At FLT's CAD Development Division Three, Yugen, under the alias Kouto Uejou, worked in a private lab, a setup proposed by Midnight, an FLT shareholder, with direct access from the division's main lab.
With the FLT new product exhibition looming, inquiries about Taurus Silver's flight magic flooded in globally. FLT's official stance, posted online, was clear: "Inquiries regarding Taurus Silver involve privacy concerns and will not be addressed."
"Silence is golden, eloquence silver" is an outdated proverb. In this era, withholding information risks falling behind.
To address this, Yugen, through the Kagurazaka family, pushed the government to legislate personal data protection for all citizens, including minors—a subtle check on opposition politicians preaching mage rights while swayed by non-mages. Their true aim? Reviving nuclear energy interests, benefiting politicians, non-mage military, and terrorists if mages were sidelined.
Media chasing profit over truth faced the same critique. Thus, Yugen advocated for state-run broadcasting to bolster government information dissemination, enabled by recent purges of espionage-related corruption.
In his lab, Yugen typed silently on an offline terminal, secured against Echelon III and Frizscalv with "Valkyrie" and "Odin" as protective keys—known only to him.
"…"
His reincarnation perk allowed deciphering ancient texts, revealing Antinight's creation method, a secret too dangerous to leak. Antinight, which disrupts psions to block magic, suggested the existence of ooparts—magic tools that absorb psions for automatic spellcasting.
If Antinight intentionally jams magic, a catalyst to converge psions likely exists. While emitting psion waves is simple, disrupting them requires advanced skill. Tatsuya's targeted jamming or Cast Silent are high-level spells; a simpler catalyst seemed plausible.
Yugen confirmed such a catalyst's existence. From his pocket, he drew a shimmering silver crystal, a byproduct of his magic training—a "magic stone."
(Psion principles resemble fantasy mana. I had a hunch… This is the secret I can't reveal.)
Forged from a metal alloy nucleus under extreme psion density, pressure, and heat, this crystal, dubbed "Orichalconium," amplified magic potency by multiples when infused with psions. "Valkyrie" and "Odin" used this crystal, not psion stones, and included Antinight, making it near-impossible to acquire.
How did Yugen obtain Antinight? Three years ago, he confiscated a stone from an enemy soldier during an incident, analyzed it through the Defense Force's weapons division, and had FLT replicate it. A surreal request from Lieutenant Uejou to himself, known only to Yugen, Tatsuya, and Chief Ushiyama.
Most raw materials were duplicated via Replication to avoid traceability, using costly rare metals like platinum and titanium. A single crystal's cost rivaled several fighter jets, but its power justified it. Only Yugen and Tatsuya knew of it.
Tatsuya's words: "Planning to become a world destroyer?" Yugen retorted mentally: Says the guy who could aim Material Burst globally with a satellite. Though Yugen proposed the Third Eye's satellite link, he didn't appreciate the irony.
Sensing a presence, Yugen pocketed the crystal as Tatsuya appeared.
"Yugen, it's lunchtime. What's the plan?"
"Already? Cafeteria, then."
"By the way… those are fusion reactor documents?"
Tatsuya eyed the papers on Yugen's desk. Gravity-controlled thermonuclear fusion reactors were a major challenge in weight-based magic. Even with magic, their complexity grew, compounded by technological regression from cluster wars.
In his past life, Yugen pursued science to survive alone, often reading fusion papers out of curiosity despite risks of recognition via his surname. The original story's "ESCAPES" was simplified:
Especially Stellar-drive CirculAtion Pan-pacific Energy-line System
Translated: "Special Stellar Furnace Pacific Circulation Energy Transmission System." It aimed to establish fusion as Japan's energy source, with a byproduct of cleaning ocean pollutants. This required stable gravity control, plasma-state fourth-phase shifts, radiation filters, and Coulomb force management.
The experiment demanded multiple mages, but Yugen had condensed part of it into a single spell: Aerial Burst, a core system for the stellar furnace, kept as a Mitsuya family secret to aid their business. Magic-based power generation blended magical and scientific processes, with modern magic rooted in science.
"You've been gathering fusion data globally. Aiming for a gravity-controlled reactor?" Tatsuya asked.
"Too much for me alone. Same goes for you, right?"
"Can't deny it."
