Upon arriving at the Kagurazaka main residence in Hakone, Yugen, Tatsuya, and Miyuki were ushered directly into the grand hall. The preparations for the Kagurazaka family's celebratory gathering were already complete. They were welcomed by Senhime, her hair done up, dressed in a long-sleeved furisode kimono.
"I only wear unlined hitoe kimono for important rituals like the formal Celebration Gathering, so wearing a furisode now is fine, isn't it?" she remarked.
Apparently, she used to be quite strict about such things, but Senhime had significantly reformed the traditions, claiming it was necessary to adapt to the times. Setting that aside, once Yugen, Tatsuya, and Miyuki were seated, they exchanged greetings.
"Happy New Year, Yugen-kun, Tatsuya-kun, and Miyuki-chan."
"Happy New Year, Mother."
Normally, Yugen, as the head of the family, would sit next to Senhime. However, as this was a private meeting rather than the formal gathering, Yugen sat beside Tatsuya and Miyuki. Senhime accepted Yugen's greeting without nagging him about protocol, then turned her gaze to Tatsuya and Miyuki.
"Happy New Year, Lady Kagurazaka, former head of the house. I am Shiba Tatsuya, the eldest son of the current Yotsuba head, and I have recently been nominated as the next head of the Yotsuba family. I ask for your continued favor, and I have come to report that the seal you placed upon me has been released."
"My, how polite of you, Tatsuya-kun. I told Maya-chan a letter would suffice, but that child is dutiful in the strangest ways. I have already passed the leadership of the Kagurazaka family to Yugen-kun, so please, rely on him without hesitation from now on."
"I am aware of that, but..."
"I told you, didn't I? There's no need for calculating debts and credits between close friends."
In a sense, Tatsuya's stubbornness was a trait shared by Maya and Miya. As Yugen muttered his admonishment, both Miyuki and Senhime let out soft chuckles. Senhime then turned her gaze to Miyuki.
"Once again, I am Shiba Miyuki, cousin of Shiba Tatsuya. My aunt—Yotsuba Maya—has ordered me to marry into the Kagurazaka family as the wife of its head. I am still inexperienced, but I humbly ask for your guidance and encouragement, Mother-in-law Senhime."
"My, my. So Yugen-kun and Miyuki-chan can finally get engaged. Thanks to Yugen-kun, it seems I will be gaining many daughters-in-law."
"Given that this family already had a strong matriarchal temperament, is it really wise to increase their numbers?"
"We can't hire shrine maidens for free, you know."
According to Senhime, the reason for making Yugen commit to polygamy was to have them help as shrine maidens at the Fujisanroku Shrine in Hakone. This shrine, originally located in Kyoto to enshrine the Kagurazaka ancestors, had been relocated to protect the nation by suppressing the dragon veins of the spiritual mountain, Mt. Fuji.
Incidentally, the part-time pay for maidens here was quite good; one could earn over 100,000 yen just working the end of the year and the first three days of the New Year. The high pay was ostensibly to compensate for the distance from the city center and the fact that they were being called upon during the holidays, but the competition for the spots was apparently quite high.
Yugen looked exasperated at Senhime's blatantly mercenary comment. Perhaps noticing this, Senhime opened her folding fan to hide her mouth. Honestly, it was hard to tell how much of it was a joke, but considering some of his fiancées had experience working at the shrine (Himenas and Touko), the feeling that she was somewhat serious couldn't be wiped away.
"Fufufu, I am joking. Regarding matters after the engagement: I will allow Yugen-kun's lodgings at the Shiba home to continue as they are. However, concerning the other fiancées... considering the future, the separate residence in Tokyo is a bit too small. The north side of FLT in Machida is currently vacant, so let's build there."
Decisions were made this easily because, in the confusion following the chaotic World War, when they disposed of those involved in the "Yotsuba Killing," the Kagurazaka family bought up land in the Kanto region—whose owners had died in the war and were unknown—for next to nothing.
Moreover, many of these plots were in prime locations. The Kagurazaka separate residence was treated as a critical base for Imperial Family security, making its fixed asset tax effectively "zero." Even the land for FLT itself was technically leased by the Kagurazaka family, meaning they received significant benefits from Taurus Silver.
In Senhime's vision, the Tokyo separate residence would be given to Shuuji and Yumu as their "new home" while also serving as a base for the Divine General Association. She intended to build housing for Yugen's fiancées in Machida, connecting Hakone and the city center.
"That land? The north side of the FLT headquarters is the site of the old research facility. Even if you build a residence, there will be a lot of space left over."
