October 30, 2095.
Kyoko Fujibayashi worked in a borrowed Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion room, rarely used by Yugen. About to break, Kazama summoned her to his office.
"Sorry, Fujibayashi. Calling you mid-break," Kazama said.
"No issue. What's the matter?" Kyoko replied.
"Long talk. Let's move," Kazama suggested.
Kazama disliked sitting while subordinates stood, his field-first mentality clear. Kyoko smiled, sensing it. On the sofa, coffee served, Kazama spoke.
"'Special Advisor' provided intel. Yokohama invasion targeting tomorrow's thesis comp, including Magic Association branch assault. Predicted routes included," Kazama said.
"I'll review. You thought they wouldn't escalate this far?" Kyoko asked.
"Just a student event, I figured. His points were spot-on. Cold water thrown," Kazama admitted.
Despite being students, the National Magic University's affiliate schools are state institutions. The Nine Schools' tech showcase isn't ignorable for the magically lagging Great Asian Alliance. Kazama, chastened, accepted the intel—beyond guerrilla tactics, it signaled terrorism or military action.
"Lu Ganghu's transfer to Yokosuka's foreign prison is tomorrow. Part of the plan?" Kyoko asked.
"He doesn't trust the Defense Force, likely anticipating this. Only you and I know this intel. I'll inform Sanada and Yanagi. Team's told terror alert—worst case, enemy elimination," Kazama said.
Alliance connections within the Defense Force, likely via Chinatown, showed in routes sparing it—proof of domestic "enemies."
"Major, a question?" Kyoko asked.
"Go ahead," Kazama replied.
"About him. As a Kagurazaka, his power's beyond Defense Force control. Granting him Special Major status has clear intent. What are the brass thinking?" Kyoko pressed.
Her query carried a warning. Unlike Tatsuya's unique status, Yugen's guardianship under Kagurazaka's head and Joushima's former head limits control. Granting him Saeki's rank suggests a desire for his strategic magic. Kyoko saw it first.
Kazama responded quietly, "I'm unsure, but the higher-ups, including Her Excellency, want him as a trump card."
Was "Her Excellency" Retsu or Saeki? Both, Kyoko mused. Kazama continued.
"His strategic magic—targeting without satellites—renders strategy or tactics moot. Personally, I'd rather not make him an enemy. That's my limit," Kazama said.
Okinawa's defense three years ago cemented Kazama's resolve against opposing Yugen. Yet, Defense Force and external factions, including Ten Master Clans, vied for him.
"'Erase all, leave nothing' strategic magic… I thought it a fairy tale when Yugen mentioned it," Kyoko said.
"It's his unique magic's byproduct. More shocking: he knows every strategic magic's activation sequence," Kazama revealed.
"What? Truly?" Kyoko gasped.
Kazama understood her shock. Post-Okinawa, visiting Joushima, Yugen requested battalion transfer, revealing he replicated Tatsuya's Material Burst (minimal scale), USNA's Heavy Metal Burst, EU's Ozone Circle, and South America's Synchronliner Fusion.
Transferring such a mage was Gousan's order to mask his true power. Kazama confessed it felt like a cover.
"One mage, one strategic magic—common sense he shattered. He won't use Material Burst, Tatsuya's specialty. His own Mirror Dispersion was refined further, per Master," Kazama said.
"One leak could shake the world. Handling worse than Tatsuya's unprecedented," Kyoko said.
"Agreed, Lieutenant," Kazama replied.
Strategic sequences demand nuclear-level security, yet Yugen's singularity mocked it. Kazama and Kyoko grappled with managing him. Asked by superiors, Kazama's answer: "Beyond Defense Force's scope. Impossible."
Worse, involving Yugen risks Tatsuya. Two strategic mages, uniquely troublesome. Kyoko nodded at Kazama's sensible conclusion.
"Post-Nine Schools, he spoke directly. Wants Defense Force to handle the Alliance," Kazama said.
"Other forces moving? New Soviets?" Kyoko asked.
"Unconfirmed 'Igniter' in Vladivostok. Yugen's tasked. Tatsuya's strategic permission's already secured," Kazama said.