Yugen had discussed the Taurus Silver project with Tatsuya. In the original story, Taurus Silver and ESCAPES were separate, causing issues. Yugen unified them under the "Taurus Silver Project," integrating ESCAPES' goals to involve FLT and the Yotsuba, ironically pushing the weapon-focused Yotsuba toward "humanity." This eliminated Tatsuya's option to leave the Yotsuba, though their soft-hearted head wouldn't allow it anyway. Branch heads might object, but Yugen, as a "sponsor," could intervene.
He'd already secured support from key figures like Aoba Toudou. After talks with Gen and Miyuki, Yugen met the prime minister, learning the weight of being Kagurazaka's heir through a deep bow.
"It's my pride and dream."
Establishing a fusion system, unachieved even by his past life's accomplished brother, was Yugen's ultimate goal. Reincarnation lowered the hurdles significantly.
A resident gravity-controlled fusion reactor was a modern magic enigma. Yet Yugen Kagurazaka, an irregular in this world, was pulling that dream into reality.
"…Didn't realize we shared the same goal," Tatsuya said.
"I'm not one to flaunt dreams."
"Fair point."
"Though your agreement's a bit annoying…"
Yugen's past-life dream was heavily influenced by the "original" story's book, a secret too embarrassing to share.
At the Yoshida family estate in Tokyo, Mikihiko sat in meditation in the hall, focusing psions via Yugen's training method, tailored to his spirit magic discipline. Sensing a presence, he opened his eyes and turned.
"Mikihiko, can we talk?" Sachihiko, the Yoshida head and his father, appeared.
"Sure, Dad. Something up?"
The Yoshida heir was Mikihiko's seven-year-older brother. After last year's failed "Starfall Ritual" and a slump, Mikihiko stepped back from succession. Sachihiko had encouraged him to attend the Nine Schools Competition, where Mikihiko, as a substitute, won Monolith Code. His ties to a boy connected to ancient magic masters led to an invitation from that family, which Sachihiko accepted.
"Sorry about the other day. You might've had your own thoughts."
"It's fine. Your push helped me reflect. That's certain."
Yugen's Kagurazaka heir ceremony, typically private, allowed Mikihiko's attendance due to their childhood friendship and shared ancient magic ties. Sachihiko knew this wasn't the only reason—his son's magic was still growing, surpassing the "Yoshida prodigy" title, risking family discord.
"Mikihiko, your power will keep rising. When the time comes, I'll have to let you leave. Not to stop using divine magic."
(So I'll face Yugen's situation…)
Witnessing Yugen's power, Mikihiko felt his own growth in modern and divine magic, understanding his father's intent.
"I consulted Mitsuya-dono, and Gousan Joushima recommended a family. You'd join them as an adopted son."
"No objections, but which family?"
"The Toudou, masters of ancient magic, led by 'Guides.' You met His Excellency Aoba Toudou once, right?"
If the Ten Master Clans symbolized modern magic, the "Guides" led ancient magic, often called "puppeteers" or "monsters" in political and business circles. Above them were the "Guardians." Six years ago, Mikihiko met Aoba, his commanding presence prompting a formal bow despite Mikihiko's boldness.
"It's sudden, and Gousan said you can refuse. No rush to decide, just wanted to discuss."
"I can't decide now, but I get you're considering the family and Aniki. I'll answer soon."
"Sorry, Mikihiko."
The Yoshida family, tied to the Mitsuya and Chiba, now linked to the Guardians. Mikihiko's ceremony attendance likely had Kagurazaka and Joushima approval. Even if he declined, another family might adopt him.
(Yugen's a strange one. Mikihiko, walk your own path.)
Sachihiko, having won the headship through sibling rivalry, didn't wish that on his sons. Keeping Mikihiko might secure his power but risked conflict. Motohiko, the eldest, trained harder sensing Mikihiko's growth.
Yugen's influence rippled beyond the clans, reaching ancient magic families.
Notes: Magic tech choices seem solid, but aligning crystal materials with psion stones could simplify things. Cast jamming's high barrier highlights magic interference's impracticality. Yugen's impact extends to ancient magic, less explored than modern magic and not under clan influence. The Toudou, possibly backing the clans, are positioned as ancient magic overseers, with a hierarchy of Guardians, Guides, and Clans.
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