June 2096: A Death in the Magic Industry The international business world mourned the passing of Bastian Rosen, former president of Rosen Magicraft, a key player in magical engineering products vital for military purposes despite its small market. He died at 96 of natural causes.
Days before the news, Yugen was summoned by Gouzo to the Joushima main house in Gunma. Sipping tea and snacks brought by Chiri, he awaited Gouzo's words.
"Sorry, Yugen. I know it's Nine Schools Competition prep time," Gouzo said. "No issue," Yugen replied.
To address last year's engineer shortage, a deputy instructor (akin to a homeroom assistant) was assigned to the magical engineering department—Kana, of all people. Her high school thesis on negative weighted code had surpassed undergraduate levels, and her ambition to become a magical engineer prompted the university to consider granting her a doctorate. Treated as a researcher, Kana sought stimulation, negotiating through her parents to join First High as an "education intern."
Kana immediately roped Jennifer into training Chiaki, Kent, and Mizuki in CAD tuning (officially under specialized magical engineering classes, with Jennifer trusting Kana's expertise). Reika, Sana, Toya, and occasionally Tatsuya joined these sessions.
Another change: Riri received an encrypted email from her relative, General Soga, undecodable even by the Juumonji. Yugen deciphered it, revealing the military's interference in the Nine Schools Competition, removing Speed Shooting, Battle Board, and Crowd Ball, and adding Roar and Gunner, Shield Down, and Steeplechase Cross-Country. Yugen relayed this to Azusa and Isori, and the team roster was temporarily set pending official confirmation.
"Yugen, remember your Germany trip?" Gouzo asked. "How could I forget? Sneaking into Bastian Rosen's private room unannounced to demand Lucas Rosen's honor restored?"
The written account sounded mild, but Gouzo and Yugen had infiltrated using cloaking magic, startling Bastian. Yugen bore some responsibility for not stopping Gouzo, lured by the chance to meet Rosen Magicraft's former president.
For appearances, Bastian avoided public acknowledgment but agreed to restore Lucas's honor. He then made a request:
"Lord Gouzo, I hate to ask a friend of my son, but… if it comes to it, protect Rosen."
Bastian feared his successors' haste might target Lucas or Georg's kin. In exchange, he offered a third of his estate to Gouzo, who promptly passed the responsibility to Yugen.
"No role for me. That's my grandson's job," Gouzo declared. (Do it yourselves…) Yugen thought bitterly, resenting being saddled with his grandfather's mess.
Back to the present.
"Given his age, he's near the end?" Yugen asked. "A lawyer handling Bastian's estate contacted me. Days left, at most. The issue is your inheritance from Bastian and… Lucas's daughter's claim," Gouzo replied.
Unlike the original story, Erika's mother, Anna Rosen-Katsutori, was alive, giving her active inheritance rights. The Rosen family vilified Lucas as a traitor, a sentiment Gouzo, sitting before Yugen, had partly enabled.
Yet, the Rosens lacked the courage to criticize Gouzo. Fifty years ago, he single-handedly thwarted an anti-magic terrorist attack on Rosen Magicraft's headquarters, saving Bastian and Lucas. A hero to the Rosens, Gouzo's connections with the German government also eased Lucas's defection, sparing the family social disgrace.
"Anna sent inheritance waiver documents to Rosen Magicraft's Japan branch. But your claim can't be waived, considering what might happen," Gouzo said. "Yeah. Erika could get dragged in otherwise. Why do two headaches hit at once?" Yugen groaned.
The military's interference in the Nine Schools Competition, driven by anti-Great Asian Alliance hardliners, coincided with the Rosen issue. Yugen had used Gouzo's connections to infiltrate shikigami around the Kudou family, noting their frantic activity, but hadn't informed Tatsuya yet.
"The anti-magician movement's lull gave them an opening, but even if we force peace with the Alliance, they won't be allies," Yugen said.
The Alliance, rooted in the former republic, shared a fraught history with Japan. Ethnic pride made friendly relations unlikely, underscored by battles in Okinawa and Yokohama.
"Plus, the New Soviet issue. They might not ally with the Alliance," Gouzo added. "Exactly. Bezobrazov's back in Moscow, but that train-shaped CAD means we can't relax. Worst case, I'd unleash an upgraded 'Tuman Bomba' over Moscow," Yugen said.
Even strategic magic relied on CAD processing power. Gouzo gave a wry smile at Yugen's bold claim. Whether "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" applied was uncertain, but assuming the Alliance and New Soviets might unite was prudent. The Soviets likely aimed to profit from Japan and the Alliance's mutual exhaustion.
"The U.S.N.A. too. The West's pride and prejudice seem human-shaped," Yugen said. "Any experiences, Grandpa?" "During the World Cluster War, some hurled insults at Chihime and me. They died young," Gouzo replied, admitting he'd goaded them to the front lines. Yugen was stunned by his ruthlessness.
