Despite the strict secrecy surrounding the discussion between the Kannagi family head and its strongest combatant, rumours inevitably leaked once arrangements were set in motion.
Especially in a clan like the Kannagi—where the main family held overwhelming power and numerous branch families existed—such things were inevitable. After all, many branch families would invest early in the main family's heirs for their own benefit.
As the next head of the family, Ayano Kannagi naturally had people feeding her relevant information.
So when the news reached her, she was utterly dumbfounded:
"Huh? The real reason I'm being sent to the Hidden Management Department is for an arranged marriage? Not for training?"
Under the shade of an umbrella at an open-air dessert shop in Setagaya Ward, Ayano sat at a four-person table, completely bewildered.
Opposite her, Yukari Shinomiya—a member of a Kannagi branch family and self-proclaimed information expert—wore a teasing smirk:
"Well, you are going to a special department for training. But that doesn't rule out matchmaking!"
"Besides, I heard the man in question is a very young but influential figure. The family head wants to test the waters for a potential alliance. Whether it goes anywhere depends on the other side."
Yukari tactfully avoided mentioning that Ayano was the one being evaluated—because if she did, Ayano would probably storm off to confront her father.
Sometimes, a little omission prevented unnecessary conflict, didn't it?
"But why me...?" Ayano groaned, at a loss.
She had never concerned herself with future husbands. As the inheritor of Enraiha, she had every right to choose her life partner.
Even her father couldn't force her on this.
But now, her father had actually arranged a matchmaking meeting for her. The most frustrating part was that she'd already been pulled into special training because of a lack of combat experience.
'All that trouble, and I thought it was for some grand mission on the mystic side. Turns out it was just for matchmaking?'
'Does this make sense? Absolutely not.'
"Ayano going for matchmaking is actually quite normal, isn't it?"
Nanase Kudō, sitting opposite, calmly sipped her juice:
"You're nearly 16 now, the legal marriage age. It's perfectly reasonable for the family head to arrange matchmaking."
"Moreover, I heard the family head believes you're the most suitable candidate in the Kannagi family for this marriage arrangement."
"What nonsense!"
Ayano Kannagi felt her peaceful life as both a high school girl and a sorcerer had been completely upended:
"There are plenty of girls in the Kannagi family approaching marriageable age - both in the main and branch families. Why specifically choose me?"
"Not just me, Nanase, you're not engaged either, right? Yukari too. And doesn't the Ohkami family have an unmarried elder sister?"
Having said this, Ayano turned her frustrated gaze to the fourth person at their table:
"And Asuna, you're not engaged either, right?"
"Me?"
Asuna Yuuki, holding her passionfruit juice, blinked before hesitantly replying:
"But my mother seems to be discussing potential matches with my father already."
"Whaaat?!" Nanase exclaimed in shock. "No way! Asuna, you're getting engaged soon?"
"Which family is the groom from? Yukari, how come you didn't hear anything about this? I thought your information network was excellent?"
Hearing this, Yukari Shinomiya also looked puzzled:
"But... I haven't heard about any suitable bachelors from major families preparing for engagements recently..."
Then a thought occurred to her, and she looked surprised:
"Could it be... Yuuki's mum is planning to find a husband who'll marry into your family?"
Asuna's expression turned somewhat resigned:
"Something like that. My mother mentioned wanting someone who could assist my father with business."
Upon hearing this, Yukari immediately took out her phone and started typing rapidly. Within seconds, she held up her phone with a serious expression:
"Is the man called Nobuyuki Sugou? A virtual technology researcher? 26 years old, holds a PhD?"
She showed everyone the phone screen, displaying a photo of a bespectacled man in a dark suit, his hair slicked back.
Asuna looked astonished. She knew Yukari was well-informed, but this was incredible.
"Wait, I think I've seen this photo on the candidate list before..."
"That's amazing... You found him instantly?" Nanase gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
Yukari's information network was unbelievably efficient.
Asuna could barely remember, yet Yukari had identified him immediately?
Meanwhile, Ayano frowned as she carefully examined the man in the photo before clicking her tongue disapprovingly:
"I don't like him. He doesn't seem like a good person."
"Huh?"
Nanase Kudō couldn't help glancing at Asuna Yuuki upon hearing this. Seeing no particular reaction from her, she cautiously reminded:
"Ayano, no matter what, saying such things about Asuna's future husband is rather rude, don't you think?"
"Rude? Is being rude more important than Asuna's future?"
Ayano Kannagi snorted and immediately turned to Asuna Yuuki.
"Asuna, if you don't like him, I'll help you cancel the engagement!"
Her words left everyone stunned.
However, Yukari Shinomiya reacted quickly.
"While this might sound inappropriate, if you insist strongly enough, Ayano, the engagement could indeed be called off."
As the legitimate heiress of the main family overseeing branch families like Shinomiya, Nanase, Ogami, and Yuuki, Ayano Kannagi could decide the marital affairs of the daughters of those families with a single word.
At the very least, she could directly influence matters.
If Ayano Kannagi was willing to intervene, Asuna's engagement could indeed be terminated.
Though it might sound unpleasant, Yukari Shinomiya deeply trusted Ayano's animal-like intuition.
If she said the man didn't seem good, he likely wasn't.
And if he wasn't good, she couldn't just sit by and watch Asuna fall into that trap.
Thinking this, Yukari thought to herself, 'Just in case, I should investigate this Nobuyuki Sugou... That way, if Ayano forces the issue, we'll have proper grounds.'
Unlike Yukari's cautious approach, Ayano was far more direct:
"Asuna, just nod, and I'll discuss it with your mother. If that fails, pick any boy you like, and I'll have Father arrange your marriage instead."
Ayano refused to believe Yuuki's mother would dare oppose a marriage arrangement directly ordered by the Kannagi Family head.
'Let's see if she dares resist when your uncle disciplines her,' she thought.
Asuna looked utterly bewildered:
"Wait... wasn't this about your arranged marriage? How did it become about mine?"
Ayano stood up abruptly, leaning across the table towards Asuna:
"But my situation's still uncertain! You're the one in immediate crisis!"
"If you'd chosen someone decent, I wouldn't object. But this man... his very face screams trouble!"
"And your mother isn't from our world. There's much she doesn't understand - especially when it comes to judging character. She's certainly no better than me at that!"
Asuna's mind reeled in confusion.
Why did the conversation keep veering off course?
Weren't they discussing Ayano's situation? How had it become about her cancelling an engagement?
Had she said something wrong?
Suddenly, Asuna fell into deep self-doubt.