, the Heads were nodding in admiration.
2253
2254“Minoru-dono, which is to say, Kudou-dono’s youngest son?”
2255
2256Makoto barely faked a smile while nodding to Raizou’s question.
2257
2258“The Ichijou Family’s Masaki-dono, the Yotsuba Family’s Tatsuya-dono, and the Kudou Family’s Minoru-dono… how reliable.”
2259
2260Mitsuya Gen broadly complimented.
2261
2262“That’s right. It really brings me joy to hear the next generation is growing up so splendidly. I can believe that the future of Japan’s Magic Community is secure.”
2263
2264Futatsugi Mai accompanied.
2265
2266“Both Juumonji-dono and I feel that, even though they will only be juniors in the next generation, they are indeed reliable.”
2267
2268Mutsuzuka Atsuko’s words invited laughter from the seniors.
2269
2270However the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by Maya’s next words.
2271
2272“Saegusa-dono. Were you in collusion with Zhou Gongjin?”
2273
2274The round table returned to silence.
2275
2276“…Yotsuba-dono, does that claim have a legitimate basis?”
2277
2278Itsuwa Isami squeezed out in a hoarse voice.
2279
2280Kouichi remained silent.
2281
2282“Saegusa-dono. You used your subordinate, Nakura Saburou, to establish contact with Zhou Gongjin, indirectly using Civil Rights Party’s Congressman Kanda to instigate the anti-Magician movement. Do you have any objections?”
2283
2284Kouichi slowly opened his mouth.
2285
2286“Yotsuba-dono, I too, would like to hear the basis of this.”
2287
2288Kouichi and Maya coldly glared at each other.
2289
2290“If I may speak.”
2291
2292In that tense moment, it was the youngest, Katsuto, who spoke up.
2293
2294In spite of the gazes focused on him, Katsuto began his testimony in a calm tone.
2295
2296“The fact that Saegusa-dono instigated the anti-Magician movement is the truth. I heard it from Saegusa-dono himself.”
2297
2298All the gazes on Katsuto, shifted to Kouichi.
2299
2300“Saegusa-dono, do you have any excuses?”
2301
2302Atsuko sharply cross-examined Kouichi.
2303
2304Kouichi had a smile that had a feeling of complacency and calmness.
2305
2306“What Juumonji-dono said is true. What Yotsuba-dono said is somewhat true as well. Just that the order is somewhat mistaken.”
2307
2308“The order? What do you mean?”
2309
2310Gouki spat out. But Kouichi’s smile did not falter.
2311
2312“My subordinate established contact with Zhou Gongjin, only after the anti-Magician movement was more stable after First High’s Stellar Furnace Experiment. Aah, now that we’re on this topic, that too was the achievement of Yotsuba Family’s Tatsuya-dono. That experiment was highly evaluated by Rozen’s Branch, and radically changed the winds. What a spectacular son.”
2313
2314“So, what about it?”
2315
2316Gouki irritatedly rebuked Kouichi.
2317
2318Kouichi did not delay the conversation any longer, or do anything that could irritate Gouki.
2319
2320“When I established contact with Zhou Gongjin, it was to stop the Mass Media’s attempts to target Magicians as a whole. Of course, I had to give something in return, something that would be disadvantageous to Japan’s Magic Community.”
2321
2322“Aa, you’re right. You joined hands with Zhou Gongjin after the instigation of the anti-Magician movement.”
2323
2324Maya frankly admitted Kouichi’s claim.
2325
2326“But the fact that Zhou Gongjin caused so much harm to our country is an indisputable fact. To collaborate with someone like that, is very inappropriate for someone from the Ten Master Clans. Everyone, is that not the case?”
2327
2328The reason Maya wasn’t overly respectful with her words was due to this.
2329
2330“Certainly.”
2331
2332Ichijou Gouki expressed his consent briefly.
2333
2334“It is as Yotsuba-dono said.”
2335
2336Mutsuzuka Atsuko, “Unfortunately, it is as she said.”
2337
2338Yatsushiro Raizou, “Saegusa-dono, at the time, I too said that it would have been better for you to stop.”
2339
2340Juumonji Katsuto, “Saegusa-dono may have had his own ideas but…”
2341
2342Itsuwa Isami, “I cannot defend Saegusa-dono.”
