FLT's new product exhibition day at Tokyo Big Sight, repurposed post-cluster wars from military use to event halls. Tatsuya attended with Miyuki, but Yugen was elsewhere on business.
At the Joushima family's Gunma estate, in a detached room, Yugen faced Gousan, now former head.
"I heard about the Kagurazaka affair," Gousan said. "But… haha, three fiancées overwhelming you? Unthinkable."
"I'm half-doubting it myself. Is Aniki training disciples?"
"Aye, I'm still headmaster. Wanted you to inherit, but…"
"Too messy."
Despite Gousan's wife being Chihiro's sister, Shinkage-ryu is Joushima's core. With Kagurazaka's own martial arts, Yugen drew a firm line.
"How's Chihiro treating you?"
"Ise Shinto-ryu training's waived. Since Shinkage-ryu incorporates Katori Shinto-ryu, only the secret techniques remain… Seems too easy."
Bokuden Tsukahara, the "Sword Saint" outshining Nobutsume Joushima, defied norms in this world. Historical records confirmed his clash with Miyamoto Musashi, repelling him and teaching swordsmanship—pure fantasy. Like Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, Yugen gave up marveling.
This world's Sengoku era could mirror game mechanics, he resigned.
Bokuden taught the then-Kagurazaka head, founding Ise Shinto-ryu with "One Strike." A memoir in Yugen's Kagurazaka room noted, "As vulnerable nobles, never skimp on self-defense."
Learning Kagurazaka's noble lineage drew a sigh. His past life was ordinary despite odd relatives.
"I got carried away, testing you for headmaster," Gousan admitted. "Your success stunned me."
"First I'm hearing this."
"Er, slipped my mind."
The "Ryukyu Run" and other trials were headmaster tests, Gousan revealed. After mutual recklessness, Yugen sighed; Gousan turned serious.
"About the recent clan conference… I spoke with Retsu. He begged for Kudou cooperation."
"…Huh?"
Gousan explained, anticipating Yugen's reaction.
He'd urged leniency for Saegusa and Kudou, partly as an apology for Kagurazaka seizing media control, but mainly to preserve manpower against the Great Asian Union's Yokohama invasion, timed with a thesis competition. Monitoring their actions sufficed, mindful of the Nine Schools' original failure.
Retsu's vague plea for aid, uncharacteristically weak, led Gousan to defer and consult Yugen.
"After Grandfather and Mother's warnings?" Yugen asked.
"Saegusa sniffed Juumonji's recovery, suspecting Joushima involvement. Your unique magic can't be discussed carelessly."
Organic interference magic treads near taboo, limited to medical uses or Ichijou's Explosion. Gousan, having felt Domain Enhancement's effect, hesitated but deemed alliance benefits outweighed risks, asking Yugen to heal Kazuki.
"(As expected…) Telling them to solve their own issues too harsh?"
"Still sore from Nine Schools?"
"Partly, but mainly Kudou's isolating Minoru."
Gousan used it for kin, Midnight for Tatsuya and Miyuki's friendship, Honami for her brother's happiness. Gousan's ties with Maya and Midnight factored in, hoping they'd curb excesses. Healing Minoru risked Kudou's obsession with power, possibly pushing age-gap marriages.
"Midnight told me Tatsuya's situation. Different, but both shunned by blood kin—Minoru directly, Tatsuya indirectly by clan."
"Haha, the clans were just shackles for you. My judgment's still sharp."
"Not a line for a 'lifetime active' geezer."
Yugen shot a deadpan jab at Gousan's old-man quip. Gousan sipped green tea and asked.
"How'd you read their moves?"
"Likely seeking a check on the Yotsuba."
Among current clan heads, Maya leads. With Midnight, Tatsuya, and Miyuki, the Yotsuba dominate. Mitsuya, allied indirectly, sees no point in opposition. Gen, raised on Yotsuba's fearsome reputation, knows dominating conferences is inefficient despite equal voice.
"Specifically, a check on Tatsuya. But he's my best friend; hard to see as an enemy. Plus, Miyuki."
"Not scared? You've heard, right?"
"Would be lying if I said no. But he's not a heartless weapon. Eliminating him outright's wrong."
Tatsuya's magic is threatening, but blind elimination is misguided. With family and allies, he's not a lone danger.
The (blood) father's a separate issue, but Tatsuya's blessed. Branch heads fear his power, a consequence of their desires.
"Grandfather, did you and Chihiro shape Tatsuya's traits?"
"Why think so?"
"Noticed when I mastered Tsukuyomi. His magic exceeds modern limits—Material Burst prime example."
No USNA magic converts mass to energy directly, hinting at future "micro black hole" events. Protagonist logic fits, but specializing in Decomposition and Regrowth is improbable without precedent.
Tsukuyomi, alone, is mental interference; with phase conflicts or harmony, it manipulates invisible psions or reions, erasing all particle data—top-tier decomposition. Regrowth mirrors Amaterasu's harmony, a flawless version; Tatsuya's is a lesser variant.
"No telling how far you've deduced, but yes, Chihiro and I shaped him. To show the Yotsuba the cost of craving power. Mototsugu's dying wish."
"Former Yotsuba head?"
"End as weapons for us and allies, he said. I told Maya via letter."
Born as desired, he waged revenge to free them from weaponized fate, entrusting Gousan to stop vengeful daughters. Grief over a lost friend drove Gousan to Shinkage-ryu, enabling the Yotsuba's original path.
"So I'm cleaning up your mess?"
"Won't deny it. Regret dropping Mitsuya?"
"Didn't want a bloody succession fight with Aniki. Set up Defense Force ties to leave smoothly."
Joining the military countered Toyama's arrogance and secured a future job. Spending more time with Joushima than Mitsuya dulled his clan identity compared to his siblings. Mika's high school antics reflected that.
"Toudou-san surprised me, but talking to him wasn't much… What's wrong, Grandfather?"
"Hahaha! Calling that idiot son-in-law's aura 'not much'? My grandson indeed!"
During summer, Yakumo arranged a meeting with Aoba. Chihiro advised, "As a Guardian, don't bow; stand tall." Matching Aoba's pressure, he looked stunned. After a brief talk, Yakumo returned, saying, "Seeing that face, Kagurazaka's heir has unmatched presence." Baffling.
"Back to it… With Miyuki as my fiancée, Tatsuya's family. Anyone harming him—strategic mage or nation—gets crushed. Wiping them out's easy, but I won't earn innocent citizens' hatred."
No war desired, nor entanglement. But threats to survival or loved ones face ruthless social obliteration. Reverse grudges touching my scales? They vanish. Mass non-mage casualties are unacceptable, so elimination's last resort—a resolve from killing three years ago.
Gousan smiled gently, saying nothing.
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