In the USNA—North American United States—capital of Washington, D.C., within the heavily guarded Oval Office of the White House, flanked by Secret Service agents, the President sat facing a woman across a sofa.
"My apologies for the timing, Colonel Balance, amid the fugitive chaos."
"No need. A direct summons from you leaves no room for refusal."
The woman—Colonel Virginia Balance, in her late thirties—exuded a sharp, sisterly poise. Despite the population crash from the World War Clusters, male dominance lingered in politics and military, making female officers rare.
Yet none dared view her oddly. Her role: Deputy Director of the USNA Joint Chiefs of Staff Intelligence Department's Internal Affairs Bureau. Number two in the watchdog over uniformed and civilian military misconduct.
The President called her to spare her superior undue burden, given his acquaintance with her father—and deeming her ideal for the precise handling ahead.
"Colonel Balance. Between us: Two years ago, I was warned of the micro black hole creation-evaporation experiment's risks. I informed Celia—Polaris—of this."
"...Who suggested that possibility?"
Balance showed no outward surprise, but inwardly reeled. The experiment brimmed with unknowns; past attempts reached final approval but stalled.
"Mr. Gouza. I half-dismissed his warning as tall tales then... but ignoring it led to this. I wanted to punch myself."
The President authorized it, weighing public opinion and civilian control over the military. Yet it meant disregarding a war hero's advice—his acquaintance.
He swallowed words implying "self-inflicted," his expression saying enough.
"A letter from Mr. Gouza arrived: 'Cease actions threatening our nation's guardian strategic magic.' His grandson sent one too."
"Your tone suggests familiarity with the grandson?"
"Yes. Two years ago, with Angie Sirius—he's the one who defeated her. Now Kagurazaka Yugen. I call him 'The Untouchable' with respect and fear."
Naming Yugen emphasized not just his non-magical takedown of the President, but that even Sirius couldn't handle him—urging caution against provocation.
Balance knew Yugen (from dossiers and investigations); during the Stars deployment to Japan, he topped strategic magician suspect lists.
Worse, just before the summons, she'd received critical intel—about him.
"Sir, regarding Kagurazaka Yugen... Polaris engaged and lost to him."
"...Worst possible news."
The President muttered, weighed by factors: his granddaughter clashing with a benefactor's kin, and his earlier words now hollow.
Honestly, Gouza not razing the White House showed mercy—he inwardly hoped to cling to optimism, but reality forbade.
"I authorized this mess, but it's unacceptable. Unconfirmed reports say 'Igniter' returned to Moscow... Colonel Balance, go to Japan as my proxy—USNA government's envoy."
"Sir, I'm military, not political."
"I know. But you best understand how few can rein in Sirius or Polaris."
Forcing military into politics was mismatched, but the stakes—strategic magic, fugitives—demanded someone to control deployed personnel.
International ally issues warranted presidential travel, but domestic unrest—anti-magic movements on the East Coast—tied him down.
As Lina and Celia's superior, and Internal Affairs, Balance suited him perfectly.
"Pentagon brass obsesses over 'Great Bomb' or 'Shining Buster'... but Mr. Gouza's magic terrifies me most."
"Meaning?"
"Old story... You know I was military then, magicless."
During the Clusters, the President fought and survived. On the New Soviet front, he witnessed Gouza's strategic magic—'Thunderous End Dragon: Hell End Dragon' (Gouza hid its strategic status). It instilled awe.
"'This power won't touch your nation unless you harm mine'... Honestly, my life dangles by Mr. Gouza's leash. Nuclear shelters mean nothing before his magic."
Few ignored Uesugi Gouza worldwide. Nations wary of his power, yet unable to bind him—a master martial artist sans magic, revered globally.
Binding Gouza meant enmity from worldwide elites. The International Magic Association teemed with his allies; none could stop him—save family, unknown to the President.
"Back to point: With East Coast anti-magic activism raging, I can't leave. Fugitive accomplices might lurk... Hence calling you, Colonel."
"You don't suspect me as one?"
"No concerns... I've judged accordingly."
Trust underpinned his words. Pre-checks cleared her alibi, fugitive contacts, and medicals during the experiment.
Not 100% certain—a gamble on low odds—but he entrusted her with resolution.
"Also, authorize 'Brionac' and 'Levatein' under my name. Doubtful against fugitives... but forbid use on him or associates."
"...Understood."
His words warned: "No attacks on Kagurazaka Yugen." As prime strategic suspect, his potential possession threatened USNA—yet the cost of provoking outweighed, leaving Balance to nod silently.
◇ ◇ ◇
Unaware of overseas turmoil, the hectic weekend passed into Monday. Only Yugen—and perhaps Celia, given recent events—anticipated attacks.
They'd lost Charles Sullivan's fused entity (strictly, mutated into Alice), likely proceeding cautiously... Pondering this, Yugen encountered Celia in the hall.
First since the incident; her expression far from friendly.
"...Yugen, I resent you."
"Can't fathom why. Besides, I've no memory of besting you outside magic practice, Celia."
"Th-that's..."
Yugen feigned ignorance, but Celia assumed his identity exposed. Yet "Exelia Kudou Shields and Celia Polaris are one" was military secret; loose talk risked leaks.
Resentment stemmed from the prior event—but they had no duty to die meekly. He wanted to retort: Does the States' self-righteous "world threat" logic on strategic magic birth consider global harmony?
"Competitiveness is fine; I'd not mind a rematch. But when it's my life on the line, that's different... Seems debating here is pointless."
"Yes, appears so... What do you plan, Yugen?"
Sensing "demonic" aura, Yugen's words drew Celia's nod—likely triggering school defenses.
"Hypothetically, you lack rights to demand their handover now."
"You do?"
"You grasp your laws don't apply here except specific spots... I'll say I have that right."
Without awaiting reply, Yugen turned and dashed off. Past the corner, he pulled his communicator, connecting to Miyuki.
"Miyuki, catch that reaction?"
"Yes. Brother sensed it too... Related to the other day?"
Miyuki knew from Sullivan's incident; Tatsuya sensing psion waves marked growth.
No time for joy.
"Emergency status. Setup: Tatsuya and you front; Leo's group backup."
"Your plan?"
"They might interfere. I'll set school perimeter alerts; Himeka and Sana assist."
One entity detected—but after a loss, they might breach defenses recklessly. Limited responders then; Yugen, Himeka, Sana—ancient magic experts—handle.
Leaving Mikihiko for backup suited Tatsuya-Miyuki support. Yugen's 'Spirit Dispersion' outshone modern magic against foes; unusable publicly, especially before Lina or Celia—Mayumi or Katsuto aside.
Meanwhile, in the experiment building for CAD tuning, Tooya sensed the "demonic" aura—worse, from a nearby trailer.
(This presence... Six, one 'cold'... Is this a 'parasite'?)
Even as Ten Masters, facing non-human foes was novel. Tooya, with Rokuzuka's unique abilities, probed human presences—detecting inhuman from a Maximilian Devices employee near the trailer.
Infiltrating the school verged on suicide... Tooya shook off rumination. Perhaps the parasite aimed to multiply via students.
Psion-insensitive magicians risked becoming prey. Grabbing his tuned CAD, Tooya headed toward the cold aura.
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