"In that case, let's build a residence for Tatsuya-kun's fiancées right next to it."
"...Excuse me, Senhime-san. What exactly does this conversation mean?"
The FLT headquarters and research facility in Machida had undergone relocation and renovation to accommodate business expansion by Taurus Silver and the future ESCAPES Project (ostensibly a research facility for natural energy efficiency using magic). The new facility was completed two months ago, and the old one was dismantled—doubling as a magic experiment—leaving the land currently as a vacant lot. The residences would be built there.
However, there was a point in Senhime's statement that concerned him, so Tatsuya asked. Tatsuya had heard the broad strokes regarding his engagement, but he questioned the premise that he would have multiple fiancées.
"Oh? Did Maya-chan not say anything?"
"Mother only said, 'Regarding Takkun's fiancée, you do not need to limit yourself to just one.' I assumed she meant she would allow me to have a mistress or the like."
"I see. Tatsuya-kun, you understand the reason why Yugen-kun is taking multiple fiancées, don't you? You are in the same position, which is why it is required of you. We have already forced the government to recognize Tatsuya-kun's bigamy as a special exception."
"..."
Upon hearing Senhime's statement, Tatsuya didn't quite fall into silence, but he looked almost stunned.
He hadn't been naive enough to think that while Yugen and even Touya were in that situation, he would be exempt. However, being confronted with it directly left even Tatsuya at a loss for words.
"Besides, Maya-chan asked me to list potential fiancée candidates for you, Tatsuya-kun, so I am cooperating."
"Incidentally, who exactly is on this list?"
"First, there is Seria-chan's twin sister, Angie Sirius—or rather, Angelina Shields-chan. Mitsui Honoka-chan is also on there, and after that, Kuroba Ayako-chan ranks quite highly."
Since Miyuki knew the feelings of those three, she thought it was practically certain they would become Tatsuya's fiancées. Lina had kissed him, causing Tatsuya's thought processes to freeze; Honoka's feelings had been exposed to him via Pixie; and Tatsuya had received a lecture from Miyuki for failing to notice Ayako's crush. Looking back, he was acting just like a dense harem protagonist.
"After that, there are two from the Numbers-dropped Ichihara family—Ichihara Suzune-chan and Isori Shiori-chan. In terms of Clan relations, we've received an inquiry from the Mitsuya family regarding Kana-chan, and the Saegusa family has inquired about an engagement with Kasumi-chan. Also, Fujibayashi Kyoko-chan from Kudou Retsu is included in the targets."
"Kana-san... Did you know about this, Yugen-san?"
"I heard about it as a possibility. It wasn't confirmed at the time, so I didn't think to mention it."
Aside from them, the Hirakawa sisters (Koharu and Chiaki) were candidates, and they planned to approach the counselor, Ono Haruka. It also seemed that Eimi from the Goldie family was included in the target list.
"If I were to marry all of them, it would be over ten people. As expected of Tatsuya."
"That is not a line that should be spoken by you, Yugen, who likely has even more... But by the way, Yugen. Do you think Ichijou will confess to Miyuki?"
Setting aside the future harem talk, Tatsuya asked Yugen about something that had been on his mind.
Masaki harbored romantic feelings for Miyuki; Tatsuya knew this clearly from witnessing the scenes repeatedly. Frankly, given his obvious attitude, most people would have noticed Masaki's crush.
The Yotsuba family had decided on a policy: through the Japan Magic Association, they would announce Tatsuya's nomination as the next head, his recruitment of fiancées, and the fact that Miyuki would become Yugen's fiancée to the influential magician families of the Twenty-Eight Families and the Hundred Families. If the Ichijou family were to make a move, it would be now... though it goes without saying that this would be an "interruption" that could draw criticism from other magician families.
"Rather than Masaki, there is a possibility that his father, Ichijou Gouki, will intervene by objecting to the engagement between Miyuki and me."
"Why is that? There should be no issues, either legally or genetically, with Yugen-san and I getting engaged."
"This relates to what I told Mother beforehand, but when I removed my name from the Mitsuya family of the Ten Master Clans to become the adopted son of the Guardian Kagurazaka family, an emergency Clan Conference was held at the proposal of Kudou Retsu."
Yugen had completely defeated the "Crimson Prince," Ichijou Masaki, in two events during the Nine Schools Competition's Newcomer Division. Immediately after that competition ended, he abandoned his position as a direct descendant of the Ten Master Clans and accepted the nomination as the next head of the Guardians. Since the selection of his fiancées was originally the exclusive prerogative of Gozo and Senhime, he had been prepared to leave his position in the Ten Master Clans to some extent.
