At the Saigusa residence's parlor, three figures conversed: Mio and Hiroshi Itsuwa, eldest daughter and son of the Itsuwa Clan, and Koichi Saigusa, the clan's head. Koichi wore sunglasses indoors, a known habit to conceal scars from a notorious incident among mages—no one questioned it.
"We understand your duty. It's arduous, but please take care," Koichi said.
"Thank you, Saigusa-dono. I hoped to greet Kasumi-chan and Izumi-chan, but recent chaos has kept us busy," Mio replied.
"I'll inform my daughters," Koichi assured.
Mio and Hiroshi's deployment to the continent was known to Koichi through the Ten Master Clans' network. His response hinted at a father's desire to mend ties with his increasingly distant daughters.
"It's ambitious, but if my brother could marry his beloved like Mitsuya's heir, I'd face my mission with ease," Mio said.
" Nee-san, now's not the time," Hiroshi chided.
Only Koichi likely caught that Mio's comment referenced Mayumi. Previously, Mio's engagement to Mitsuya's third son fell through, and Koichi seized the chance to betroth Izumi, only for his misstep to break it, earning his daughters' cold glares. Hiroshi's reprimand was brushed off by Mio, leaving him exasperated.
Mio had attended Genji's wedding (as Itsuwa proxy), meeting Genji and Honami. Their rare "two-generation love marriage" among mages drew envy. Mio worked to win her beloved's heart, though her stunted growth from a long-term disability—a secret she kept—left her stunned.
A knock interrupted, and Mayumi, in a formal dress, entered to greet Mio and Hiroshi.
"Welcome, Hiroshi-san. Mio-san, it's been a while," Mayumi said.
"Yes, I watched the Nine Schools but couldn't greet you—my apologies," Mio replied.
Mio saw through Mayumi's polite facade, recognizing her own similar pretense as a potential romantic rival. Mayumi, unaware of Mio's feelings, couldn't discern her motives. After formalities, Mayumi and Hiroshi sat, and Mio explained their visit's purpose.
(What does she want? Maybe…) Mayumi mused.
Mio's deployment with the navy for a peace treaty show of force was classified, and Koichi had cautioned Mayumi to stay silent. She nodded, masking her shock at "deployment" due to thoughts of him. Apologizing reflexively for her brief lapse, Mayumi maintained her ladylike composure.
Japan had no territorial ambitions; fanning "anti-Japan" sentiments risked continental chaos. Mio's mission made sense as a power display, but it also seemed to distance her from Tokyo. A knock interrupted.
"Pardon, Master. A guest has arrived…"
"Sorry, we're with others. Can they wait?" Koichi asked.
"They claim to be the Kagurazaka heir, wishing to greet the Itsuwa guests…"
Why would they know? Koichi pondered the sudden Kagurazaka visitor. Noticing Mayumi's expression shift, he asked, "Mayumi, do you know them?"
"Likely Yugen-kun," she replied.
"Very well. Invite them in. Mio-dono, Hiroshi-dono, is that acceptable?" Koichi asked.
"Yes, fine," Mio said.
"Sure…" Hiroshi replied, tinged with jealousy.
Hiroshi's tone betrayed his feelings, as the guest was his beloved's blood brother. Soon, Yugen entered.
"Saigusa-dono, apologies for the unannounced visit. I have my reasons. May I sit?" Yugen asked.
"Of course. What's your purpose, Kagurazaka-dono?" Koichi inquired.
With a prime target before him, Koichi tread cautiously, mindful of Mayumi, Mio, and Hiroshi. Yugen spoke bluntly.
"Simple. To avoid trouble from your probing, I'm offering information for a truce. Last month's two strategic magics—one was mine, as I told Mio-dono."
The room froze in shock. Yugen's admission—that he cast one of the government's strategic magics—elevated Mitsuya's status and showcased Kagurazaka's power as its heir.
