After her call with Yuuka, Miyuki made a call to the Main House, asking to be picked up at the station on the 29th of December. Actually, if she was ordered to attend the New Year’s Gathering, as long as she could arrive by the 31st, everything would be alright even if she took into account the time needed for preparation. The main reason why she asked to be picked up on the 29th was unmistakably due to taking into account the possibility of any disturbances that could occur.
The one who received the call was the butler, Obara, a former traffic riot police, who was the person in-charge of transportation arrangements.
After the call with Obara, it was decided that they would be picked up at the station at 1 P.M. This plan was to be kept confidential otherwise.
When Miyuki arrived safely, the information would be communicated to all of the employees working in the Main House.
Shibata Katsushige had just joined the Ministry of Defense this year as an Office Worker. Although there was no forced attendance, and the general public holidays were regularly available, there was no lengthy winter break like he was used to having as a student. Today, he had just gotten back from his newcomer job——also referred to as
miscellaneous——to his apartment.
As if waiting for this timing, his phone rang and the screen displayed an incoming call.
“Katsushige-san, let me.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Kotona welcomed him home at the entrance but she was restrained and ordered to return to the living room so Katsushige operated the wall-attached type terminal.
“Tou-san… is there something?”
The person who appeared on the display was his father whom he had just met with three days ago, the Head of the Shibata Family, one of Yotsuba Family’s Branch Families.
“Katsushige, you’ve reached home?”
“Yes, I’ve just arrived.”
“I see. Well, please take a seat.”
He said so from the other side of the screen.
Katsushige judged that the conversation would be long, so he sat down on the sofa facing the display.
With a height of 188 cm and a weight of 80 kg, Katsushige boasted his physique by making the commercial sofa set look a little narrow.
However, Katsushige seemed to have become accustomed to it and so, his long legs passed calmly between the sofa and reception table.
“Katsushige, how’s your work?”
“I’m still receiving the same kind of task as before… as it’s only been three days since I started work.”
“Hmm… I see.”
Katsushige’s father had a militarian temperament, so it was kind of unusual to see him stammer this way. It must have been a really tough topic to start.
“Tou-san, do you want to talk about the upcoming New Year’s Gathering?”
Hence, Katsushige decided to ask the topic on his own. It had only been three days since their last meeting, so there was no need to purposely video call like this. However, during their last meeting, this business had failed to come out.
“Yes, actually, Shiba Miyuki contacted Obara a little while ago. It seems like she’ll be coming to the Main House on the 29th.”
“I see, so Miyuki-san will come on 29th, as well.”
The non-existence of New Year’s Holiday in the modern central government was not limited to the Ministry of Defense. A number of staff are packed into the government office in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. Especially since the Ministry of Defense must be run year round to prevent any outbreak of a World War. However, to novices like Katsushige, they were given days off starting from the 29th.
“However, is there any problem with that?”
Katsushige asked curiously while thinking of a girl’s face who was younger and beautiful. The upcoming New Year’s Gathering would see to have all the next Family Head candidates to attend, hence, it was not out of the ordinary that Miyuki would come as well. Katsushige had failed to understand that his father purposely called him out of nowhere for the convenience of Miyuki.
“Katsushige.”
“Yes?”
After his father called his name in such a formal way, he was getting more and more suspicious. However, the next words had blown off all such trivial questions.
“We must not let Miyuki attend the New Year’s Gathering.”
Katsushige was instantly speechless. Not that he had lost his words, but there were questions springing on his mind all at once, and he was confused on which one to ask first.
“Do you mind if I ask about the reason?”
In the end, he eventually chose this mediocre question with a general sense of versatility.
“During the upcoming New Year’s Gathering, Maya-san is going to announce Miyuki as the next Head.”
“I see. That’s disappointing.”
Even though Katsushige answered so, he was actually not so surprised himself.
Miyuki was certainly an excellent magician and she also possessed a high aptitude of for Mental Interference Magic, a trait of the Yotsuba Family. Katsushige also knew that Miyuki was the most promising candidate for the next Family Head.
While the aptitude in having Mental Interference magic was an important quality for the Yotsuba Family Head, it was not an absolute condition. Up to the previous head, Eisaku, he was highly versatile in Mental Interference Magic, but Miya who had the powerful ‘Mental Design Interference’ had not selected to be the Head but instead, Maya was chosen. Moreover, Katsushige thought that he was superior to Miyuki in terms of combat power.