2343
2344Mitsuya Gen, “Saegusa-dono. No matter what your intents were, you crossed a line you should never cross, and collaborated with someone you never should have.”
2345
2346Futatsugi Mai, everyone supported Maya.
2347
2348Kouichi, who was still smiling, was now cornered.
2349
2350Gouki, Atsuko, Raizou, Katsuto, Isami, Gen, Mai’s eyes, all pointed in Kudou Makoto’s direction, who had yet to express his opinion.
2351
2352But what Mai said to Kouichi at the end applied to Makoto as well.
2353
2354Though it could be said that his circumstances were different from Kouichi, he too had been in collusion with Zhou Gongjin.
2355
2356Makoto’s worries were interrupted by a knock on the door.
2357
2358“Would you mind if I enter?”
2359
2360The voice that likely came from the other side of the door was from an old man that all the members knew very well.
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366Sitting closest to the door, Katsuto stood up and looked at the rest.
2367
2368Though there were others who agreed, no one was shaking their head.
2369
2370Katsuto walked to the doorway, and opened the door.
2371
2372Standing behind the door was the retired Kudou Retsu.
2373
2374“Sensei, I haven’t seen you in a long time. Even so, what business do you have today?”
2375
2376Mai invited Retsu in cordially. Katsuto tried to offer his seat but, Retsu smiled and waved his hand.
2377
2378“Apologies but, I overheard the topic at hand.”
2379
2380Retsu immediately cut to the chase.
2381
2382Though there was nobody who would call it into question, it was a rule that the topics of discussion during the Conference were to remain absolutely confidential. The Kudou Family wasn’t the first to use methods to leak the general basis of the conference.
2383
2384“For everyone to hold Kouichi accountable is obvious. But, I would like for that to be put on hold.”
2385
2386Retsu referred to Kouichi not as “Saegusa-dono” but by his first name.
2387
2388By doing so, he made it clear that his intent was not to speak as a former member of the Master Clans Conference but as the Patriarch of Japan’s Magic Community——the speech of an old man who held no authority.
2389
2390“Instigating the anti-Magician movement was something I too discussed with Kouichi. And I did not stop Kouichi.”
2391
2392Glances were exchanged in a flurry across the round table. Excluding Maya, Kouichi and Makoto; Gouki, Mai, Gen, Isami, Atsuko, Raizou, and Katsuto were all contemplating Retsu’s real intentions. Makoto wasn’t even aware of his father’s intentions. The only people who had guessed Retsu’s motive were Maya and Kouichi.
2393
2394“Also, if you’re talking about relations with Zhou Gongjin, then the Kudou Family is not innocent either. Although we did discuss this plan, we hadn’t take any concrete actions. I took the magic provided by Zhou Gongjin to use Parasites as non-human magical weapons, with innocent young people as guinea pigs. If Maya’s son did not stop it, then something irreversible might have occurred.”
2395
2396As Retsu faced Maya, she nodded and faintly smiled. She had intended to strike Kouichi firmly, but she wasn’t driven by that goal. If Retsu wanted to cover for Kouichi, she had no intention of ruining the student-teacher relationship.
2397
2398“If you compare the actions we took, Kouichi’s do not exceed mine in severity.”
2399
2400“But Sensei.”
2401
2402Retsu turned towards Gouki’s direction and signaled for him to stop speaking.
2403
2404“The Kudou Family shall retire from the Ten Master Clans. With that, could you consider this case concluded?”
2405
2406“Senior…”
2407
2408Makoto looked up at his father with a shocked expression.
2409
2410As Retsu made his suggestion, he directed a harsh glance towards his son.
2411
2412“Makoto, you are guilty of directly accommodating Zhou Gongjin. The incident caused by the Taoists sent by Zhou Gongjin has greatly inconvenienced Yotsuba-dono’s son, and Ichijou-dono’s son. For this kind of outcome, you should be speaking up, not me.”
2413
2414“Senior… Father!”
2415
2416“Makoto, I’m disappointed in you.”
2417
2418“Sensei, would that be okay with you?”
2419
2420The one who soothed Retsu was Maya.
2421
2422“If the Kudou Family takes full responsibility for this, then the Yotsuba Family shall consent. It would be fine if Saegusa-dono makes amends with future contributions.”