Currently, the Rosens were unaware Leo was Georg Ostburg's grandson, as Yugen's presence in last year's Monolith Code replaced Leo's spotlight. Still, Georg's defection might prompt Rosen probing.
"What's your take on handling the Rosens?" Yugen asked. "Lucas asked me to ensure Rosen Magicraft doesn't collapse if his family is targeted," Gouzo said.
Lucas intended to cut ties, but Bastian vetoed it, planning to clear his dishonor posthumously. His death delayed this, leaving Lucas's reputation tarnished. Yugen, sipping tea, mused, "Erika, Lucas's granddaughter; Leo, Georg's grandson; and me, Gouzo Joushima's grandson. Small world."
"Pure coincidence," Gouzo said.
Perhaps the goddess who reincarnated Yugen altered the Mitsuya for this. Yugen didn't care to ask why but vowed to honor Lucas's wish. He had no desire to ruin Rosen Magicraft or its workers.
"The Rosen issue could go through Mototsume-niisan, but there's more, right?" Yugen asked. "Chihime mentioned I visited the Kudou last month. Partly to investigate traditionalists," Gouzo said.
Gouzo met Retsu and Minohiro, demanding the parasites seized in the parasite incident. Retsu refused. As former heads, Gouzo's words lacked authority, and Retsu's stubbornness was known.
"No binding power in my words, and Retsu's always been stubborn. I'd tell him to consider Minohiro's feelings instead of regretting hundreds of times," Gouzo said.
Retsu's fixation likely stemmed from "Pixie," hoping to spare Minohiro combat. Gouzo's expression darkened.
"You know the Kudou can't fully control parasites. They lack experience with their demonic essence," Gouzo said. "I get it," Yugen replied.
Gouzo, via Chihime, knew of "Alice," but no modern or ancient magic could contract parasites as guardian spirits, a skill unique to Yugen. The Ninth Lab would swarm to study him, so Gouzo forbade treating Minohiro to avoid risks. The Joushima and Kagurazaka trained regularly for demon resurgence, using weak catalysts, unlike the parasite incident.
"They're silently researching gynoids fused with parasites—a weapon even medieval Ikko-shu would hesitate to create. They're planning it for the Nine Schools," Gouzo said.
Gu Jie, via "Frithskjalf," likely caught this, prompting Zhou Gongjin's moves. Yugen's Chinatown surveillance thinned scrutiny on Zhou, dulling his caution.
"I bet Kyoko-san will tip Tatsuya off. I hope I'm wrong," Yugen said. "When you say it, it sounds plausible. That'd be a chance for Kazama's unit—or Saeki—to curb Retsu's influence. No need to target the Ten Master Clans," Gouzo replied.
All four of Japan's strategic magicians tied to the Ten Master Clans. Excluding them from national defense was questionable, possibly a move to control strategic magicians.
"My strategic magic is managed by Mother and Grandpa. I won't hand unlock keys to the government or military. I get civilian control, but…" Yugen said. "You hold multiple strategic magics. Government or military control would be riskier," Gouzo agreed.
Yugen's ability to wield the Twelve Apostles' strategic magics and Tatsuya's "Material Burst," with unmatched processing and psion capacity, awed Gouzo. When Yugen inherits the Kagurazaka, Chihime and Gouzo plan to transfer strategic magic permissions to him. Strategic magic was meant as a nuclear deterrent, but some use it for conquest.
"I'll handle Nine Schools' direct issues. Can you manage other negotiations, Grandpa?" "You want me to deal with the military?" "I can't handle everything."
Yugen wasn't omnipotent. He'd tackle what he could, delegating the rest. Chihime noted the "Senate" also worried about parasite weapons.
"There's the Nine Schools, and I'm competing," Yugen said. "Right. Ichijou's son cares about appearances," Gouzo said. "Like me, but he's softer."
Gouzo mentioned Masaki, likely due to the Nine Schools. His crush on Miyuki, a relatively unknown Shiba, stirred ripples. Yugen's departure from the Mitsuya was set when Masaki confessed, but Tatsuya's deterrence might've influenced it.
"Miyuki's first love was you, so it's a done deal," Gouzo said. "George Kichijoji relayed Masaki's challenge. I wrecked 'Explosion' with 'Amaterasu' and crushed him. Plus, his Monolith Code over-attack… Miyuki's possessiveness, like Maya or Shinya, is intense," Yugen said. "I've felt it," he added.
As Miyuki's fiancé, their bond bordered on master-servant. On her birthday, Yugen gifted an expensive scarf, prompting her to say, "Wearing this marks me as yours." Speechless, Yugen confirmed with Tatsuya that Miyuki's dependency was strong, possibly outstripping Honoka's. Tatsuya apologized, placing a hand on Yugen's shoulder.
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