Yugen's disclosure was a direct response to Saigusa's past meddling: a near-kidnapping by Juumonji in January, Valentine's Day harassment, enrollment interference, and blocking his Kagurazaka adoption. These events, in this order, prompted his warning. Defense Force issues could be dismissed as Juumonji's overreach, but Valentine's exposed Mitsuya ties, drawing Kudou's scrutiny. While not all Saigusa's fault, Koichi's ties to Retsu made their involvement likely. Yugen chose to demonstrate the cost of enmity.
"If you use this to blackmail or eliminate, I'll respond accordingly," Yugen warned.
"Yuu-kun… is that true?" Mayumi asked.
"I'm here as Kagurazaka heir and Godo Kai Commander. Mayumi-jou, Mio-jou, Saigusa-dono, Hiroshi-dono—you'll bear the risks of this secret. Understood?" Yugen said.
"Y-Yes… (Is he really younger?)" Mayumi stammered.
Yugen's shift to a menacing aura made Mayumi, despite being older, feel younger. His presence overwhelmed her, not due to looks but his commanding maturity.
"Saigusa-dono, you mentioned 'Godo Kai.' Is that true?" Koichi asked.
"Of course. Don't think Juumonji can interfere. You're smart enough to know why I revealed this. If you use it to extort, you'll be destroyed," Yugen said.
Koichi flinched. Only Yotsuba (Maya, Miya, Tatsuya, Miyuki), the battalion's brass (Kazama, Fujibayashi, Sanada), and now Koichi, Mayumi, Hiroshi, and Mio knew Yugen's strategic mage and Godo Kai status. Any leak would point to them. Yugen trusted his Mitsuya, Joushima, and Kagurazaka kin's loyalty, Yotsuba's secrecy, and the battalion's reliability—but others were questionable.
"That's all I'll share. Asking for Godo Kai members or magic details is futile," Yugen said.
"What do you mean, Yugen-kun?" Hiroshi asked.
"It's a national secret, but probing further means you're ready to face Mitsuya, Yotsuba, Joushima, and Kagurazaka as enemies," Yugen replied.
His words warned Mayumi too. Godo Kai members were Kagurazaka kin, Joushima's prior head was Yotsuba's friend, and Kagurazaka sponsored Yotsuba's Fourth Lab.
"Why mention Yotsuba?" Mayumi asked.
"Kagurazaka sponsors Yotsuba's predecessor, Fourth Lab. Mother sees their head as a daughter. Yotsuba would act on our request," Yugen said.
It wasn't just chain reactions; triggering Yotsuba could involve Guardians. Saigusa knew this risk. Yugen's indirect warning: cease probing Yotsuba.
"Why protect Yotsuba?" Koichi asked.
"I owe no explanation to someone who doesn't understand them. Pushing them away creates openings for foreign exploitation—like three years ago," Yugen said.
"Were you in Okinawa, Yugen-kun?" Hiroshi asked.
"Yes. Saigusa-dono and Mio-dono heard from Father: Genji-nii and I were there during the Alliance invasion. He neutralized their interference; I fought as a Clan heir," Yugen said.
Hiding his Defense Force role, Yugen cited "Clan duty" he didn't feel at twelve, unable to claim Mitsuya's name then, alongside Tatsuya. Survival drove their slaughter; mercy was absent in life-or-death stakes.
Koichi knew of Miya, so deducing Tatsuya and Miyuki's Clan ties wasn't far off. Failing to connect Maya and Miyuki, given the 33-year-old incident, might stem from Koichi's distorted feelings toward Maya. Yugen's rare anger dismissed Koichi's question, inwardly agreeing with Miyuki's disdain.
"Yokohama's magics were tactical-grade at minimum. I won't let loose talk bind allies militarily. Instead…" Yugen produced a stack of papers.
Koichi's hands trembled as he read. Mayumi noticed but was cut off.
"You're giving us this spell and data?" Koichi asked.