2423
2424Retsu did not cover for Kouichi just because of their teacher and student relationship. Makoto, his son, would hold higher priority in that case.
2425
2426Currently, the magic group with the most power in Japan isn’t the Nation Defense Force, but actually the Yotsuba Family followed closely by the Saegusa Family. These two Families are the two greatest authorities in the Japanese Magic Community. If the Saegusa Family was to be excluded from the Ten Master Clans, it would be a very undesirable outcome. For the sake of maintaining order, they must remain a part of the Ten Master Clans.
2427
2428To ensure the Ten Master Clans that he created would survive, Retsu covered for Kouichi. Maya seeing through his intentions wasn’t difficult.
2429
2430“If Yotsuba-dono says so…”
2431
2432“It’s certainly true that if the Saegusa Family were to be removed from the Ten Master Clans, the hole left behind would be too great.”
2433
2434Atsuko and Raizou agreed with Maya successively. Yet Kouichi’s only eye still remind cold.
2435
2436There were no voices of objection.
2437
2438Kouichi looked at the circumstances with a poker face that lacked a smile.
2439
2440Maya faced such a Kouichi and gave a smile.
2441
2442“Makoto, let’s go.”
2443
2444Ordered by Retsu, Makoto stood up tardily from the Ten Master Clans seat.
2445
2446“Everyone, excuse us.”
2447
2448Retsu lightly nodded and left the meeting room.
2449
2450Makoto followed behind with drooping shoulders.
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456The door shut with a pattern sound.
2457
2458“Very well then.”
2459
2460As the stopped time began moving, Itsuwa Isami started with a harried voice.
2461
2462“We must decide on a family to replace the Kudou Family.”
2463
2464“Tomorrow is the Selection Meeting. Why not do it then?”
2465
2466Mitsuya Gen objected, “In the event where a vacancy occurs in the Ten Master Clans, a replacement member will be chosen to fill in that role. Even if it would only be a day, the Ten Master Clans should not be in a state where it’s missing any members.”
2467
2468In replacement of Makoto, Futatsugi Mai supported Isami’s suggestion as the next eldest.
2469
2470“Is that so. Who would be a good choice? Any candidates?”
2471
2472Gouki questioned with a helpless expression.
2473
2474“Then.”
2475
2476As Maya said that, all eyes were on her.
2477
2478“How about Shippou-dono? The Head, Takumi-dono is wise, though they have few disciples, they have considerable economic strength.”
2479
2480Gouki, Katsuto and Isami glanced at Kouichi’s face. Though it was well known by the others that the Saegusa Family and the Shippou Family had a bone to pick, Kouichi showed no sign of any reaction.
2481
2482“Shippou-dono… Any other recommendations?”
2483
2484There were no Heads who answered Mai’s question.
2485
2486“Very well, the new member of the Ten Master Clans is decided to be Shippou-dono. Though it will only be for a day but, who shall convey it to Shippou-dono?”
2487
2488“Very well, I shall do so.”
2489
2490Katsuto raised his hand, and exited the conference room to make the call.
2491
2492“Wait a moment, Juumonji-dono.”
2493
2494Mai voiced out when his back was to her.
2495
2496“We shall be taking a break for a while. How about resuming in 30 minutes?”
2497
2498There was no objection to Mai’s words.
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504The next day, February 5th.
2505
2506Right after entering Class 2-E, Tatsuya was visited by Shippou Takuma.
2507
2508“Shippou, is something wrong?”
2509
2510Faster than Tatsuya could ask, a voice filled with curiosity greeted Takuma, and the owner of said voice was the Club Activities’ senior, Tomitsuka.
2511
2512“No, it’s just… I wanted to express my gratitude to Shiba-senpai.”
2513
2514Takuma uncomfortably replied so.
2515
2516Well, such feelings of discomfort were perfectly understandable. It was a well-known fact that Takuma had caused quite the commotion back in April with his series of duels.
2517
2518His recent change of attitude was unanimously acknowledged by not only the freshmen, but even the upperclassmen. Even so, his rudeness to Tatsuya was still fresh in their memory. This was made evident by the numerous inquisitive looks that people gave him whenever he talked to Tatsuya.
2519
2520In addition to this, Erika and Leo also gave him gazes of ill will.
