In a village near old Yamanashi Prefecture, close to former Nagano, a wide clearing—large enough for a track—lay blanketed in snow. Amid this pristine white, a single dark figure stood: a woman in a navy sailor suit.
Gunfire erupted, bullets raining down, kicking up snow into a natural smokescreen. Ten fully armed soldiers, wielding assault rifles with sufficient lethality, landed cautiously outside the haze.
They didn't assume victory but stayed vigilant. Something shot from the smokescreen, piercing one soldier's throat. The others fired into the haze, undeterred, but an unseen force struck their vitals, felling them unaware. The last soldier charged with a knife, only to have his hand severed and heart pierced by "magic."
As the smokescreen cleared, only the woman remained standing.
"Phew…" she exhaled.
"Impressive, Madam," a man said, offering a towel.
"Thanks, Hayama-san. But this outfit?" she asked.
"You lack fashionable, functional clothing, so this was chosen," he replied.
"Am I childish, then?" she huffed.
The woman was Maya Yotsuba, current head of the Yotsuba clan, known as the "Demon King of the Far East."
Why the sailor suit? For magic training, Hayama selected something movable yet stylish. Navy hid bloodstains, and Maya's skill made mistakes unlikely. A "Movable Suit" suited combat, but past "recorded" experiences deemed it unnecessary.
"Fine," Maya said. "Confirmed those intruders?"
"Yes. They tried infiltrating Lady Midnight's villa but were repelled by Lady Chihime, who was there by chance," Hayama reported.
"Talk about bad luck. They'd need Tatsuya's skill to stand a chance," Maya remarked sharply.
The intruders—deserters from the USNA's Stars—had illegally entered Japan, targeting Midnight's villa, only to be thwarted. Hayama's report drew a wry smile from Maya, noting Tatsuya's unique prowess compared to the Stars.
"They fled toward Tokyo. Shall we inform the Saegusa and Juumonji families?" Hayama asked.
"Please do. The Defense Force's meddling hurt us, but we've no reason to refuse cooperation," Maya said. "However…"
"Yes, Madam?"
"The 'Teacher' is moving," she said.
Maya's "Teacher" was one person. Intelligence suggested he was involved, possibly targeting Tatsuya, Yugen, or both. His ties to the Juumonji and Kagurazaka families meant caution, but he likely wouldn't act recklessly. Still, the Saegusa and Juumonji couldn't be ignored. The Defense Force's interference was a setback, but it strengthened ties with the Mitsuya, so Maya continued pragmatically.
"We need USNA intel. Coordinate closely with the Mitsuya, Hayama-san," she said.
"Understood. How was your magic control training?" he asked.
"Not bad," Maya chuckled. "Without Yotsuba constraints, I might've proposed to him."
A past incident robbed Maya of personal happiness, shifting her from world revenge to a greater purpose. Her resumed training restored her as a world-class mage. Yet, she believed two individuals surpassed her.
One was loved by her twin sister and niece, the latter secretly engaged to him. Maya, aware of their bond, couldn't help but smile. She was certain he'd leave a mark on the world, starting from this nation.
"Refining Meteor Stream further? Unthinkable for most, but am I still childish, Hayama-san?" she asked.
"Strength can be a painful weapon," he replied.
"True. But obstacles to him are negligible," she said.
Beyond school changes, an external "incident" arose post-New Year. Tatsuya received partial details.
"Strange people?" he asked.
"Yes. Likely 'Demons'… no, 'Parasites,' according to Lady Chihime," Midnight replied via videophone.
Midnight's survival had minimal impact, thanks to this world's conveniences and her long recovery. But this incident targeted her. That night, after Yugen and Celia's kendo clash (more one-sided provocation), Tatsuya answered a call at the Siba residence. Midnight appeared on screen. Miyuki studied in her room, Yugen in the basement.
"They fled toward Tokyo. You're likely not targets, but stay cautious. The Ten Master Clans aren't reliable here," Midnight said.
