February 17
Colonel Virginia Balance was exhausted. Her strategy had failed spectacularly—enemies breached headquarters effortlessly, abducted her, and left her adrift, only to be rescued by Japan's navy. Her collaborators, including USNA forces in Japan, fared no better. The operation, devised by USNA military brass with Balance barely involved, made scapegoating her absurd. Thus, no one criticized her failure.
Despite the fiasco, as the USNA President's envoy, Balance couldn't wallow. She steeled herself in a temporary embassy office.
(Ceria's request… to think I'd be contacted by that man.)
The day after the failed assault, Ceria's message stunned Balance, proposing a meeting with Yugen Kagurazaka—the prime suspect as a strategic-class mage. Given the botched operation, Balance had no positive impression, yet Yugen's rational request for talks, not retaliation, left the USNA, as the aggressor, no choice but to comply.
A knock and her secretary's voice pulled Balance from her thoughts. She permitted entry, and Yugen Kagurazaka, in a sharp suit, appeared.
"It's been a while, Lieutenant Colonel—no, Colonel Balance now," Yugen said. "About two years, right?"
"Yes," Balance replied. "Ceria's message was quite a surprise."
Two years ago, Gozo Ueyama infiltrated a base, defeated Lina, and faced Balance, then a lieutenant colonel, in the command room. The incident was hushed with a gag order, but Balance reported it to the President, leading to a White House meeting. Now a deputy director of Internal Inspections, Balance saw Yugen as no mere bystander.
"I couldn't use my real name back then due to family customs," Yugen said. "Yuto Nagano, now Yugen Kagurazaka. You've heard from Ceria—Excelsia Kudou Shields—and know plenty, I presume."
Seated across sofas, Yugen introduced himself: former Mitsuya clan member, Kagurazaka heir, and prime suspect in the "Scorched Aurora Halloween" incident, wielding one of two strategic-class spells. Balance, piecing together his motives, spoke.
"I was told of the meeting but nothing more," she said. "What's your agenda?"
Normally, she'd be less formal with a younger opponent, but facing Polaris's victor warranted caution. A misstep could see the embassy obliterated by magic. Sensing this, Yugen smiled faintly.
"No need to worry, Colonel. I've no intent to retaliate. You haven't directly harmed me. But the military brass and Pentagon who planned this? I'm not so forgiving."
Yugen's research confirmed Balance's position: number two in USNA Military Intelligence's Internal Inspections, sent as the President's envoy. Entrusted with "Brionac" and "Levatein," she was the operation's coordinator, but Yugen had no desire to punish someone willing to listen.
"I'm here for two reasons," Yugen said. "First, I demand an immediate halt to your illegal actions—neutralization, including killing, of strategic-class mages. As one who wielded a spell in 'Scorched Aurora Halloween,' I can't overlook this."
"What did you just say!?" Balance gasped.
"Exactly what I said," Yugen replied. "If you try to kill me now, it'll be taken as USNA's 'public will.' Are you prepared for that?"
In a democracy, leaders reflect public will through elections. Balance, delegated presidential authority, could detain Yugen. But as a former Mitsuya, Kagurazaka heir, and Ueyama kin, supported by the Yotsuba, such action was near impossible. Rumors of Yugen's Yotsuba favor weren't mere gossip—Gozo Ueyama and the Yotsuba's history made dismissing them reckless. Thirty years ago, their rampage caused havoc; repeating that risked worse.
"I won't go quietly," Yugen said. "Be ready for the embassy to vanish. You know strategic-class mages' power."
"Which spell was it?" Balance asked.
"The Japan Sea side—dealing with the New Soviets," Yugen said. "Bezosbrasov tried 'Tuman Bomba' to kill me, but I turned the tables."
Bezosbrasov's data was shared with USNA intelligence, a fact Balance knew. Yugen judged this disclosure safe, framing it as repelling two superpowers' attacks, implicitly criticizing USNA forces' sluggish response in Japan.
Yugen didn't claim "world's strongest"—such titles invited trouble. His strength was for protecting what mattered, sparing those who didn't threaten peace. Revealing his strategic-class status to Balance, a high-ranking, rational figure close to the President, was strategic—she likely knew of him already.
"Why disclose this?" Balance asked. "You'd want it hidden."
"Your fuss over one new strategic spell caused this mess," Yugen said. "Targeting rising powers is no different from the Great Asian Alliance or New Soviets. I'm on good terms with your President, so I'm sharing this out of courtesy."
Balance inwardly sweated. Japan's new strategic spell, beyond "Abyss," shook the world. A USNA ally, not a superpower, achieving this overturned Pentagon claims of superior magical tech. Taurus Silver's presence proved Japan's prowess, but USNA pride blinded them. Yugen's restraint in not misusing his spell was a relief, but detaining him risked Gozo Ueyama and Chikihime Kagurazaka—untouchable heroes whose involvement would tarnish the USNA globally.
"My second demand," Yugen continued, "is that future USNA intruders be handled under Japan's legal order."
"You expect me to accept that?" Balance asked.
"In exchange, if you meet our demands, I'll assist you and the President," Yugen said. "I can promise here not to aim my strategic spell at USNA soil."