2521
2522Although Mikihiko had come to Class 2-E today, his look bore the same unfavorable feelings as Erika’s and Leo’s.
2523
2524“Gratitude? I don’t remember doing anything worth being thanked for?”
2525
2526What saved Takuma was that Tatsuya apparently didn’t hold a grudge at all. It was quite the opposite in fact, having seen Takuma’s efforts during the Nine Schools Competition, he now had a better opinion of him.
2527
2528“Umm… I heard that Yotsuba-dono recommended my family as a replacement for one of the Ten Master Clans…”
2529
2530“My apologies, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.”
2531
2532Tatsuya wasn’t pretending, he genuinely wasn’t aware of it. To begin with, the fact that a “replacement” was needed meant that one of the current Ten Master Clans had stepped down from their seat. Just what kind of incident had occurred? Tatsuya couldn’t help but wonder.
2533
2534“Even if it’s just as a replacement until a proper selection is made today… I’m still extremely grateful. Thank you very much!”
2535
2536It had probably been extremely embarrassing for him, after immediately finishing his sentence, Takuma went back to his own classroom at full speed.
2537
2538Tatsuya was vaguely aware of the fact that Takuma was sensitive about everything related to the Ten Master Clans.
2539
2540However, to think that it brought him such a level of happiness…
2541
2542Tatsuya was reminded once again of the fact that every person had a different sense of values, and of what was important.
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548Today was the day of the Ten Master Clans Selection Meeting, an event that only took place once every 4 years. Along with the Ten Master Clans, the respective Heads of the 18 Assistant Houses could be seen.
2549
2550Aside from the Kudou Family, everyone was present.
2551
2552“Well then, the Ten Master Clans Selection Meeting can begin.”
2553
2554Following Futatsugi Mai’s declaration, all the members stood up.
2555
2556“First of all, as per the tradition, if anyone present here has an objection or feels dissatisfaction at the current line-up of Members of the Ten Master Clans, please remain standing. If you don’t have any, sit down within the next minute.”
2557
2558The primary voting is a peculiar tradition of the Selection Meeting. Even if only one person remained standing, then papers would be distributed and the ballot would move on to the actual voting. The vote would decide who would become the 10 Houses that would be the most suitable to hold the title of Ten Master Clans, and the counting would be done under the supervision of 3 Members of the current Ten Master Clans as well as 3 Members of the 18 Assistant Houses for a total of 6 Members.
2559
2560However, this would be a “signed vote”. The criteria for choosing the next Ten Master Clans would be the power carried by each House at this point in time. However, “Magical Power” wouldn’t be the only factor in this, for the ability to support the Nation would also be required.
2561
2562Even if you were to vote for an unsuitable House, you wouldn’t lose your Number. However, the following 4 years would have your House bear the penalty, or rather, stigma of not having discerning eyes.
2563
2564Following Mai’s instructions, the first 10 Members around the table returned to their seat.
2565
2566The current Heads of the 18 Assistant Houses also started to sit one by one.
2567
2568When the second hand of the clock had done a 180°, the unexpected happened.
2569
2570The Heads of the Kuki Family and the Kuzumi Family sat down.
2571
2572Those two had been expected to vote for the now dismissed Kudou Family’s inclusion in the new Ten Master Clans, so this action struck a blow to the other members of the 18 Assistant Houses who hadn’t foreseen this turn of events.
2573
2574The members who were still standing up looked at each other.
2575
2576One by one, people sat down as if stopped dead in their tracks.
2577
2578When 50 seconds had elapsed, there was no one left standing.
2579
2580When the one-minute mark was reached, Mai stood up once again.
2581
2582“Then, for the next 4 years, the Ichijou Family, Futatsugi Family, Mitsuya Family, Yotsuba Family, Itsuwa Family, Mutsuzuka Family, Saegusa Family, Shippou Family, Yatsushiro Family and the Juumonji Family will be known as the Ten Master Clans. Everyone, I expect your continued cooperation.”
2583
2584The other nine members of the table stood up, and following Mai’s words, bowed.
2585
2586The 18 Assistant Houses who were surrounding the new Ten Master Clans joined in a round of applause.