Yesterday, Yotsuba's head authorized Tatsuya's Material Burst, delegating to Kazama. Unexpected escalation, but Yugen's intel hinted worse. Close Yotsuba ties pointed to Yugen.
"Also, deploy Third Eye Eclipse," Kazama added.
"That? Adjustments are done, but…" Kyoko trailed.
Third Eye Eclipse—Tatsuya's CAD, based on Third Eye and Trident, maximizes Decomposition and Regrowth. Yugen alone knows its black-boxed hardware. Attempted disassembly triggers a 100-meter erasure. Sanada backed off, valuing life over sacrifice. Defense Force deemed it top-secret, fearing leaks.
"Given the plan, tsunamis are likely. Unlike three years ago, he's not here, but Third Eye Eclipse minimizes impact, per tests," Kazama said.
"Tatsuya's Material Burst is potent," Kyoko noted.
"Exactly. I'll brief Sanada. Fujibayashi, relay tomorrow's 'action assumptions' to the team," Kazama ordered.
"Understood, Major," Kyoko replied.
Shiba Household Basement.
Yugen faced a terminal displaying CAD designs and sequences. Sensing behind, he saw Tatsuya, post-training, sweaty.
"Trouble with Bahamut?" Yugen asked.
"No, fits like a limb. That CAD's for magic healing?" Tatsuya replied.
Tatsuya could design CADs but lagged Yugen's hardware ingenuity. He recognized the healing CAD.
"Correct. Part of gravity-controlled fusion groundwork. Psion laser therapy—clinical trials done, personnel secured," Yugen said.
Six years ago, Yugen proposed it to Gen, leveraging psion properties. Unlike varied laser therapies, compressed psion lasers, magically altered, enable versatile, cell-level healing.
Personnel? Simple: medical students with magic high school exam experience, avoiding graduates to prevent leaks and test psion capacity/control. Conducted secretly via Third Lab, Gen, and Gousan. Results: B-rank+ licenses. Limited to university hospital for severe cases, with government-backed laws ensuring high-paid, confidential doctors.
"Spiral-accelerated psions, high-speed projection to affected areas, using Loop Cast System. Curved motion sequences are new," Tatsuya said.
"Modern magic's 2D-bound. 3D motion's needed for complex issues," Yugen replied.
"Didn't consider that. Still learning," Tatsuya admitted.
Psion lasers, with high restoration, minimize impact, enabling safe therapy—FLT's feat, credited to Taurus Silver for November 1 announcement. Healing alone can't hide strategic magic, so another "firework" planned.
"Announced as Taurus Silver, but not for foreign use. Secured against their brains. Also, FLT and appliance makers launch commercial 'magic appliances'," Yugen said.
"Vague," Tatsuya remarked.
"Expected reaction," Yugen replied.
Fantasy's "magic tools" as appliances. Via Shizuku's father, samples pitched to manufacturers, gaining approval. Same-day announcement, media-shielded, corporate briefings only.
"Converts household electricity to psions, activates stored sequences. Circuits/catalysts control output energy. No mage needed," Yugen explained.
"Relic analysis?" Tatsuya asked.
"Me. Military use makes mages 'bullets,' so no data kept," Yugen said.
CAD cycles could use electricity, but sense stones can't handle high voltage. Special high-voltage stones, core tech black-boxed to FLT's few. "Projection sequences" evolved from relic's storage, limited to Kagurazaka/Joushima businesses. Top-tier security.
"Third Lab handles inquiries," Yugen said.
"They'll riot. Ushiyama'll love it," Tatsuya quipped.
"Self-inflicted. Targeting you risks Miyuki's freezer," Yugen said.
Magic's accessibility counters anti-magic sentiment. Taurus Silver's beneficial image boosts national value.
"Got that storage data?" Tatsuya asked.
"If you swear secrecy… I trust Miyuki's brother," Yugen said, handing a memory stick.
"…"
Tatsuya wanted to deny similarity but recalled his competitive streak with Yugen, weakening his stance on Miyuki. He took the stick.
"Decompose it after transfer," Yugen said.
"Spy flick vibes," Tatsuya replied.
"You watch movies?" Yugen teased.
"Miyuki dragged me. 'Onii-sama's pop culture illiterate; you need this,' she insisted," Tatsuya said.
It saved Tatsuya embarrassment—later.
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