Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Magian Company - Volume 2 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: [Industrial Magic Academy (Makouien) (3)] 

On Saturday, May 22nd, the Industrial Magic Academy (Specialized Academy of Industrial Magic Technology), which was in the process of getting prepared for its opening, welcomed the person who would become the head of the academy. 

When Tatsuya brought him up to the office, Mayumi's eyes stared blankly. She appeared to be so surprised that Ryousuke couldn't help but ask her in a low voice, "Do you know him?" 

The first impression Ryousuke had of the person who had been chosen as the head of the school was that "he was pretty young". Even though he seemed young, he was probably much older than Ryousuke, but perhaps not by much more than ten years. He might still be in his twenties. 

He was roughly the same height as Ryousuke. Although Ryousuke might be a couple of centimeters taller than him, that was about it. He had a slender body, and even though Ryousuke also seemed to be slender, he had a lot of muscle mass. He was the male version of "I'm amazing when I take off my clothes". However, the young man who was chosen as the head of the academy didn't only seem to be slender, but was actually slender. 

His appearance and his demeanor gave off a very "researcher-like" impression. In this respect, he seemed to be a natural fit for the position of head of the academy…… But, in actuality, the position of head of the academy required more management skills than academic knowledge, still, that was just the impression Ryousuke got of him. 

"I'd like to introduce you all to Yatsushiro Takara-san. He will be assuming the role of the head of the Industrial Magic Academy." 

Tatsuya introduced the head of the academy before Ryousuke could get an answer from Mayumi. 

('Yatsushiro') 

"Executive Director, I don't mean to come across as being rude, but……" 

A reflexive question popped out from Ryousuke. 

"Yatsushiro-san is the younger brother of the head of the Yatsushiro family of the Ten Master Clans." 

However, before he could complete his question, an answer came from Tatsuya. 

(So it was the Ten Master Clans…….) 

Ryousuke realized the reason behind Mayumi's expression. Of course she would be surprised. Ryousuke himself couldn't help but be surprised as well. 

The Industrial Magic Academy was a vocational training institution managed by Magian Company. 

While it was founded by Tatsuya, Magian Company had clear connections with the Yotsuba family, as evidenced by having Miyuki, the next head of the family, as the chairwoman of the board. Since the power relationship between Tatsuya and the Yotsuba family was unknown, it wasn't possible to say for sure if the Company was fully under the thumb of the Yotsuba family, but it was undoubtedly part of the family business. 

And it was in such a place with close ties to the Yotsuba family that the younger brother of the head of the Yatsushiro family had been appointed as the head figure. Despite also being a member of the Ten Master Clans, this was a bit different from Mayumi's case. Mayumi was just an ordinary employee, and she was the one who came looking for the job. And likely sent by the Saegusa family to just investigate the Company's goals. 

Yatsushiro Takara, on the other hand, was personally approached by Tatsuya and asked to take the position. And the Yatsushiro family seemed to have agreed to Takara's appointment as head of the Industrial Magic Academy on the spot, though there may have been some prior negotiations as well. Actually, it was more logical to assume so. Then it would be safe to presume that there was some sort of arrangement between the Yotsuba family and the Yatsushiro family behind Takara's appointment. 

Because there was no indication that the Yatsushiro family had become a part of the Yotsuba family. Much less the other way around. So, did the Yotsuba family and the Yatsushiro family form an alliance? 

So was the thinking of Ryousuke. Takara must have taken on the role of head of the academy because he and his brother Raizou had agreed with Tatsuya's ideals, and although Takara had said so himself when he greeted Mayumi and Ryousuke, he couldn't bring himself to take his words at face value. 

Naturally, the repercussions weren't limited to within the academy and Magian Company. 

"Is that really true?" 

That was the first thing Saegusa Kouichi said when he heard from Mayumi, who returned to her parents' house after a two-week absence, that Yatsushiro Takara had been appointed the head of the Industrial Magic Academy. Not even a figure like him was able to suppress his surprise. No, he was so shocked that his voice came out before he could even think of masking it. 

As a matter of fact, Mayumi was squealing with joy inside as she saw it happen first hand. She was feeling what could be described in layman's terms as, "it serves you right!". Having always been pushed into crazy situations by Kouichi, Mayumi found herself enjoying the sight of her father's dismay. She couldn't deny that the repeated stress caused by her father had led her to become a bit mean herself. 

"Of course it's true. I have no reason to lie about something like this." 

"No, it's not that, but……" 

"You just can't believe it?" 

Mayumi asked her father in a slightly snarky tone. 

