Although Lina eventually managed to fall asleep that night, perhaps because Balance's summons weighed heavily on her mind, she ended up waking earlier than usual. Accompanying the slightly drowsy Lina was Major Benjamin Canopus, the Number Two of Stars and Captain of the First Corps.
"Were you summoned as well, Ben?"
"Yes. Though I haven't the faintest idea why. Since the Base Commander just lectured us the other day about the High Commander destroying the training facility, surely it can't be about that."
"R-Right, exactly."
Within Stars, Lina—and the now-discharged Celia—frequently destroyed equipment and facilities, leading to constant grumbling and sarcastic remarks from the Base Commander.
However, in Celia's case, destruction usually only occurred when someone tried to whisper unsavory ideas to Lina, or when a superior officer attempted to sexually harass Lina. Regarding Celia, who was not part of the standard chain of command, even the Base Commander held no authority to order her. Still, as a commander, he couldn't help but complain, and Celia accepted that much without argument.
The reason Celia was treated as practically a "One-Woman Army" was that the Secretary of Defense had once reported to the President, in tears and disregarding his age, that "even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have thrown in the towel on managing her," admitting she was more uncontrollable than Lina.
The President, fearing a succession of officers collapsing from stress-induced ulcers and a hindrance to military operations, managed to resolve the situation by retaining command authority while assigning her as the "President's Bodyguard Magician" under the pretext of being "seconded to Stars."
It is worth noting that as a result of military personnel and politicians attempting to make a move on Celia or Lina—and subsequently incurring Celia's wrath—the number of General-class officers dismissed over six years totaled 25. Other officer-class dismissals numbered 54, and political resignations, including members of both the Senate and House, reached 38. In any case, to the Pentagon, she had become a source of constant headaches and stomach pains.
From the perspective of the President, her de facto superior, he showed no sign of caring, partly because many of the politicians involved belonged to opposing factions, and partly because "sexual harassment" was a legitimate reason for their dismissal.
To the Vice President watching from the sidelines, and indeed the majority of the White House staff, she was a source of immense stress. Rumor has it that when news of Celia's naturalization and discharge broke, the White House and Pentagon erupted in a mild celebration.
But that is a story for another time.
Perhaps because Canopus had a daughter two years younger than Lina, he often found himself viewing her as his own child. Furthermore, Lina remained unaware that her occasional childish mannerisms only accelerated Canopus's protective instincts.
Pushing her anxiety down into the depths of her heart, Lina arrived in front of the command room. She knocked, wearing the most serious expression she could muster (which is not to say it was actually serious). Obeying the command to enter, Lina and Canopus stepped inside. Lina's eyes widened when she saw Balance sitting where Base Commander Walker should have been, but she hurriedly saluted.
"C-Colonel?! Ahem, pardon me. Major Angelina Sirius, reporting as ordered by the Colonel."
"Major Benjamin Canopus, reporting as well."
"at ease. I asked Colonel Walker, the Base Commander, to lend me his office for this. Come in."
"Ma'am!"
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be strange for Base Commander Walker to be present. The fact that he was absent from the start suggested the discussion would touch upon highly classified matters. Thinking this, Lina stood before the desk, aligned with Canopus, and saluted once more.
"Both of you, at ease."
"Ma'am."
Saying this, Balance used a remote control to lock the door before turning to face Lina. Lina had braced herself for an answer regarding yesterday's request, understanding and accepting that the Strategic-Class Magician "Angie Sirius" would not be permitted to leave the country lightly.
"Major Sirius. Regarding the answer to yesterday's matter: the Joint Chiefs of Staff have replied that they 'cannot approve the deployment of Angie Sirius outside the country.' I share this opinion. Given the situation on the chaotic East Coast, we may need to order you to deploy as a deterrent in a worst-case scenario. You understand this, Major Sirius?"
"...Ma'am. I was prepared for a strict answer from the start."
Although Balance did not voice it, there were quite a few people unhappy that a teenage girl—a seventeen-year-old at that—was leading the USNA military's magician unit, even if Lina's ability was undeniably top-tier. Some even spread irresponsible rumors that she "harbored excessive sympathy toward Japan."