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592Once the selection of the new Ten Master Clan ended, it was part of tradition that the 18 Assistant Houses leave to allow the Ten Master Clans to discuss about their new organization and structure. However, when the Heads of the Kuki, and Kuzumi Families tried to leave, Mai called them to a stop.
2593
2594“Kuki-dono, Kuzumi-dono, please wait for a moment.”
2595
2596“Futatsugi-dono?”
2597
2598“Is something the matter?”
2599
2600“There is something I would like to ask of you two. Would you mind giving me a little bit of your time?”
2601
2602The Heads of the Kuki and Kuzumi Families nodded. When the other Members of the 18 Assistant Houses finished retiring, only the Ten Master Clans’ remained, as well as two families bearing the Number “Nine”, for a total of 12 names.
2603
2604“What did you want to ask of us?”
2605
2606“Futatsugi-dono, allow me to take it from here.”
2607
2608The one who stopped Mai had been Shippou Takumi, the newest member of the Ten Master Clans.
2609
2610“Kuki-dono, Kuzumi-dono. Even though my family was bestowed the honor of being part of the Ten Master Clans, quite frankly, we don’t have the numbers that would be required to fulfill our duties. Normally we would have to take the supervision of the Kyoto area in Kudou-dono’s stead, but this is too big a duty for my family in its current state.”
2611
2612“In that case, why don’t you ask for Yotsuba-dono or Futatsugi-dono’s help? If Kyoto is a problem, then Ichijou-dono also has responsibilities towards this area.”
2613
2614Takumi shook his head with a smile at the proposal by the Head of the Kuki Family.
2615
2616“That is also an idea. However, I want the Kudou Family to continue to watch over the Kyoto-Shiga and the Kii Peninsula. Of course, the Shippou Family doesn’t plan on only making demands. I would like every one of the ‘Nine’ to lend my family their strength.”
2617
2618After a moment of wide-eyed surprise, the Heads of the Kuki and Kuzumi Families smiled broadly.
2619
2620“Understood.”
2621
2622“I will consult about this matter with Makoto-sama, we will definitely have a positive answer.”
2623
2624“I’m counting on you.”
2625
2626Takumi bowed deeply, the Heads of both the Kuki and the Kuzumi Families also bowed politely.
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632After their departure, a somewhat relaxed mood drifted in the conference room.
2633
2634“Well then, let’s continue the Master Clans Conference.”
2635
2636“A counter-plan to the Humanist ideology right?”
2637
2638Mai’s words invited this question.
2639
2640“No, before that we have to talk about this suspicious ship spotted near Izu.”
2641
2642The one who had interrupted was Gouki.
2643
2644“Ichijou-dono… There’s no hurry now is there?”
2645
2646Although Isami reproved him with a shocked expression,
2647
2648“If it is a terrorist ship, I can’t imagine the other side will keep waiting.”
2649
2650Gouki didn’t yield.
2651
2652“I don’t mind, Itsuwa-dono.”
2653
2654The one who answered with this was Kouichi, who had regained his usual composure overnight.
2655
2656“Then let’s hear more about this matter.”
2657
2658Although Kouichi’s attitude was the same as ever, it appeared that Gouki didn’t want to associate with him anymore. For someone like Gouki, secret communication with the enemy was an inexcusable act.
2659
2660“There was no reaction when searching for a Magician on the freighter Yotsuba-dono gave us coordinates for. Neither weapons nor ammunition were found on board.”
2661
2662“Did you find anything?”
2663
2664“There is a possibility that explosives were being transported. Since it’s also possible that the ship will be used for escape purposes, we plan on keeping it under observation.”
2665
2666“How about the USNA’s movements?”
2667
2668Taking Gouki’s momentum, this time it was Katsuto’s turn to question Kouichi.
2669
2670“An agent has been dispatched. In other words, the group that has betrayed the USNA has been found out, but they’re not being that tactful about things. It’s quite possible that this duty wasn’t an order from the USNA Government itself.”
2671
2672“In other words, a favorite hunter of theirs is on the prowl, hiding somewhere?”
2673
2674“The cruiser that Yotsuba-dono received information on was confirmed as outside of territorial waters. He could unexpectedly be hiding out there.”
2675
2676Hearing Kouichi’s answer, Isami wore a pensive expression.
2677
2678“If it’s at sea, should I go and poke around? It should be possible to camouflage it into an accident using the natural disaster excuse.”