However, fearing that the raison d'être of the Ten Master Clans would waver if his exceptional power left their constraints, Kudou Retsu hurriedly convened an emergency Clan Conference to question the source.
When Yugen questioned Retsu directly in a private meeting, Retsu explained his fear: If he allowed someone who had demonstrated the ability to easily defeat Masaki—who had actual combat experience—to leave the Ten Master Clans, similar events could occur in the other Twenty-Seven Families besides the Mitsuya. This would threaten not only the leadership of the Clan Conference but its very significance. It made Yugen want to retort, 'If that's the case, do something about the Saegusa head, who is one of your students.'
"Even for me, the third son of the Mitsuya family—which holds top-class influence within the Ten Master Clans—it became such a major incident that Kudou Retsu involved the Clan Conference. If Miyuki, a direct descendant of the current Yotsuba head and one of the strongest figures in the Ten Master Clans, removes her name from the Yotsuba to become the first wife of the Kagurazaka head, I foresee inevitable problems."
"You mean, 'If superior magician bloodlines continue to leave the Ten Master Clans, the significance of the Ten Master Clans' strength—their existence as the "Strongest"—could waver'?"
"If they attack us, that will be the point. In addition to that, Masaki has a sister four years younger named Ichijou Akane, and she has fallen for me. Most likely, Ichijou Gouki will look into engaging that girl to me as well."
Before that emergency Clan Conference, another had been held after the Monolith Code final in the Newcomer Division. The fact that the "Crimson Prince" Ichijou Masaki was defeated in two events by Mitsuya Yugen, who was ostensibly unknown (though he held the alias Titania of Annihilation), caused ripples. At that time, the unofficial match between Katsuto and Yugen was also revealed, drawing unwanted attention from the heads of the Ten Master Clans.
"I intend to approve the engagement of little Akane of the Ichijou family, but it is currently on hold due to negotiations with the Isshiki family."
"Mother, do you have a friendship with the Isshiki family?"
"To tell you the truth, I was the matchmaker for Airi-chan's mother, Manaka-chan."
Isshiki Manaka. Although her name looks Japanese, she is a full-blooded Frenchwoman (she changed her name upon naturalization), and apparently, she is one of the descendants of the French royal family.
One might wonder how such a marriage was possible, but there were various circumstances involved.
First, the Isshiki family is indirectly related to the Ichijou family but is ambitiously eyeing a seat in the Ten Master Clans. Meanwhile, Manaka's homeland—France—was lagging behind the UK and Germany, fellow former EU members, in terms of Strategic-Class Magic. France, once hailed as one of the "Big Five" in the former United Nations, had recently been pushed back even by the Great Asian Alliance, which had intervened in the struggle for hegemony on the African continent.
What France desired was to acquire Strategic-Class Magic different from that of the UK or Germany. They believed that if this became possible, the groundwork would be laid to compete on equal terms with the UK and Germany, bringing about a state of equilibrium and mutual non-aggression. Swallowing their pride, the French government bowed its head to Senhime. Hearing this, Senhime introduced the Isshiki family, one of the Eighteen Assistant Families, leading to Manaka marrying into the Isshiki family.
Manaka also knew her motherland's wish. As a result of desiring power in that sense, the Isshiki family was blessed with a son and a daughter. In short, Airi is something like a "Princess" who carries the blood of the French royal family.
"...Did the Imperial Family have anything to say?"
"They said nothing in particular. After all, the current Kagurazaka family—my late father—was a blood relative of the Imperial Family."
"Excuse me?"
Fearing the extinction of the only male lineage from the previous era's Imperial Prince, the Kagurazaka family devised a plan. A person who was a cousin to Senhime married into the family, completely cutting ties with the Kagurazaka. This was a measure taken to prevent the thinning of Imperial blood, following the example of the Meiji Emperor, a countermeasure against the grave crisis of Imperial survival. Thanks to this, the path of male-line Imperial succession was not severed.
This was possible because the Kagurazaka family secretly took in Princes and Princesses who were ousted due to political strife or financial circumstances. By marrying them, they preserved the lineage of the Imperial Family alongside the bloodlines of the Abe and Kamo clans.
If anything, their royal blood might be thicker than that of the current Imperial Family, but the Kagurazaka family stubbornly refused to enter the circle of maternal relatives or external relations. They understood better than anyone that if they stood out poorly, their past actions would become known, leading to a situation that could divide the country. Thus, they became the shadow of the Imperial Family, maintaining its bloodline.