"No issue. It's a fraction of Kagurazaka's secrets. With those distancing Mio-dono from Tokyo, we need more than Kagurazaka and Joushima. Infighting now would be troublesome," Yugen said.
Yugen's plan targeted incoming Parasites. Canon showed Clans' disunity, so he healed Juumonji's head and gave Koichi a Parasite-specific binding spell. The documents, translated from British research, detailed Parasites and their timing—a warning to avoid conflicts in exchange for research approval.
Satisfied, Yugen stood. Hiroshi spoke.
"Yugen-kun, who wants Nee-san out of Tokyo?"
"Hiroshi, that question—" Mio began.
"It's fine, Mio-dono. If the northern and western powers moved, the next is… I'll say no more. Farewell," Yugen said, bowing and leaving.
The four grasped his implication. The eastern power—an ally—moving involved Yugen. But whether they'd act so boldly exceeded their politically naive grasp, having shed public authority.
Side note: At dinner, Mayumi slipped that Yugen visited, prompting Izumi's menacing smile as she interrogated Koichi and Mayumi—a scene known only to them, Kasumi, and Nagura, as servants wisely fled.
The Kagurazaka weren't alone in cleanup. The Joushima and their kin, the Toudou, were busy too. Toudou's head, Aoba, visited the Yoshida. Greeted by Yukihiro, Aoba sipped tea and spoke.
"The enemy was brutal. I hear your son fought well," Aoba said.
"I was shaken. His first kill, against terrorists, worried me. He's training with disciples today, as school's closed," Yukihiro replied.
"Impressive resolve for mid-teens," Aoba noted.
Aoba had investigated Mikihiko, eyed for adoption. His growth tied to Chiba's daughter, but Yugen was the catalyst.
"Yoshida-dono, about the contact—was it true?" Aoba asked.
"Yes. I said it wasn't urgent, but he agreed readily. Perhaps recent events stirred him," Yukihiro said.
Both agreed. Originally, the Joushima-Toudou deal planned to hear Mikihiko's thoughts by year-end. Post-thesis competition, Mikihiko accepted Toudou adoption, prompting Yukihiro to inform Aoba.
"Likely influenced by Mitsuya's third son—Kagurazaka Yugen. As a father, are you okay with this?" Aoba asked.
"Forcing my pain on my sons breeds resentment. With Mikihiko's Kagurazaka ties, I should focus on mastering spirit magic," Yukihiro said.
Yukihiro couldn't burden his sons with his struggles. Both honed their skills together, but with one Yoshida heir, Mikihiko's withdrawal preserved the family. Yukihiro wouldn't stop him.
"If Mikihiko preserves Shinto magic elsewhere, Yoshida's bloodline endures. But are you fine, Aoba-dono?" Yukihiro asked.
"My wife demanded to meet him. My daughter, seeing his photo, fell for him," Aoba admitted.
Mikihiko was to marry in, but Aoba's wife—likely inheriting Chihime's sister's traits—pushed for adoption. His daughter, smitten, nearly joined Yoshida's dojo. Mikihiko, however, loved an Ise Clan foster daughter, with engagement plans underway, approved by Yukihiro. Aoba's daughter boldly claimed, "I'll meet her—mistress role's fine," nearly fainting the seasoned Aoba—a Toudou secret.
"I didn't send my daughter to First High due to our magic, but to avoid upsetting her, she'll transfer next term, likely as a Course 1 student, given her poor secrecy," Aoba said.
"I have no daughters, so I can't relate," Yukihiro replied.
"Don't worry. I can't say this at Yakumo's," Aoba said.
Aoba knew Yoshida's Nine-Headed Dragon role. Yakumo, its head, was his rival. Despite his youthful look, Yakumo was in his 50s, close to Aoba's age. Aoba once trained under Yakumo's master, bonding then. Yakumo's teasing nature made him Aoba's top "no-weakness" target. Understanding Aoba's guarded stance, Yukihiro let him speak freely.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 20+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/Greyhounds
If you guys wanna check it out.