2679
2680“The problem isn’t so much the hunter from the USNA, but the terrorists that have infiltrated our country.”
2681
2682At Isami’s proposal, Atsuko brought forth a diametrically opposite opinion.
2683
2684“That is certainly the case. We have no evidence of their presence at the moment, but we also don’t have any evidence of their absence. It’s really worrying that we don’t even know if they’re lurking about.”
2685
2686Raizou was supporting Atsuko’s argument.
2687
2688“They might even be targeting this very Master Clans Conference for all we know.”
2689
2690This must have been a pure coincidence.
2691
2692However, it was the truth.
2693
2694Immediately after Raizou had said this, an overpowering sound accompanied by powerful vibrations invaded the conference room.
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700February 5th, 2097 A.D., 10:33 A.M.
2701
2702It was currently break time between second and third period at First High.
2703
2704A buzzing sound came from Tatsuya’s pocket as he was heading towards the Practice Room, it was an emergency signal.
2705
2706Taking out his terminal and confirming the contents, you could read on his face that something terrible had just happened.
2707
2708“Sorry, go on ahead without me!”
2709
2710Tatsuya left his classmates, among which was Mizuki, and dashed towards the Practice Room.
2711
2712Tatsuya, who had received his teacher Jennifer Smith’s blessing to leave early, met Miyuki on the way towards the main gate.
2713
2714“Onii-sama also received the emergency signal?”
2715
2716Miyuki, whose face had lost all trace of color, asked Tatsuya with a short sentence.
2717
2718“Let’s go.”
2719
2720Tatsuya answered with an even shorter sentence.
2721
2722Although Miyuki had nodded and was about to hasten her pace, a voice called her from the behind.
2723
2724Minami came out of the entrance, accompanied by her classmate Saegusa Kasumi, as well as her sister Izumi and last but not least, Shippou Takuma. All of them were related to the Ten Master Clans. All of them, with the exception of Minami, were blood-related to the Ten Master Clans.
2725
2726“Miyuki-senpai.”
2727
2728Izumi ran towards Miyuki.
2729
2730“Izumi-chan, too.”
2731
2732“So it wasn’t a false alarm then!”
2733
2734Miyuki nodded to her question.
2735
2736Izumi started to tremble uncontrollably.
2737
2738“We’re going to see what happened for ourselves. What about all of you.”
2739
2740Tatsuya, who was just a step away, asked the freshmen.
2741
2742“I’m coming too.”
2743
2744Takuma immediately answered so.
2745
2746“We’re going as well.”
2747
2748Kasumi grasped her trembling sister’s hand.
2749
2750Minami came closer to Miyuki. So that she could shield her at a moment’s notice.
2751
2752Leading the group, Tatsuya and the five other people hastened towards the station.
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758During the same time, at Third High.
2759
2760“Masaki, what happened!”
2761
2762Masaki had dashed out of the classroom after having asked permission to leave early. Kichijouji, who had run after him until he was out of breath, asked such.
2763
2764“My old man has been attacked.”
2765
2766Regretting even the time spent looking back, Masaki answered.
2767
2768“An attack? But… Right about now it should still be in the middle of the Master Clans Conf…”
2769
2770“I’m saying that the Master Clans Conference was the victim of a terrorist attack.”
2771
2772“What did you say!”
2773
2774Seeing Kichijouji at a loss for words, Masaki turned around.
2775
2776“I can’t be sure about what exactly happened from the emergency signal alone. I only know that he’s still alive. I’m heading there by helicopter. I’m counting on you to watch over Akane and the others.”
2777
2778“A-alright, I get it! Be careful, Masaki.”
2779
2780“Yeah, I know.”
2781
2782Masaki wasn’t heading home, he was heading towards the company heliport.
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788Simultaneously, at the Magic University.
2789
2790“Saegusa-san, something the matter.”
2791
2792During a lesson that was in the form of a debate, the female teacher called out to Mayumi.
2793
2794“My apologies, Sensei. Could I borrow your ear for a moment.”
2795
2796With a dark expression floating on her face, Mayumi walked with quick—steps towards the teacher’s desk.
2797
2798She discreetly showed the teacher her terminal which was still displaying the emergency signal.
