The next day, Yugen greeted Tatsuya and the others upon their return, noticing Miyuki's clouded expression. When he spoke to her, Miyuki clung to him without a word.
"Welcome back... What's wrong, Miyuki?"
"...Yugen-san."
"Uh, Yugen-niisama," she murmured.
According to Mizuha, Miyuki had been tormented by her own perceived powerlessness after receiving Parasite Doll data from Mitsugu and Ayako. Tatsuya had tried to console her, but her mood remained unchanged.
Yugen, stroking Miyuki's head, gently advised, "Let's not stand in the doorway. Put your bags away, and we'll talk later, I promise."
"...Okay," Miyuki replied, reluctantly pulling away to head to her room with her luggage, Mizuha following. Tatsuya, however, didn't move, catching Yugen's attention.
"What's up, Tatsuya? Something you don't want them to hear?"
"No... Were you brewing coffee?"
"Just for a change of pace when you all arrived," Yugen said.
The rich aroma of coffee wafted to the entrance, possibly contributing to Miyuki's mood. Yugen sighed inwardly.
"Go unpack. I'll prep the coffee," he said.
"Alright, thanks," Tatsuya replied.
In the living room, Yugen served coffee, but Miyuki clung to his arm, nestling close. Accepting it, he began the conversation. Tatsuya handed him a data card.
"Here, Yugen."
"A data card... For the main family?"
"I've made copies to send later," Tatsuya said.
Yugen connected the card to his foldable terminal, copied the data, and returned it to Tatsuya, who accepted it without objection, knowing he could "decompose" it if needed. Scanning the data, Yugen noted new information on a fugitive sorcerer from the Great Asian Union, likely guided by Zhou Gongjin, per the Ise family's report.
"The Defense Force's radicals changed the competition, the Kudou family planned Parasite Doll tests, and a third party's scheme piled on... What a mess," Yugen said.
"How do you know about Parasite Dolls?" Tatsuya asked.
"I had the Ise family investigate discreetly. Also, the Kuroba family moved on Mother's orders. Heard anything?"
"Uncle mentioned an 'additional investigation,'" Mizuha added.
In the original story, Tatsuya was burdened with handling Parasite Dolls without knowing their background, making him paranoid and worrying Miyuki.
"The 'P-Weapon' name gave it away," Yugen said.
"I thought Pixie and our Guardian Spirit Servants were rare exceptions. When did the Kudou family get Parasites?" Tatsuya asked.
"Likely took what Mikihiko sealed during the Parasite incident. I bear some responsibility," Yugen admitted.
"I'm not blaming you. It makes sense," Tatsuya said.
The Parasites were handed over by Gozo, but the Kudou family refused, continuing Parasite Doll development. If this leaked to the Master Clan Conference, Retsu Kudou knew they risked expulsion from the Ten Master Clans.
Yugen understood Retsu's desire to keep his grandson Kousen out of battle, but Kousen himself wanted to shine as a magician. This disconnect led to Kousen's actions in the original story. Gozo, aware of this, repeatedly urged Retsu to face his grandson properly, like "nailing a sword into tofu," as he once grumbled.
"Given Retsu was once Maya's and Midnight's teacher, he must know about you and Miyuki, Tatsuya. He likely intends for us to handle this... or be test subjects," Yugen said.
"So, for the men's Steeplechase Cross-Country, you gathered everyone except you, Shūji, and Tōya?" Tatsuya asked.
The three who could directly handle Parasites would lead, with the other boys aiming for the goal in a group. But Yugen, finding this approach dull for the competition, had a mischievous plan.
"Got something in mind?" Tatsuya asked.
"Parasite Doll countermeasures are set, but I've thought of a way to outmaneuver Third High's team within the rules. I'll keep it quiet for now," Yugen said.
It wasn't about secrecy but prioritizing Parasite Doll countermeasures, with the plan as a bonus. In Steeplechase Cross-Country, direct interference with opponents was banned, but traps causing incidental interference weren't. Aiming traps at opponents was prohibited, though.
Turning to Miyuki, who was nestled beside him, Yugen said, "Miyuki, I'll provide three spells for the Nine Schools Competition and your future. One has strategic-class potential but is heavily restricted for safety."
"Three spells... Strategic-class? Can I handle them?" Miyuki asked.
Miyuki might not realize it, but her specs, combined with Tatsuya's influence, New Moon Swordsmanship, Tenjin Magic, and Yugen's psion control, enabled her to wield strategic-class magic without a large CAD. For the competition, the spells would be heavily restricted.
"I've checked with Tatsuya," Yugen said.
"I hesitated to let Miyuki wield such power, but given Parasite Dolls, she needs to level up to protect herself. Master seems thrilled, though," Tatsuya said, sighing.
The spells weren't just for the competition but also for future challenges, like Zhou Gongjin and Gu Jie. Yugen decided to provide them early.
"The first is Shivaraid Edge, based on Old Seventh Lab's 'Swarm Control,' tailored to your extreme freezing magic," Yugen said.
"Is that okay?" Miyuki asked.
"No issue. If questioned, say you grasped 'Swarm Control' from your mock battle with Nanahō," Yugen replied.