"Honestly, I cannot believe it, but I have no choice but to accept it." 

Kouichi dejectedly leaned his body against the back of the sofa. 

"But there is still the question….. are the Yatsushiro family joining hands with the Yotsuba family?" 

The Ten Master Clans considered themselves as the body that stood for the interests of Magicians. And although the Magic Association of Japan existed with the same principle, the Association, as an official organization, couldn't ignore the whims of the government. In order to achieve their inseparable goal of the prevention of nuclear warfare, the Association seemed to have no choice but to make major concessions to the government. 

The Ten Master Clans, on the other hand, occasionally catered to the politicians, financiers, and other powerful people; but often got themselves into hot water with them, just for the sake of protecting the interests of Magicians, and preventing them from suffering detriment. Within those activities, the Ten Master Clans were willing to make backroom deals with those in power, as well as engage in illegal activities, as they had always done. 

Incidentally, once someone started to accept illegal activities as a necessary evil, they tended to use it as an excuse to unscrupulousness. As a result, they ended up either being brought into judgment for overstepping their bounds, or end up in self-destruction. To avoid that, the Ten Master Clans had established an unwritten rule of mutual surveillance. 

In light of that principle, it was contrary to the rules of the Ten Master Clans when one family joined forces with another. As an aggregation of people, the formation of factions was unavoidable. However, it must remain within a reasonable degree as to not interfere with the mutual surveillance. Forwarding a joint project without consulting the other clans invited a great deal of potential harm to the Ten Master Clans system. 

"Is it possible that Yatsushiro Takara is personally cooperating with them?" 

"Personally cooperating… with the Yotsuba family?" 

"No, not with the Yotsuba, but with Executive Director Shiba personally." 

Kouichi sunk into thought after Mayumi had raised that point. 

"……No, it's hard to imagine that Takara-san made a secret deal with Shiba-kun personally; even if he did join forces with Shiba-kun personally instead of with the Yotsuba, the decision would still ultimately fall on the Yatsushiro family." 

Kouichi's eyes weren't trained on Mayumi. Judging by his tone, he was probably talking to himself. 

Under that conclusion, Mayumi remained silent. 

"Financial aid? No, I haven't heard of any projects in the Yatsushiro family that would require significant funding……. Maybe technical assistance? That seems plausible……. Mayumi, have you heard anything about it?" 

"What do you mean by ‘anything', what exactly do you want to know?" 

As her father was finally ready to resume their conversation, Mayumi asked back in a curt voice. 

Kouichi didn't particularly mind, as this was the sort of attitude Mayumi always displayed towards him. 

"Did Yatsushiro-san mention anything about why he took on the role of head of the academy?" 

Mayumi wondered "Finally, and that's what you're going to ask?" in her mind, but she didn't say it or let it show in her expression. 

"He mentioned that he sympathized with Director Shiba's ideals." 

"Sympathized……?" 

Kouichi muttered quizzically. His voice was low, but not so much that Mayumi couldn't hear it. 

"Yes. That's why I suggested that the head of the academy might be cooperating with the executive director for personal reasons." 

"That's ridiculous… because of his ideals? Like that’s even possible." 

"Are you sure?" 

"…………" 

Kouichi had no answer to Mayumi's retort. He fell silent, and "I'm unable to comprehend" was written all over his face. 

With her sisters keeping her from going back to the company housing, Mayumi stayed at her parents' house. Her room was still in the same state as when she left, so the only thing the servants had to do was make her bed. Even then, since they prepared the bed every morning even if the owner of the room wasn't present, she would only need a minor touch-up to get to sleep. 

After getting into bed and turning off the lights with a voice command, Mayumi sat under the summer bedcovers and thought about the conversation she had just had with her father. 

(It's not like father can understand it…….) 

Her father had been dismissive of the Magian Company's philosophy of giving Magians, whose magic skills didn't allow them to make a living out of it, a way to make use of the Magic Factor they were born with, calling it insignificant in terms of monetary and technological gains. It was true that the support of a hundred or two hundred grateful people wouldn't be as much as a margin of error for either the Yotsuba or Yatsushiro families. And, in the short term, it wouldn't be of any benefit to the magical world. 

However, the impact of the Magian Company's project to create a way for Magians with skills below combat level to use their magical talents wouldn't be restricted to the graduates of the Industrial Magic Academy and the new employees of Stellar Generator Inc., who would all directly benefit from the project. 