2799
2800Just as the teacher was about to raise her voice, she managed to keep it under control with a gesture, she then brought her ear close.
2801
2802“I recall the people in my family were rather anxious. My older brothers might even attempt to go on-site, I would like to go back home and try to have everyone settle down.”
2803
2804The teacher nodded with a serious look.
2805
2806Not letting her classmates feel any ambiguity, Mayumi announced with a smile and a slightly apologetic expression that she had to leave for familial business.
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812The explosion had occurred right behind the conference room’s doors, crimson flames licked the walls.
2813
2814However, those flames were extinguished at once.
2815
2816“Juumonji-dono, exemplary.”
2817
2818Not a single member of the Master Clans Conference had a bruise. Both the heat and the impact were completely hampered by Katsuto’s heatproof shield.
2819
2820“Mutsuzuka-dono as well, as expected.”
2821
2822The erasure of the flames was caused by Mutsuzuka Atsuko’s Heat Manipulation. For the Magicians of the “Six”, putting out a flame that couldn’t even melt steel was child’s play.
2823
2824“We should probably head towards the exit. If we get buried alive, it’ll be too much of a bother to escape.”
2825
2826While Futatsugi Mai was prohibiting the oxidation of the structure from the heat so there would be no spreading of poisonous fumes, she made that comment with a composed voice.
2827
2828“Agreed. It seems like a considerably large-scale suicide-bombing operation has begun.”
2829
2830While Mitsuya Gen had several magics’ on standby, he nodded to Mai’s words.
2831
2832“Puppet terrorists! Such a terrible thing they’ve done.”
2833
2834Gouki clicked his tongue intensely upon seeing the suicide bombing continue. Puppet terrorism was basically suicide bombing using humans as puppets to perform the act. Using Magic or drugs to make human dolls out of human beings, there were also ways to deprive someone of self-control with magic.
2835
2836What Gouki sensed was the latter, a magic that controlled the flesh. He felt slow-moving presences in the first floor’s lobby, as well as the corridors of every floor, it seemed to be going downward.
2837
2838Although the Ichijou family and the Magicians of the “One” were skilled in Magic that interfered with the flesh and body, magic that manipulates the movement of the body has always been forbidden. There have been examples of “losing one’s number” for those who ignored that law. That is why even if Gouki understood what exactly was happening, he didn’t know how to stop this wicked thing known as Puppet Terrorism.
2839
2840“This is bad.”
2841
2842Sensing that the floor was about to collapse, Yatsushiro Raizou executed Gravity-Control Magic. It wasn’t comparable to the one used for Flight Magic, and lifting an area of this size which lost all support required tremendous effort.
2843
2844“Let’s make haste.”
2845
2846Everyone nodded to Kouichi’s words, Maya, Mai and Atsuko left the room, the ten Magicians aimed for the outside as a group.
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852Aiming at the bombers who were roaming around in the corridors,
2853
2854Ichijou Gouki unleashed “Rupture”.
2855
2856“They aren’t suicide bombers. They’re just manipulated corpses carrying bombs.”
2857
2858The flow of insults that Gouki, who had just blown off a corpse’s arm to obstruct the detonation procedure, was spitting in an angry voice, surpassing the others’ expectations.
2859
2860To prevent getting buried due to the crumbling floor, the leaders of the Ten Master Clans decided to go to the rooftop and jump off from there while disposing of the occasional corpse bomber they encountered.
2861
2862It was Mitsuya Gen and Saegusa Kouichi who were the fastest in taking action towards the bombers. There was a technique that originally allowed one to perform up to a maximum of nine different Magic Sequences at the same time, then store them to allow a simultaneous, instantaneous release of all of them. “Speed-Loader”, using Kouichi’s “Octet” allowed him to maintain 8 different Magics from 4 different Systems on standby and select which Magic he needed to deal with a wide variety of situations instantly. The walking corpses could not even hope to approach them.
2863
2864The odd time an explosion couldn’t be prevented, the multi-layered defensive wall “Phalanx” was the perfect tool.
2865
2866Raizou’s Gravity-Control Magic was there to prevent the ground from suddenly falling under their feet.
2867
2868Atsuko’s Heat Manipulation Magic could erase any fire.
2869
2870Futatsugi Mai would remove the poisonous fumes, Maya was acting as a flashlight in those lightless corridors once the flames were put out.