Balance did not intend to doubt Lina's loyalty, but the fact that Celia—a Strategic-Class Magician even the USNA couldn't control—had naturalized and remained in Japan certainly lent credibility to the rumors surrounding Lina.
"However, to leave this matter unattended would affect the prestige of the USNA itself. Therefore, it has been decided that Major Canopus will proceed to Japan. Major Canopus, I will discuss the details later, so please refrain from questions at this moment."
"Ma'am, understood."
"Major Sirius, you have no objection to this?"
"No objections, Ma'am. I hold Major Canopus's abilities in high regard, so I believe there will be no hindrance to the execution of the mission."
With this, the arrangement to transfer the mission regarding counter-terrorism and Gu Jie from Lina to Canopus was complete. Having settled that, Colonel Balance sighed once and looked at Lina.
"By the way, Major Sirius. Are you aware of the announcement made by the Japanese Magic Association the other day?"
"Ma'am. I was informed via communication from His Excellency, the President."
"This is a matter heavily related to that. It seems your grandfather—General Kudou—has arranged to recommend you as a fiancée for the next head of the Yotsuba family."
"...Eh? What? Um, I haven't been told anything about that..."
Lina had heard the topics Balance brought up via her paternal grandfather, the President: that Tatsuya had been named the next head of the Yotsuba family; that Yugen had succeeded to the name of the Kagurazaka family head; that Yugen and Miyuki were engaged; and that they were recruiting fiancées for Tatsuya and Yugen.
She had shared her impressions of Tatsuya and Yugen at that time, but hearing Balance's declaration caused Lina's serious "Sirius" expression to crumble, replaced by a look of utter stupefaction.
Seeing Lina still unable to process the situation, Balance spoke to her with a tone of concern.
"Major Sirius, you should calm down for a moment."
"Y-Yes, Ma'am! ...So, Colonel, how does that story connect to assigning the mission to Major Canopus?"
"I will explain. First, do you remember that I visited Japan carrying a commission as a Special Envoy from the President during the Stars desertion incident that spanned from the year before last into last year?"
"Of course, Ma'am."
At the time, with anti-magic sentiment active primarily on the East Coast, even politicians hesitated to travel abroad. Balance was chosen as someone who could judge matters from a neutral standpoint and reliably control Lina. As a result, matters were settled peacefully with the Japanese government.
However, due to the issue with Japan's Strategic-Class Magic at South Tate Island that occurred immediately after (strictly speaking, the concealment of information predicting the fall of a USNA nuclear-armed military satellite), Balance, still in Japan, ended up handling negotiations with the government single-handedly. Lina and Canopus, as involved parties, were naturally aware of this.
"However, I was under the impression that the incident had been resolved and your commission as Special Envoy was dissolved, Colonel."
"I was under the same impression. However, when I met His Excellency last December, I was appointed to a position within the Executive Office of the President, replacing the Special Envoy role. I am currently the First Deputy Director of the Intelligence Department's Internal Affairs Bureau, but at the same time, I hold the title of Special Advisor to the President. You must not speak of this to anyone."
Normally, a serving military officer would not be appointed to a post within the Executive Office of the President. However, since the Internal Affairs Bureau itself is a highly classified organization, the number of people who know Balance's true identity in the public world is negligible—limited to the Secretary of Defense and executive-class officials.
Considering that secrecy and Balance's track record as Special Envoy, the President decided to place Balance as a direct advisor to grasp information regarding Stars as quickly as possible. The concealment of information within Stars during the recent desertion incident played a large part in this decision.
"Major Sirius. By order of His Excellency the President, you will proceed to Japan as 'Angelina Shields' and be sent as a fiancée candidate for Tatsuya Shiba, the designate for the next head of the Yotsuba family. We will handle your paperwork for discharge and naturalization."
"(I... with Tatsuya...) Ma'am. By when should I have my preparations ready?"
Originally, the President wished for his granddaughter's "happiness as a woman." However, the Joint Chiefs mixed in their own scheme, forcing the impossible demand of "probing the internal affairs of the Yotsuba by marrying into the family" onto Lina, who was unskilled in infiltration and undercover work.
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