His chance to be chosen as the next Family Head was by no means small, such was Katsushige’s thought. Even so, the fact that he didn’t receive much of a shock even though he was not chosen meant…
(Actually, I, myself, knew that Miyuki is the best magician in the Yotsuba.)
“Tou-san, are you perhaps still bothered for me? It’s alright. I’m already an adult, so I can at least give her my blessing well.”
Katsushige formed a smile, and it didn’t take much effort for him to do so.
“It’s not like that.”
However, his father’s strong refusal hinted at something along the lines of ‘Maya-san would appoint Miyuki to be the next Head. However, I won’t let it happen’.
“Tou-san… you don’t plan to revolt against Toushu-sama, do you?”
Katsushige accused him with a strong tone.
“Even though the Branch Families’ Heads have come together to support a single candidate, if we measure the influence of the Main Family’s Head’s decision over ours, in the end, the issue will be settled by the Main Family’s Head. Even if the Branch Families’ Heads support me to be the next Family Head, it would be unthinkable to be able to get the support of the whole family. Tou-san, you should be very clear on this matter as well.”
Contrary to Katsushige’s expectation, Osamu was nodding on screen.
“I understand. I don’t have any intention to oppose Miyuki in becoming the next Family Head in the first place. Although I do think that you’re more suitable to be the Head.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s no avoiding in Miyuki becoming the next Family Head.
However, it’s still too early.”
“I don’t think that Maya-sama will immediately retire as soon as she names Miyuki as the next Family Head, though.”
“I said, the appointment of Miyuki as the next Family Head is still too early.”
“I understand that she’s bound to have some immaturity, as she’s only 16
years old now, but…”
Katsushige failed to understand the mind of his father. He could understand that she was still too young to inherit the title of Family Head. However, he wondered if there would be any inconvenience if she was to be named as a successor.
“There isn’t any problem with Miyuki herself. That child is suitable to become the next Head of the Yotsuba.”
Katsushige was getting more confused with how the conversation was going.
“Then, where does the problem lie?”
“The problem is Miyuki’s Guardian.”
“Tatsuya-kun, right? Certainly, he has some problems as a magician, but I have no doubt in his ability as a combat magician. He also contributes to the Yotsuba’s finances as Taurus Silver, and he’s a Strategic-Class Magician who is to be the trump card of Japan. Compared to his
‘Material Burst’, Itsuwa Mio-san’s ‘Abyss’ only has limited applications for battles unless on the surface of water.
“That Material Burst itself is the problem. The power of that magic is too enormous. You should know better than me regarding how it initiated the backdoor discussion in the Military after it was deployed on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula since you’re in the Ministry of Defense.”
“Certainly, there was such a case, but at the same time, we were able to bring about the conclusion for an Underwater Decurity Treaty with other countries. The New Soviet Union has also been sounding their alliance with Japan recently. Although there is a downside in the growing tensions with the USNA, the end result is still considered a positive gain in keeping the status quo against neighboring countries.
“If his value as a political tool grows, then it is even more of a necessary to cut him off from the central figures of the Yotsuba so that he won’t get caught up in any political agenda. We need a little more time for that purpose. If we nominate Miyuki as the next Family Head now, it is inevitable for that man to become the next Family Head’s close aide.
That will surely bring about all sorts of problems for the Yotsuba in the future.”
What Osamu said at a glance was logical. However, Katsushige couldn’t help but feel that there is an underlying feeling arming those words.
“Tou-san… why do you, no, why do all the Branch Family Heads dislike Tatsuya-kun so much?”
Any facial expression Osamu may have had disappeared from his face.
It could have been due to his effort to hide his upsetness. However, that expressionless mask of his was not able to trick Katsushige, as he had acquired much wisdom over the many years that they had spent together.
“Such an enormous power will compromise the stability of the world.
What we want is a power that protects us from harm. We do not with for such a power to shake the world.”
“However, that’s not Tatsuya-kun’s responsibility, right?”
“I don’t plan to make him take on the responsibility. It is our responsibility to seal his magic.”
Katsushige realized that any further persuasion was meaningless.
“What do you want me to do?”