Mayumi knew it well. She had seen the tears of her seniors and classmates who aspired to become Magicians, but were unable to enter Magic University, because their magical skills weren't up to par. And although she didn't see it personally, Mayumi knew that there were many students who were enrolled in high schools affiliated with the Magic University, but gave up on going to Magic University from the very beginning because they didn't have access to proper education like others did. And the fact that there were many people with the magic factor who didn't make it into a magic high school because of the standards of the entrance evaluation. 

Being able to make use of the gifts you were born with. 

Without a doubt, that brought a sense of purpose to one's life. 

It was true that there were situations where the things one liked and what they were good at were at odds with each other. And there were those who didn't wish for their talents to limit their lives. However, in today's society where the applications of magic were severely limited to a few fields, there were probably many magians who were stuck in the dark, because there weren't any jobs where they could make use of their talents. 

The Magian Company's venture provided the present magians with a reason to live, and helped create a future where hope trumped over resignation. 

What Tatsuya was after wasn’t the mere pursuit of financial gain. To say nothing of a desire for influence. 

His goal was to change 27 society. 

Mayumi didn't believe that this was the whole reason why Yatsushiro Takara had signed the deal with him. The heads of the Yatsushiro family weren't so simple-minded as to let a single factor determine their decision. However, Mayumi believed that this played a huge role in his decision to take on the position of head of the Industrial Magic Academy. 

The ideal of changing society was a powerful force that could motivate people. 

And that was a foreign concept for father — Mayumi thought as she layed in bed. 

The news regarding Yatsushiro Takara's appointment as the head of the Industrial Magic Academy spread quickly throughout the Ten Master Clans, the Eighteen auxiliary families, the Hundred numbered families, and the top brass of the Magic Association within the next day, even though it was a Sunday. The Yotsuba and Yatsushiro families were inundated with as many inquiries as the Yotsuba had received at the time of the establishment of the Magian Society. In front of the inquiries (confrontation) regarding the nature of the relationship between the two families, both the Yotsuba and the Yatsushiro simply stated "There was no such alliance". 

Among the inquiries, the one made by the head of the Mutsuzuka family to the Yotsuba family had a completely different spin. 

"……So, Mutsuzuka-dono is willing to support Tatsuya's project?" 

Even Maya couldn't hide her surprise at Atsuko's unexpected proposal. 

[Yes. Is there anything I can assist with?] 

"I am grateful for your offer. But, considering the suspicion that was cast on us and the Yatsushiro family, wouldn't it be difficult for the Mutsuzuka family to help us?" 

Maya, not wanting to raise any more of a ruckus, was indirectly declining Atsuko's proposal. 

[Then what if it's like Yatsushiro-dono's brother's case, would it still be difficult if it was from an individual?] 

But Atsuko didn't back down so easily. 

"Mutsuzuka-dono, your house is quite far away, isn't it? Wouldn't it make it impossible to reconcile with your duties in the Ten Master Clans……?" 

[……I guess that's right] 

She finally backed down after the objective facts persuaded her. But it didn't sound like she truly accepted it. It was an audio-only call, but even from her voice alone, the extent of Atsuko's disappointment was clear. 

"Why don't you try talking to Tatsuya about it?" 

Even though Maya's suggestion didn't stem solely from sympathy, there was no denying that it played a major part in it. 

[You won't mind if I do?] 

"I don't mind. But why are you so eager to help my son and my niece with their business?" 

It was unusual for Maya to ask, but she was seriously curious about it. And, moreover, she was exposing it before others. 

[……Something that probably wouldn't be praised from a member of the Ten Master Clans.] 

The voice of Atsuko answering that question made Maya let out a "Oh" with a small tilt of her head in an expression of shame. 

[When I heard about it, I felt that Yatsushiro-dono had beaten me to the punch.] 

"Why do you think so?" 

[When I learned of the project that your son had started, I thought. I wanted to change it, too.] 

"Change what?" 

[Your son is seriously trying to change the world. When I learned about that, I found that I had the same desire dormant inside me.] 

"My goodness." 

There weren't any elements of derision or cynicism in Maya's voice. It was, shall we say, a pleased tone of voice that one would use with a much younger brother or sister. 

[Please, feel free to laugh. I'm already over 30 and yet here I am, talking just like a petulant 28 girl. I never thought I'd still have this kind of drive in me.] 

From Atsuko's voice, on the other side of the line, it was easy to imagine that she was blushing. 

"Isn't that good? Tatsuya is also no longer a young boy, for that matter. So, I don't think age has anything to do with such feelings." 

[I guess so, right? Thank you very much.] 

Atsuko's embarrassed chuckle could be heard from the phone. 

Maya too, in fellowship, replied "Yeah" with a small laugh herself.