Takuma's Defeat and Reckoning Yugen and Takuma's mock battle ended in Takuma's complete defeat. Despite no restrictions on "Million Edge," even with its full potential unleashed, Yugen manipulated its countless paper blades to neutralize Takuma. The loss, despite concessions, was a shock to Takuma, but his real trial began at home.
"Takuma-san, the master awaits," his father's assistant said. "…Understood," Takuma replied.
With no meeting with Maki, Takuma returned home to find his father's assistant unusually serious. Sensing the reason for the summons, Takuma, without grounds to refuse, headed to the study.
Takuma knew his father's character well. Takumi had vaguely grasped Takuma's schemes with Maki for a "New Order" but overlooked them—until now, Takuma realized. Stepping into the study, he felt an unfamiliar intensity from Takumi, head of the Shippou family, one of the Eighteen Assistant Houses.
"Takuma, sit," Takumi ordered.
The command seemed routine, but its weight forced Takuma to comply, sinking into the sofa. Takumi sat opposite him.
"Takuma, you feel my anger, don't you? Why?" "…It's because…"
When a politician visited First High, Takuma promised Takumi, "I won't pick fights recklessly, even with someone I dislike. I'm not that childish." He skipped school as instructed, avoiding trouble with the politician and media. But he broke that promise, provoking a Saegusa and nearly using lethal magic, risking suspension or expulsion.
"You said you wouldn't pick fights without thinking, yet you attacked a Saegusa, nearly costing you your place at school. Why?" "It was… the Saegusa…" "I didn't raise you to shirk responsibility. All you can say is 'the Saegusa's fault'?"
Takuma's broken promise escalated to a crisis, and Takumi learned of it from Yugen, not his son. Yugen had warned that the incident nearly provoked the Yotsuba, a family capable of crushing the Shippou if angered. Takumi kept this secret.
"I heard everything from Lord Kagurazaka. Your selfishness led to today's mock battle. And you lost completely?" "Yes… Even with no limits on 'Million Edge,' I couldn't scratch the vice-president. He controlled its paper blades effortlessly."
Takuma's frustration was evident as he yielded to Takumi's lecture. His opponent, Yugen Kagurazaka, had bested even the Ichijou's "Crimson Prince," a Mitsuya descendant from the Third Lab.
"What did you think, fighting him?" Takumi asked. "Nothing worked. Strategies, direct attacks—all crushed, overturned, trampled. I understand why the 'Crimson Prince' lost."
Yugen showed no arrogance, choosing precise magic without collateral damage, unlike Takuma's reckless Saegusa fight. Takuma was outclassed in skill and control.
"Kagurazaka apologized for striking you to cool your head, but I apologized on your behalf. If you kept making excuses, I'd have struck you myself." "Haha…" Takuma gave a wry laugh, unable to take Takumi's words as a joke.
Riri's Training and Reflection Few of the Twenty-Eight Assistant Houses maintain dedicated training spaces. The Mitsuya have the largest, rivaled only by the Yotsuba, former Fourth Lab affiliates. The Juumonji, tasked with capital defense, follow, their underground training ground hosting Riri, in a black shirt and spats, lifting barbells.
"Phew…"
Despite her feminine frame, Riri, once a Soga, trained rigorously. A doctor noted her muscles' exceptional density, storing vast psions. As she paused, Katsuto, in training gear, offered a sports drink.
"Thanks, Katsuto-niisan," Riri said. "No problem. But… 200 kilos on the bench press?"
A 200-kilo bench press was a feat for heavyweight male lifters. Katsuto, at 180 kilos, saw Riri's superhuman strength.
"Hard for you too?" she asked. "I just stabilized 180 kilos."
Katsuto's drive to improve stemmed partly from Riri, whose "Phalanx," though unpolished, held potential to be the Juumonji's strongest.
"Saegusa mentioned you fought Kagurazaka in a mock battle?" "Yes. He broke my 'Phalanx' so easily… different magic from when he beat you last year." "I see."
Yugen's Mitsuya lineage excelled in "Multi-Type Multi-Magic Control," integral to "Phalanx." His ability to create diverse magic marked him as a national powerhouse.
"He even used a 'Phalanx' variant," Riri added. "What? Mitsuya could, but… really?" "Yes."
Riri's multi-layered "Phalanx" aimed to overwhelm Yugen, but he countered with clashing barriers, destroying hers. His "Mirror Force" combined "Cast Silent," psion barriers, information reinforcement, domain interference, and a zero-acceleration wall, the basis for flat drive filters.
"I didn't pry into his magic's details—it's taboo. Instead, he advised me on my 'Phalanx.'" "What did you think of him?" Katsuto asked.
As last year's freshman representative and former Ten Master Clans member, Yugen had shut down the "Crimson Prince" and incinerated invaders with ancient magic during the Yokohama Incident. Katsuto, having witnessed his prowess, was curious about Riri's perspective.