He decided to avoid any more meaningless conversations and set his mind on what do now.
“Mashiba and Shizuka are already on the move.”
“Is Kuroba-dono not going to make a move?”
Katsushige’s question was brought up due to the unexpected situation.
The Mashiba Family and the Shizuka Family were not espionage professionals. They had similar abilities as other Ten Master Clans, but the experts of espionage in the Yotsuba Family was led by the Kuroba Family. It seemed unnatural for the Kuroba Family to not be involved in this kind of work that requires a certain level of subtlety.
“The Kuroba Family also agrees with the idea of Shiba Tatsuya’s exclusion. It’s just that Kuroba-dono’s children strongly favor him, so he refrains himself from making a move.”
“I see… So, what do I need to do specifically?”
After explaining that the Branch Heads had such unity, it seemed that they wanted to maneuver the Branches’ force in the most effective way for the execution stage. It was nothing but insecurity of the future, and Katsushige decided that his role was to keep the fatalities to a minimum.
For that very reason, he needed to know their plans.
“There’s no need to injure Miyuki. The end purpose is to halt her movements. As long as she doesn’t get to the Main House on New Year’s Day, it will be enough.”
It was a more peaceful approach than he thought, and Katsushige was a little relieved.
“Your turn is on the 31st. You’re the last chance we have in case Mashiba-dono and Shizuka-dono fail.”
“Please tell me the details. If you know, please include the plans of Mashiba-dono and Shizuka-dono.”
Answering Katsushige’s question, his father spoke of the details of the conspiracy.
December 27th, Thursday night.
Lieutenant Yaguchi of the JSDF’s Matsumoto Base threw himself in bed due to exhaustion from training.
An officer shall become a role model even for personal grooming, was the statement from his precocious Officer Trainer, but Yaguchi had no will to do anything else.
He had been in a lethargic state since summer, ever since his respected superior was ousted due to an incident.
Before that incident, Lieutenant Yaguchi belonged to the faction of
‘hardliners against the coalition with the Great Asian Alliance. It was a faction under Colonel Sakai and had a lengthy population of incorruptible Patriots who openly complained persistently to the top-tiers about the threat of the Great Asian Alliance and the risk of compromising with other countries regardless of the hostilities they received in return. Even after ‘Scorched Halloween’, when they had a golden opportunity for an early ceasefire, Colonel Sakai and his confidants didn’t cease their claims.
Then, when more people in the JSDF came to terms with that ideology, that event happened.
A suspicion of creating new weapons using civilians, High School Students, and minors as targets for a test.
However, it was a plan created by the Kudou Family all along. The incident itself could only be seen as a scheme to trash Colonel Sakai and the executives of the ‘hardliners against the Great Asian Alliance’, that landed them in military prison. The maximum sentence was five years, but they wouldn’t be able to return to military service afterwards. It was questionable if they could even come out of the prison alive. In fact, the executives had died in unnatural deaths before the imprisonment.
Lieutenant Yaguchi was left alone since he was young and low-ranked.
He was also helped by the fact that he was not at the scene when the matter occurred. He was relocated to the Matsumoto regiment as a test pilot for one of the Powered Suits for the Special Mechanized Infantry Test Unit for actual battle deployment. He was not demoted; it was part of official training to study general military service, yet he had lost his motivation, and saw it as a creed to leave the capital.
Nevertheless, he didn’t sit idly and had participated in the training as an exemplary soldier. He was convinced that by doing his best, he would not put to shame his hardliner executives who were falsely accused.
Yaguchi was tired. From a third party point of view, he was doing an impossible thing. He kept on moving his body even after his motivation had plummeted. More than his body, his spirit was exhausted. He harbored his ear to a dubious whisper, that must be the case.
“Who’s that!?”
He felt a sign of life in the room beside his that was not supposed to be there and got up from his bed quickly. No matter how fatigued he was, the movement was imprinted into him by the training regardless of his choice.
“The one who took down Colonel Sakai and the ‘Great Asian Alliance hardliner’s was the Yotsuba Family of the Ten Master Clans.”
A strangely withered voice was emitted from the corner of the room. It was a voice that sounded like the grazing of cold winter woods.
“Is that true? In the first place, who are you? Is there any basis for your claim?”