Balance grumbled inwardly but saw the appeal. Her envoy authority allowed agreement, and a non-aggression pledge plus personal ties were enticing.
For Yugen, "Starlight Breaker" aimed at the USNA was unnecessary; he had other strategic spells if needed. Limiting the promise to "USNA soil" accounted for their double standards. Tatsuya would agree if Miyuki's safety was assured. The demand also covered Gu Jie's potential arrival, which Raymond Clark seemed aware of, though Edward Clark's stance was unclear.
A mutually beneficial deal, Balance signed the contract.
February 19, 2096
Pixie's situation was relayed to the Yotsuba via the Kagurazaka, avoiding any buyout attempts. If they acted, Yugen would have to respond, but for now, he was relieved.
On Raymond's designated night, Yugen sent Tatsuya's group to the training ground first. Before Himeri and Sana could ask why, another figure approached.
"I see," Yugen said. "She'd definitely grill me if she were here."
"It's odd you're okay with that," Ceria replied, "but right on time."
Fully equipped, mask on, "Parade" active, Ceria landed, canceling flight magic, and approached with hands raised to signal no hostility.
"We got the message too," Ceria said. "Lina's stubborn—she's set on annihilating the Parasites."
"Modern magic, except 'Luna Strike,' can't handle them," Sana said. "You didn't stop her, Ceria-san?"
"Embarrassingly, my sister's too serious," Ceria said.
Her un-military quip implied she wasn't serious, though Lina's influence drove her enlistment, burdening the brass with dilemmas.
"Big bro—er, Yugen, you're not moving?" Ceria asked.
"If I get close, Parasites flee," Yugen said. "I'll approach only at the end. I've set a special barrier."
A Tenjin-based grand barrier enveloped the First Training Ground. Besides Tatsuya's group, the Defense Army's First Division's guerrilla squad ("Sword-Drawing Unit"), Nanakusa's Counterintelligence Third Section, and Lina's USNA backup were present, plus Parasites—five groups in confrontation.
"How did His Excellency learn of Pixie's value?" Yugen wondered. "We never revealed it."
In the original, Kyoko learned of Pixie's psychokinesis via Aoyama Cemetery, prompting Parasite retrieval. Yugen tested minor telekinesis at school but erased traces. If someone deduced Pixie's value from Yugen's actions, it made sense, but Edward Clark's rush to control an unstable entity suggested desperation. Sensing another presence—a Yotsuba envoy—Yugen spoke.
"Stop hiding, Ayako-chan."
"As expected, Yugen-san," Ayako said, emerging. "And she's USNA, right?"
Ayako Kuroba, eldest daughter of a Yotsuba branch, wore a black dress, fitting the midnight setting. Himeri, Sana, and Ceria showed no surprise, but Ayako tilted her head at Ceria.
"She's agreed not to meddle further," Yugen said. "You're here for Mikihiko's sealed Parasites?"
"Yes, per the Head's orders," Ayako replied.
Mikihiko sealed two Parasites, while Lina, ignoring Tatsuya, killed hosts. If the Yotsuba retrieved them, the Kagurazaka could claim them, so Yugen didn't object. The issue was the Nanakusa or Kudou claiming the other. He glanced at Sana.
"Move quickly," Yugen said. "You have forces, but can Himeri and Sana back Ayako-chan?"
"To prevent theft en route?" Sana asked.
"They'd do it with a straight face," Yugen said.
Crushing the Nanakusa or Kudou was possible but pointless. They needed to realize the danger. Preserving them as a bulwark against the "New Order" was key.
As Himeri and Sana followed Ayako, only Yugen and Ceria remained. Ceria was there to help with cleanup.
"About the remaining hosts," Yugen said. "Stars' pride aside, doesn't Lina realize some enemies are beyond her? You're partly to blame, Ceria."
"Ugh," Ceria groaned, speechless.
Her environment shaped Lina's seriousness, with Ceria's actions influencing her. Yugen expected a retort, but Ceria seemed to agree.
"Anyway," Ceria said, "eight Parasites fused."
"I know," Yugen said. "Stealing the final blow's annoying, but let's do this."
Normally, Miyuki would use "Cocytus" based on Tatsuya's "Eye," but Yugen's barrier avoided such risks. Holding "Odin" forward, he locked onto the fused Parasite with "Osiris Sight," focusing. A flood of activation sequences poured from "Odin," readying the spell.
His unique magic: Kaleidoscope.
Initially a perception spell, it birthed strategic-class spells like "Mirror Dispersion" and "Starlight Breaker." Infinitizing his magical calculation area, its true essence was "concept interference"—twisting an entity's Idea in the information dimension Eidos, a divine act.
"Kaleidoscope—Akashic Nova, activate."
Unlike "Amaterasu Brilliance," bound by reason, Akashic Nova rewrote existence without limits. The barrier glowed, and in a flash shorter than a camera's, the fused Parasite vanished cleanly.
"That wraps up the Parasites," Yugen said. "Why are you groveling?"
"A pose of eternal submission to big bro," Ceria said.
"Am I a demon lord?" Yugen sighed.
He lacked the skill to repeatedly kill and revive, shattering minds—that was godly. Seeing Ceria's dogeza, Yugen sighed heavily, delivering a chop to her head to make her stand.
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