To reward the Kagurazaka family's loyalty, the Imperial Family demoted one of the Princes from nobility to commoner status and sent him out as an adopted son-in-law to the Kagurazaka family. That was Senhime's father. The Kagurazaka family then became brilliantly matriarchal, with Kaname marrying into the Kamiizumi, Senhime becoming the previous head, and Azusa marrying into the Naruse family.
"It is obvious what the French government is thinking just by looking at the surrounding countries. France is anxious precisely because it borders two countries that possess the 'Thirteen Apostles.' However, I will not permit them to simply send Airi-chan's child to France for free."
"Please do not speak on the premise that the conditions are clearly already set."
"Fufu, I know. To return to the topic, those circumstances are partly why we hurried Yugen-kun's engagement matters."
Aside from those whose engagements were currently decided, the suspicious parties likely to apply were the Ichijou, Itsuwa, and Saegusa families.
Among the Twenty-Eight Families, the Mutsudzuka family had a friendly relationship with Touya, and since there were no girls of a close age, the possibility was zero. The Yatsushiro and Kudou (the main lineage, not the Shields) families were excluded for the same reason. The Jumonji family had a daughter from a second wife who was somewhat close, but she was six years younger—currently a fifth grader. She could hardly be an engagement candidate, so he wanted to treat that as out of the question. Expanding to the Hundred Families, the likely candidate was Kei's sister from the Isori family, but she was in the same grade as Marika and Arisa, so there were parts of that which were hard to accept.
Anything beyond that... reached a level where he wanted to pretend he hadn't heard it, and he didn't even want to think about the number increasing further. He almost wanted to push them onto Tatsuya or Touya.
"Yugen-san..."
"Don't pinch me, Miyuki-san. It's not like I ended up in this situation because I like it."
Yugen was no longer a member of the Mitsuya family on paper, but the engagement between Yugen and Miyuki effectively meant the Mitsuya and Yotsuba families would become relatives. The engagement of Kana to Tatsuya would establish the ostensible reason for this connection.
Generally speaking, although it had hit a deadlock, the Saegusa family had attempted to advance a marriage proposal with Itsuwa Mio, one of the 'Thirteen Apostles' from the Itsuwa family (the eldest son of the first wife was married, and the second son reportedly had personality issues). As such, even though they were fellow members of the Ten Master Clans, the Ichijou family, which had no blood relation, had no grounds to criticize the engagement.
Pinched in the side by Miyuki, whose cheeks were slightly puffed out, Yugen muttered words that sounded like an excuse, wearing a tired expression. At this, Senhime smiled, while Tatsuya showed a glimpse of a weary expression.
"In any case, I understand the matter regarding the seal release. There are times when it is necessary for Tatsuya-kun to display his power as a member of the Yotsuba family. Even so, the 'Oath' was not completely released, was it?"
"Personally, my priority is to control the immense magic power that Miyuki and the others released for me, so I think it is fine as it is for now. Miyuki has a track record of overwhelming Lina with just a partial release of the 'Oath'."
"Is that so? The reason Miyuki-chan's magic power is growing so rapidly is likely because she is loved by Yugen-kun. The power of love is amazing."
There was some speculation involved, but it was thought that the influence of Kaleidoscope and Reinforce played a part, more or less. In Miyuki's case, considering instances where her magic went out of control when her emotions ran high, it was possible that magic was activating through their interactions and interfering with Miyuki.
What made this possible was a magic designed not to cross the line—the Spirit-Sealing Soul devised by Abe no Seimei. Instead of blocking physical vitality, it transmitted emotional vitality in both directions. Since their minds were temporarily connected, their innate magics interfered with each other, and it appeared that Yugen's immense psion count and magic calculation ability were affecting Miyuki.
Shizuku had been on par with Miyuki after releasing the seal on her immense magic power following the Nine Schools Competition, but judging by the practice for the following year's competition, Miyuki was surpassing her. If a gap had formed between Miyuki and Shizuku, it was undoubtedly due to the difference in the time spent in contact with Yugen.
At Senhime's words, Miyuki blushed and looked down to hide her face.
Author's Notes:
The settings around Airi are original. Given Airi's alias Eclair (Lightning), I judged that Airi's mother was likely French or of Latin descent. You might wonder about the naturalized name, but I couldn't find a better landing point.
There are still people not included in Tatsuya's fiancées, but consider that currently under adjustment.
The Yotsuba Succession Arc will end with the next part, moving into the Master Clans Conference Arc. Though, there will be a climax regarding the New Year's episodes before the conference.
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