“I can’t show you the evidence, but it’s a fact.”
Yaguchi’s suspicion was a natural reaction as a man who previously served as a military personnel, but it was probably the same for anyone, too.
“However, why did the Ten Master Clans, especially the Yotsuba to boot…”
However, what the voice told him could not be dismissed by Lieutenant Yaguchi.
“The mastermind who instructed the blaming on Colonel Sakai, the Yotsuba, is not yet satisfied.”
Once he tried to see carefully, he could see a silhouette of a man in the darkness in the corner of his room.
The cold wintry wind voice came from that shadow.
“Mastermind? Who is it!? Who was the one who trashed the Colonel!?”
While reducing his volume as not to be heard by his neighbor, Lieutenant Yaguchi questioned in a strong tone.
However, there was no answer.
“They are going to assassinate the hardliner executives, including the imprisoned Colonel Sakai in the military prison.”
The shadow seemed to say only what it wanted to tell.
It probably came from a recorded message, that was Yaguchi’s first thought, but he soon realized that he was mistaken.
“Don’t be stupid. The military prison is tightly shut out from the outside world. Even its security level has outdone the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. There couldn’t be any such intrusion.”
“It’s possible for the Yotsuba to do it.”
The shadow refuted Yaguchi’s instant argument with a short statement.
“Whether it’s the patrol soldiers, military prison walls, or the security system, all of them cannot go against the Yotsuba. In order to prevent the assassination, other means aside from power are necessary”
Before Yaguchi was able to react for the shadow’s words, the shadow continued his message, the ’29th of December, 1 P.M.’.
“An important person from the Yotsuba with a small number of escorts will go down to Kobuchizawa Station. They will wait for a car from the Yotsuba to pick them up at a nearby hot spring.”
“…What in the world?”
“That important person is a young girl.”
It was probably an answer to Yaguchi’s question or the shadow just said the things he prepared in advance. There was no distinction at all.
“The Yotsuba Family would never abandon that girl. If you take her hostage, it’s possible to release Colonel Sakai.”
“Such a thing…”
Can’t be done, was what Yaguchi was about to say. Even if the Colonel was falsely accused, he was imprisoned in response to a formal conviction of a military court. Even the Yotsuba couldn’t possibly interfere with that. No, it was simply unthinkable.
“They can do it.”
However, Yaguchi couldn’t say ‘cannot’ from his mouth. Although he didn’t say ‘possible’, he ended up hearing those words.
“However, even if you said to take her as a hostage, how…”
He was already riding on the offer of the unidentified shadow. In that instance, Yaguchi chose to stain his hands in illegal means in the hopes of rescuing the Colonel and the other executives.
“I have no such means!”
“There is a detention facility for Reinforced Psychics here on the Matsumoto Base.”
“What!? Do you plan for them to…”
During the 20 year long Global War, in order to create a quick force, as part of the Magician Development Research, Reinforced Psychics were subjected to strengthening processes to squeeze out their specific ability for battle. They were the black ops of the JSDF who were detained at the JSDF Facilities based on the threat of their power after the war. Nearby the Matsumoto Base, there was a single facility for a relatively low threat level group, and Reinforced Psychic Body Treatment was accommodated there.
“Reinforced Psychics have a grudge-like jealousy against the Ten Master Clans. It would be easy to use them as a pawn to fight against the Yotsuba Family.
Yaguchi shook his head upon hearing the shadow’s proposal.
“No, it’s impossible. I don’t even have the authority to go into the laboratory.”
“We will provide the means. Although, we can’t prepare for a regular life.”
“Are you turning me into a criminal?”
Yaguchi blurred his voice in anguish. However, he didn’t reject immediately to the illegal proposal, he had already decided which road he would choose.
“Colonel Sakai was also charged through illegal means. If you can ensure the target, it’s possible to out-win their measures.”
In other words, he could not only save Colonel Sakai, but also escape the criminal brand himself.
“You’re only correcting the justice that has been twisted. It’s not evil even if you’re engaging in a criminal act”
“I got it. What should I do?”
Yaguchi felt that even without eyes and a nose, the shadow was forming a grin and laughing from its mouth.
It was around the same time that Lieutenant Yaguchi from the Matsumoto Base formed his decision to disobey the military law.
