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The despicable plan of the Army Intelligence Department that consisted of placing a hex on the women in Tatsuya's circle in order to apply psychological pressure on him was called off with a voice of authority by the Minister of Defense.
However, this mission was backed by a powerful person behind the scenes, by the Four Great Elders of the Senate. Well, it would be better to mention that the original idea came from Kashiwa Kazutaka, one of the Four Great Elders. He wasn’t fully aware of the circumstances ── or even about the existence of the Senate itself, for that matter ── the young minister could easily order the suspension of the operation, but for those already embroiled in this matter since the start, they couldn’t simply say, "Yes, we will stop" and everything will be settled.
One of the deputy directors of the Army Intelligence Department ── there was more than one deputy director ── Inukai to be precise, requested for a meeting with Kashiwa Kazutaka to explain the situation and apologize.
[Sensei’s words were that there was no need to make a visit to apologize.]
Inukai went directly to the lawyer's office which acted as Kashiwa's representative on the very same day the operation was called off, and hand delivered a letter pleading for a meeting. On the following day, he was contacted by the lawyer's office and these were the first words of the call.
"But if I don't, this would be insulting not only to me, but also to Saionji! Please, could you kindly ask his excellency to reconsider!?"
Inukai insisted, bringing up the name of the former army general, Saionji. Knowing the power of the Senate, rejection from the Four Great Elders was akin to a death sentence for Inukai.
[Insulting, is it? Sensei said that 'you don't need to worry about it,' can't you understand?] But the representative's stance was more blunt than one might expect.
[Sensei is understanding of the position you are in. No matter what the details may be, it is always a wise move to obey the decisions of the minister who is at the head of your organization.]
Inukai didn’t take these words at face value.
Inukai understood Kashiwa’s question by reading between the lines of, "Will you follow the minister’s words over your own?"
After the call with the lawyer, Inukai canceled all his work and went to meet the former Esoteric Buddhist monk whom he had requested to do the hex using Kashiwa's letter of introduction.
Originally, the sorcerer had long since been excommunicated. Any respectable religious organization might allow its members to learn sorcery as a craft or for the sake of countering it, but it would never tolerate the practice of sorcery for the sake of harming others, let alone when it was for profit. The same was true for the temples and shrines, which throughout their long history have traditionally maintained an under-the-table presence. Excommunication was a natural step to be taken.
But on the other hand, there was also the fact that there was a need for hexes. It's not a historical fact, it's a reality. And, in order to meet this need, a sorcerer has to remain concealed, that is, hidden from view and remain secluded. Concealed by magic that twists perception and cognition.
This was why real ── truly powerful sorcerers were difficult to reach, even with the investigative capabilities of the Army Intelligence Department. This was why Kashiwa's letter of introduction was necessary.
And, having used a letter of introduction to make the request, he had to be careful in how he proceeded with things so as not to compromise the referrer's reputation now that he had to cancel the job. He couldn't just make a call and say, "I'm canceling the job." If he were to poorly handle this situation, he would risk incurring the displeasure of the person who wrote the letter of introduction. There was always a cost and a risk involved in working with a powerful person.
Inukai was unsure. If he followed the decision of his organization, he would have to cancel the request.
However, if he canceled the request, would he not be putting himself in the crosshairs of an influential person from the Senate?
His representative said that there was no problem with cancellation. And Kashiwa said that he didn’t mind.
Inukai couldn't believe those words.
I'm being tested. ──This thought didn’t leave his mind.
Between those two, he wondered, who did he fear more, the mere Minister of Defense or the Four Great Elders of the Senate?
He couldn’t help but feel that he was being asked that question.
It was only right after he knocked on the door of the hermitage where the sorcerer was hiding that Inukai finally made up his mind.
Inukai didn’t know the sorcerer's name. The letter of introduction only specified the location of the hermitage, and the person in question only referred to himself as "just a Hoshi ." Although he was no longer a "monk" because he was excommunicated, the word "Hoshi" also meant "a layman dressed as a monk." Thinking about it, it was an appropriate self-designation, so Inukai addressed him as "Hoshi-dono," as he called himself.
"What business brings you here today, Inukai-san?"
The sorcerer asked Inukai as they sat opposite each other in the tatami room. Both of them are sitting directly on the tatami. There were no cushions or low tables. No tea had been served.
"Hoshi-dono. It's about the request I made, could you tell me your current progress?"
"Did you come to urge me? I believe I told you it would take some time to prepare."
"And for that reason I'm asking about the progress."
"When all you have to go off is a photograph and a name for a medium, how do you think…"
Sorcery required an intermediary between the practitioner and the recipient. The closer the link to the subject, the more effective the medium. This was especially relevant if the aim of the sorcery was to interfere with the physical body of the subject, in which case the medium should preferably be a part of the subject's body. Among the most popular were hair and nails. As well as fresh blood, which was extremely effective, where even dried blood could fulfill the purpose of a medium.
Although a photograph and a name might suffice as a medium for sorcery, the aim being to disrupt the target's body, hair or nails would be much more preferable for the practitioner.
"…But don't worry. I'm finally done with the preparations. I can start tonight." "Is that so?"
Inukai’s tone showed that he was far from enthusiastic with the progress.
"…Then, I assume it's fine if I proceed as planned?"
Keenly perceiving the subtle lack of clarity from him, the sorcerer reminded Inukai.
"Absolutely. Please start as soon as possible."
There was a pathetic feeling that flashed across Inukai’s face, that of a person whose path of retreat had been cut off.
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