2871
2872Itsuwa Isami and Shippou Takumi didn’t have a chance to do anything.
2873
2874It was impossible for those bomb-carrying corpses to kill or even wound any of them.
2875
2876The Family Heads had already noticed this fact.
2877
2878“It’s going to be tough finding a countermeasure to the Media.”
2879
2880Gen complained all the while making Swiss cheese out of the corpses.
2881
2882“I guess we have no way of deceiving them at all.”
2883
2884While putting out a wall of flames, Atsuko made a comment with a tone of resignation.
2885
2886“Although we managed to get a photograph of the fact that it was corpses who were holding the bombs… I think revealing this to the public would have quite the negative effect.”
2887
2888Isami, who had given up on any hope of getting a turn at doing anything, he agreed while taking photos.
2889
2890“Still, I doubt purposely injuring ourselves would help much, if at all.”
2891
2892Hearing Maya’s point, Raizou shrugged his shoulders.
2893
2894“Shall we hide until the flames of their fury cool down.”
2895
2896Raizou’s comment which might have been either a joke or a serious statement, no voice of objection came.
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902February 5th, 2097 A.D., 10:30 A.M.
2903
2904The number of victims of the Hakone XXXX Hotel’s terror bombings came out to be 22, and it became a disaster with as many as 34 casualties.
2905
2906Furthermore, the number of uninjured people was 33. The number of Magicians among them was 27.
2907
2908The harshest criticism came from the public opinions of those who claimed that the Magicians had prioritized their own well-being above that of others.
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914(Electronic version of the newspaper dating from February 6th 2097 A.D.)
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920Afterword
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926Have you enjoyed, “Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei” Volume 17 “Master Clans Conference Arc” <Part 1>? This time around action wasn’t a factor, instead I tried to introduce plenty of love-hate components. (Lie) Not all of the men and woman are pessimistic about the establishment of the Class One couple. I think the majority is rather “glad” and would congratulate the two of them, and those who are on the side of “They are stuck together willfully” will think that it’s common. As for the couple themselves, if people think about them living as an established couple later on, it would probably be best to have them give their blessings.
2927
2928
2929But due to people being friends, acquaintances, and perhaps something that should be expected from a rival’s grief, it isn’t rare for “lover” relationships to be formed. They’re certainly present within today’s world. Surely the majority lies in this direction for fictional worlds.
2930
2931
2932However, speaking of established couples who were urged by their parents… How’s this: I think the author himself should become engaged before they officially become a couple. Well with the case (Refrained due to Spoilers), the person himself might be thankful since he has a clear mind to do as such. There are tons of late-bloomers though.
2933
2934
2935But I think (Refrained to due Spoilers) is an extreme nuisance. One’s true feelings get set aside.
2936
2937
2938Although it was slightly different from the previous illustrations, Lina had appeared in the storyline for around one year now. She is an easy character to write so I really want to include her a lot more… as of now, she has yet to depart from America. Even though she’s appeared on stage for a while, perhaps it will take form this time. Too bad.
2939
2940
2941Well, the next book will be “Master Clans Conference (II)”. This section will be made up of three parts just like the “Visitors Arc”. The content will be similar to that of the “Visitors Arc”. You might say that the games “Out of Order” and “Lost Zero” are similar.
2942
2943
2944…Since I won’t try to “not spoil anything anymore”, please look forward to enjoying the next book “Master Clans Conference Arc (II)”.
2945
2946Notes
2947
2948
2949
2950
2951
2952Boku (僕): Is a masculine form of 私 (watashi). It is mostly used by males, especially those in their youth, but tomboys are known to use the word as well.
2953
2954
2955RFID: RFID stands for Radio-Frequency IDentification. The acronym refers to small electronic devices that consist of a small chip and an antenna. The chip typically is capable of carrying 2,000 bytes of data or less.
2956
2957The RFID device serves the same purpose as a bar code or a magnetic strip on the back of a credit card or ATM card; it provides a unique identifier for that object. And, just as a bar code or magnetic strip must be scanned to get the information, the RFID device must be scanned to retrieve the identifying information.
2958
2959
2960
2961
2962
2963Did you enjoy the book?
2964
2965
2966
2967Grab a copy at your local bookstore once localized in your area.