The same shadow emerged in the Second Supply Uji Base. The shadow showed himself to Captain Hatae, the Great Asian Alliance
reconciliation faction leader.
Hatae was accused of having invited the enemy’s foreign magicians into the base at the end of October, but the charge was made more lenient after it was detected that his consciousness was under the influence of Mental Interference Magic. He was sentenced to 6 months of salary cut for deploying a military vehicle to a battle without the instruction of the Base Commander. Although it was tough economically, it was also quite a compassionate measure that he was not demoted, and even Hatae himself thought so.
Nevertheless, the punishment didn’t make him change his stance. He kept wishing for a truce with the Great Asian Alliance to repair the current hostility between the two countries, Hatae even received advice from his superiors and colleagues that he would only worsen his standing within the JSDF’s in the country. Yet, he persisted in his view.
He didn’t hesitate in his belief, but he felt that his position was getting worse by the day. At this rate, in the near future, his superiors would get impatient and think that they were keeping a useless person on their payroll.
The shadow appeared to him at such a time.
“Illusion projection?”
Hatae was familiar with Lieutenant Yaguchi’s magic from the Matsumoto Base. This was the reason that the shadow materialized itself at a glance.
“Where did you come from?”
However, he knew that it was an illusion, so he wouldn’t know the identity of the magician. Nevertheless, it didn’t make much difference for Hatae.
“The other day, the one who attacked the Base was the Ten Master Clans-Yotsuba Family.”
The shadow didn’t answer Hatae’s question.
“I know that well enough.”
Hatae didn’t mind the matter-of-fact statement. If it had planned to reveal its identity, the magician wouldn’t send a shadow without eyes, a nose and a mouth.
Moreover, Hatae had guessed that the attack came from the Yotsuba Family of the Ten Master Clans. The intruder was clearly using Modern Magic. He had no other idea of any other Modern Magicians who would be bold enough to intrude on a JSDF Base.
“The Yotsuba are continuing to hunt the people who communicate with the Great Asian Alliance even now.”
However, the next line that came from the shadow couldn’t be ignored.
“Those bastards still hunt down my comrades? Damn it, those freaking hounds!”
“Pretty much so. Captain Hatae, you’d also be targeted again by the Yotsuba in the future.”
Hatae visibly showed how upset he was. However, he put up a defiant attitude soon after.
“Despite being manipulated, you have attempted to insurrect a Civil War. Moreover, you’re already prepared.”
“There wouldn’t be any honor in your final moments. As a traitor of one’s own country, only a disgraceful death is waiting you.”
“Ugh…”
“Despite being a JSDF Officer, you were used by the enemy
conveniently, which makes you a traitor. Your parents and siblings must be ashamed of you.”
“Then!”
“It’s the same even with your self-determination. If you were to run away by taking your own life in desperation for your betrayal, had you done so right after the incident, they probably would have accepted your atonement for your offense through your death, and it would have placed you as a soldier who knew of shame. However, it’s too late. You have missed the opportunity to do so.”
“Then, what should I do!?”
Hatae’s face was filled with a desperate expression.
He was condemned by a shadow, and had lost his usual rationality.
“You survive. As long as you do, you have the opportunity to change the stigma.”
“But, how!?”
The shadow grinned. It was not a laughing face, but for the opponent, it was no less than a laugh.
“December 30th, three days from now, the magician who attacked the Base will be at Kobuchizawa Station, waiting for contact from the Yotsuba’s Main House.”
“What?”
“The purpose of the contact is for supply and transmission of new missions. The mission is to annihilate the Great Asian Alliance’s Reconciliation Faction.”
“What… do you want me to do?”
Hatae asked while clenching his teeth. At this stage, he already guessed the intention of the shadow.
“You want me to assassinate that magician?”
“This is only the first step. If you want to survive, you have to fight. If you don’t, you will end up being defeated.”
“You want to turn me into an assassin!?”
“Captain Hatae, I leave it to your decision.”
Hatae was not able to answer in the form of words anymore. His voice was obstructed when he was clenching his teeth.
“Fortunately, I can say, you found a reliable colleague this time, not some Ancient Magician. I’m sure, he’d gladly lend you his power.”
Without waiting for Hatae’s response, the shadow disappeared. Unlike Kasei-tai, there was neither residue nor any trace of it ever existing.
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