This spell launched nanometer-thin ice flakes at supersonic speeds, a battle-ready version of the Nanahō family's Million Edge. Its versatility allowed shape changes—needles, spheres, or even konpeitō for fun—breaking conventional Ice Pillars Break strategies. Miyuki likely sensed it was adapted from the Saegusa family's Magic Bullet Shooter, but that wasn't their concern.
"The second is Overd Inferno, a practical upgrade. You probably heard from Shizuku about my Uesugi family work. It alternates high- and low-temperature fields to destroy targets via rapid temperature shifts. It can also defend, like last year," Yugen said.
"Sixty-four Infernos at one-meter intervals? That's incredible, Yugen-san," Miyuki said.
"It's from refining psion control and training after Okinawa," Yugen replied, feeling a flutter from Miyuki's closeness but continuing.
"The last is Diamond Dust, a molecular freezing spell with strategic-class potential. Zero Niflheim could also reach that level without restrictions," Yugen said.
This spell, born from Yugen's experiments with emotional restoration and freezing, was a "monstrous" creation. Linked with Miyuki's Cocytus, it could freeze minds across a vast area, but to spare her kind heart, it was restricted to object-based combat after consulting Tatsuya. It also countered Bezobrazov's Tuman Bomba.
"We don't know how Parasite Dolls will act. Even you might struggle against psychics, Tatsuya, so we can't let our guard down. Use the Heavenly Blade Armor if needed—it's approved, and Steeplechase is a fortunate stage," Yugen said.
The Defense Force's hardliners, by introducing such a competition, misunderstood the Nine Schools Competition's essence. While valuing battle-ready magicians, they overlooked its role in easing magic-related fears, viewing magicians only as future weapons.
"Any other chance Parasite Dolls could act?" Tatsuya asked.
"Unlike last year's Generator, handled by the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion and Chiba family, Parasites aren't fully controllable, except for Pixie and Guardian Spirit Servants," Yugen said.
After hearing Tatsuya's analysis of the Parasite Dolls' spell structure, Yugen noted the risk of them going berserk, potentially halting the competition, but countermeasures were in place.
"By the way, Saegusa-senpai and Juumonji-senpai are coming under the 'Magic Education Training' pretext, along with Igarashi-senpai and Hirakawa-senpai," Yugen said.
"With a fourth consecutive win at stake, their help is welcome. What's wrong, Miyuki?" Tatsuya asked.
"Nothing, just that Onii-sama's quite popular," Miyuki teased, clinging to Yugen.
Tatsuya, speechless, recalled how he used to guide Miyuki. Now, receiving romantic advice from her, he felt outpaced in his growth as a person.
The following Sunday, at the Ninefold Temple's veranda, Yugen enjoyed tea and snacks alone when Yakumo, the temple's master, vaulted over the wall.
"Sorry, Yugen-kun. Got delayed instructing disciples," Yakumo said.
"No problem. I sense a master's presence. Ganging up on Tatsuya?" Yugen asked.
"Exactly. Your brother Mototsugu's helping today," Yakumo replied.
"Mototsugu-niisan? Seems a bit unfair against Tatsuya," Yugen said.
It was early morning, Tatsuya's day for physical training. Yakumo explained he'd enlisted Mototsugu, the next head of the Uesugi family, whose prowess rivaled Gozo's, though slightly inferior. Still, he was formidable enough to make Yugen wary.
Yakumo shared last week's investigation results. "As you heard from Tatsuya, the Great Asian Union fugitives invited by the Kudou family are behind the Parasite Doll sabotage, orchestrated by Zhou Gongjin. The mastermind likely has ways to access our intel, bypassing even the Kuroba family's concealment."
Given Gu Jie's role as one of the Seven Sages via Frizscalv, no amount of Kudou family secrecy could hide data on electronic networks. The focus now was Parasite Dolls.
"I consulted experts at 'Honoyama.' You know protective deity summoning, and your advanced version, so I won't elaborate," Yakumo said.
Alice achieved precise control through dual binding and loyalty to Yugen. Esoteric Buddhist puppetry included control, restraint, and sealing. Parasite Dolls, lacking safety mechanisms, were flawed as weapons.
"Pixie said Parasites are influenced by their host's thoughts. Tatsuya confirmed 16 Parasite Dolls. They might be cultivating Parasites," Yugen said.
"That leaking would be disastrous," Yakumo replied.
Esoteric techniques used independent spirit information bodies at best, but the Kudou family, absorbing traditional magic, sparked conflicts with traditionalists. Assuming they could control Parasites—known by various global names—was unprecedented and risky.
"Let's not dig too deep. If they're harmless, we leave them be. 'Don't disturb a quiet god,'" Yugen said.
"Fair. But your disciple's soaring through the air. That okay?" Yakumo asked.
"Inspired by Miyuki, Tatsuya's pushing to get stronger," Yakumo said, amused.
"That's what you focus on?" Yugen retorted, giving Yakumo a sidelong glance as Tatsuya was dramatically blown back mid-air, a testament to Miyuki's influence spurring his training. Yakumo, as his master, reveled in his growth.
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