"Then we'll need Yugen's help. Is that okay, Mother?" Tatsuya asked.
Midnight smiled wryly. "I'm just a relative of the head. I can't demand luxuries."
Tatsuya, less versed in traditional magic, had studied Parasites via Taurus Silver. Yugen's expertise in traditional magic and Miyuki's mental interference magic were vital advantages.
"With 'Sirius' issues, it'll be tough. I can't assist due to circumstances, so I can only wish you safety," Midnight said.
"Are you safe, Mother?" Tatsuya asked.
"I'll be under Kagurazaka protection for a while," she replied.
Tatsuya was grateful for the Kagurazakas' offer. Having treated Midnight like a servant, her change of heart was hard to navigate, so he often communicated through Miyuki. After the call, he went to the basement to ask Yugen about Parasites.
"So, know anything detailed?" Tatsuya asked.
"You've read Parasite literature, right?" Yugen said.
"Yeah."
Paranormal Parasites—demons, spirits, jinn—were entities that possessed humans, transforming them. Even with spirit magic defining independent information bodies, humans unable to perceive them saw only unknown terror.
"Appearing in Izu, heading to Tokyo, suggests recent bizarre phenomena aren't simple," Yugen said.
"You never mentioned that," Tatsuya said.
"Didn't share. Only a few are handling it," Yugen replied.
Incidents occurred, but victims survived, thanks to Yugen's contacts. He avoided details, noting the issue's scale didn't yet warrant Divine Assembly action. He focused on exposing the Parasites' orchestrators, barely touched in the "original."
"The Saegusa and Juumonji are acting, but Parasites are traditional magic's domain, requiring special sight. Plus, USNA interference is likely. Hence, I gave you Buster Mist Dispersion," Yugen said.
"Understood. But that alone won't suffice," Tatsuya said.
Tatsuya's competitive streak was clear. Yugen, smirking, made a proposal.
"Ask Master Yakumo? Via Gramps, he'll find a solution," Yugen suggested.
"Tempting, but will you help?" Tatsuya asked.
"I'm fine, but you sure?" Yugen replied.
Yugen had planned to have Yakumo train Tatsuya through Chihime or Gousan, keeping traditional magic secrets within apocryphal bounds. Surprised by Tatsuya's direct request, he asked why.
"Stubbornness won't help sometimes. It stings, but I can't protect Miyuki if I fail. That's my reason," Tatsuya said.
"You should see a doctor for that workaholism," Yugen teased.
Tatsuya, acknowledging his stubbornness, continued, "To achieve my dreams, I must change. Sound weird?"
"Nah. I was stubbornly fixated before the Nine Schools too," Yugen said.
"Though, my sister's intense affection is troubling," Tatsuya added.
"Onii-sama, must you say that in front of me?" Miyuki, now in the basement, huffed, cheeks puffed.
Yugen, reminded of his own sister, smirked. Miyuki's occasional bed-sharing with Yugen was the "intense" part. The reverse hadn't happened—too risky, given Miyuki's Elemental Sight resource allocation to Tatsuya.
"I'm just appealing actively, especially with Mother…" Miyuki said.
"What's with Yotsuba's moral education, Tatsuya?" Yugen asked.
"Don't ask me…" Tatsuya groaned.
Beyond Miyuki and Yuka as fiancées, Midnight showed near-romantic affection, and Sakurai Minami, her guardian, reportedly liked Yugen too. Without his Kagurazaka heirship, Yugen would've been absorbed by the Yotsubas. Their sponsorship role implied inevitable approaches.
(What'll happen? Just thinking about it gives me a headache.)
Reflecting on his past-life brother's similar romantic troubles, Yugen wondered if he should be glad he didn't resent him.
-----------------------------
I'm still fairly new to translating, but I genuinely love doing it. I've set up a Patreon as a small corner to share my work with everyone. There you'll find early access to chapters and some special content just for you.
I hope this Patreon can grow and become a place where I can connect with you all in the future. If you'd like to take a look or support me, you can visit:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]