"He's undeniably the strongest among Ten Master Clans heirs. Against Shippou, he used the opponent's magic to corner him. I respect him as a magician."
Her admiration was professional, not romantic. Katsuto, pondering silently, returned to training. Riri, sensing his thoughts, smiled faintly.
Zhou's Setback in Yokohama In a dim room in Yokohama's Chinatown, Zhou Gongjin stared at a monitor displaying data on anti-magician media efforts. Post-"Stellar Furnace" experiment, progress plummeted, with major anti-magician outlets bought out and realigned. The movement had fizzled.
"The Kanzaka Group—no, the Kagurazaka family…" Zhou muttered.
Their 50-trillion-yen media buyout, rivaling national budgets, crippled humanism efforts and ousted Great Asian Alliance operatives. Zhou faced inquiries from his master, Gu Jie, and the Alliance, his fatigue evident despite his covert expertise.
"They understand politics, economics, and media dynamics. Is this the work of the 'Guardians'… or him?"
Zhou anticipated Kagurazaka moves but not at this scale. If orchestrated by the one who tracked him last spring, it made sense, yet he doubted a teenager's strategic genius. Unbeknownst to him, Yugen's reincarnation secret was known to few.
"Since last spring, they've watched the Master, not me. No surveillance signs…"
Zhou, wary after the Blanche incident, found no evidence of being monitored, leaving him uncertain.
"For now, I'll placate the Master's complaints."
Zhou considered isolating Yugen's allies but risked provoking the Yotsuba, a Ten Master Clans ally favorable to Yugen. Crossing them was too dangerous. Resigned, Zhou slumped at his desk.
Yugen's Report and Rest "Well done, Yugen-kun. One issue resolved," Chihime said over the phone. "Just one of many, but I can enjoy some calm student life for now," Yugen replied.
Reporting on the "Stellar Furnace" and anti-magician efforts, Yugen noted their decline but acknowledged persistent biases, requiring patient dismantling. Misinterpretations by others remained a risk.
"Your fiery nights with fiancées don't scream calm," Chihime teased. "Please, don't…" "By the way, Shippou's head apologized for troubling you." "Honestly, I wasn't sure a former Ten Master Clans member's words would be heeded."
Takumi's courtesy impressed Yugen compared to a certain "tanuki." As Takumi's business tied into Yugen's plans, Chihime approved fostering ties.
"Any word from the 'Senate'?" Yugen asked.
This "Senate" wasn't the Meiji-era legislative body or its successors but a secret group sponsoring the Yotsuba, capturing or eliminating criminal magicians. Even Yugen was unaware of them initially, as Ten Master Clans rules limit horizontal ties.
"They're curious about your moves, fearing you'll shake the world," Chihime said. "Ridiculous. I've no interest in ruling the world."
Yugen accepted some caution but was prepared to socially dismantle the Senate if they overstepped. Composed of ancient magic masters, they imposed a "weapon" role on the Yotsuba, clashing with the Kagurazaka and Joushima. Yugen had no desire to antagonize them but would strike back if shackled.
"I warned them you'd say that," Chihime said. "Age is a burden." "Not your words, Mother, with your youth."
Age brought wisdom, but excess bred conservatism. Gouzo and Chihime, as Senate elders, knew over-interfering with the Yotsuba would alienate them. Chihime chuckled at Yugen's quip.
"Gouzo-niisama met Retsu. He stayed silent on the seized parasites, claiming they'd harm no innocents." "Concerns?" "Retsu's grandson. Can you handle him?" "I could, but Grandpa put a firm stop to it."
Yugen had ties with Retsu's grandson, Minohiro Kudou, a brilliant but frail magician spending a quarter of the year bedridden. Medically healthy, his psion body's imbalance—lacking a natural limiter—caused instability. Activating a non-existent limiter worsened his condition.
Shizuku's brother, Kou, faced a similar seal on his magic calculation area, but his issue was a body-psion imbalance, resolvable with growth and control.
"Probably to prevent using the Fujibayashi girl," Chihime suggested. "Likely."
Yugen could treat Minohiro, as he did Mio, but Retsu might leverage marriage for alliances. Gouzo's restraint in not seizing Kudou's parasites surprised Yugen. Chihime clarified.
"Demon-based weapons are dangerous. Crushing the Kudou now would embolden the 'traditionalists.' Plus, with the Kagurazaka's 'Tsukiyomi Ritual' nearing, we'll wait for the right moment."
Yugen agreed, seeing no need to rush as the Kudou might expose their parasite weapons. After constant activity since New Year, the Kagurazaka needed a breather.
"Good night, then." "Good night, Mother."
Hanging up, Yugen slipped into bed, eyes closing. Many tasks awaited, but he'd tackle them one by one, surrendering to sleep.
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