Because the scope of what he could cover as a Magician had expanded compared to the original timeline, as a result, the number of potential targets for the Toyama family and the National Defense Army Intelligence Department had increased. If it were a simple matter of crushing them and replacing personnel, it would be fine, but behind it all sat one of the Four Elders of the Senior Council. To be frank, he had no desire to get openly involved with the Intelligence Department, but he couldn't leave falling sparks unextinguished. Perhaps because Jiro was in a close position knowing the Mitsuya family's circumstances, he did not blame Yugen.
"As expected, Yugen, you really are kind." "Is that so? Depending on how you look at it, it's like making my birth sister a scapegoat." "You could say that, but because you properly follow up afterward, plenty of girls end up falling for you. I'm one of them, too." "..."
When attending the same middle school as Shizuku and Honoka, despite their initial meeting at the Kamizumi household, Yugen had maintained a good friendship with Shizuku. That changed during the winter break incident when Shizuku and Honoka were kidnapped while shopping in town. At that time, Yugen, who happened to pass nearby, witnessed the two being forced into a wagon-type automated vehicle. Using it as a test, he used [Mist Dispersion] to decompose the battery, rendering the vehicle inoperable, and then knocked out all the frantic men who rushed out using pure martial arts alone. Ever since that incident, he occasionally felt passionate gazes from Shizuku.
He wouldn't deny that this time was also part of such follow-ups, but no matter how much that was true, he had zero intention of taking a sister connected by blood, and an情婦 mistress was entirely out of the question. Therefore, it was already decided that Shina's follow-up would be dumped entirely onto Jiro.
"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for delivering Honoka safely. I'm sure my mother and father will understand." "Well, I don't feel anxious about the current Shizuku, but... why are you pinching me?" "I want you to worry about me a bit more." "Ehh..."
Shizuku's ability was currently trailing right behind Miyuki's; if anything, Yugen felt pity for anyone who tried to pick a fight with her. When he voiced that reality, Shizuku wore a dissatisfied expression and pinched Yugen's side. As Yugen looked at her as if asking what he should have said, Honoka couldn't help letting out a soft chuckle.
"We got off topic, but this matter also serves as my atonement. Let me tell you now, Jiro, your participation in Shina's rescue has already been decided." "E-Eh!? My father only said, 'Don't cause trouble for Yugen-sama'!" "He had no choice but to say that. It's also an issue of Shiro-san's position." "Eh, ah, y-yes, that's true..."
No matter how much the Yaguruma main family was an Ancient Magic lineage connected to the Kagurazaka family branch, as long as the branch family had a employer-employee contract relationship with the Mitsuya family, they had to follow the Mitsuya family's wishes. It was understandable that Shiro conveyed that briefly to Jiro. In Yugen's case, in addition to being a relative of the Mitsuya family, he was the current head of the Kagurazaka family, so Shiro showed a degree of understanding by leaving Jiro's instructions entirely to Yugen. Since neither the Mitsuya house nor the servant Yaguruma house could move as a family unit, the remaining ones were the individuals who could act independently.
"Anyway, I've outlined our future policy. Erika, what about our final meeting?" "Let's see... as annoying as it is, holding it at my main family's house seems to offer the most convenience."
In response to Yugen's question, Erika answered rather reluctantly. Considering the groundwork needed with the police, discussing things at the Chiba house offered tactical advantages.
"By the way, Yugen, don't you need to contact your older brothers and sisters?" "I sent an email earlier. I had already set up a code phrase anticipating a moment like this." "...Caring for your family from top to bottom makes me a little jealous."
He hadn't considered such a situation a 100% certainty. It was originally prepared in case Shina was kidnapped or abducted by dangerous ideologists like Humanists, but having to use it for a trouble that broke out just like the original story was honestly not something to be thrilled about.
"As for Jiro... just to be safe, return to the Mitsuya main family once and confirm with Shiro-san. Get approval moving under the assumption that you might act independently in the worst-case scenario." "Ah, yes. By the way, what should we do with Shina's personal belongings?" "We can't just leave them here. Could you take them back with you while you're at it?" "Understood."
Along with taking Shina's personal belongings back, Yugen instructed Jiro to get approval from the Yaguruma family. It saved him from having to make two trips, and he knew Jiro would handle Shina's belongings with care.
"But is it really fine not to mobilize the Mitsuya family or Jiro's family?" "If those guys were only targeting the Yotsuba family—Tatsuya and Miyuki—it would be easier to handle. But if the Mitsuya family gets dragged into it, the target range expands instantly. If handled poorly, it could escalate into a massive uproar involving not just the Ten Master Clans, but more than half of the Eighteen Auxiliary Families."
Particularly if Yugen was targeted, it would involve not only the Ten Master Clans—Ichijo (Akane), Isshiki (Airi), Futatsugi (Mayumi), Mitsuya (Alisa), Yotsuba (Miyuki), Itsuwa (Mio), Mutsuzuka (Izumi), Kudo (Celia)—but also the Eighteen Auxiliary Families. While the list of fiancées was already more than enough, expanding it to friend relationships would drag in even more Magician families. Furthermore, expanding the scope to Ancient Magic would easily draw Magicians from the old 'Traditionalist' faction to Yugen's side.
"At any rate, imposing a penalty greater than two years ago on the Toyama family is a fixed matter. To be honest, even though I'm the current chairman of the Master Clans Conference, I really wonder why a teenager like me has to clean up after adults." "I understand that feeling all too well. Thanks to my damn father, I couldn't even flirt peacefully with Leo." "Well, it seems your future wife is saying that, but how about you, Leo?" "Wife, you say..."
In response to Mikihiko's question regarding the statements from Yugen and Erika, who had somehow cleared their minds, Leo let out a deep sigh as if saying, "I've already given up."
Rewinding time a little prior to that, Miyuki was at a familiar hair salon. This luxury shop, which didn't even put up a "No First-Time Customers" sign, catered to important figures who required security. Because it was such a shop, reservations were made smoothly, so she had also requested service for Mizunami while at it. Miyuki noticed her device's ringtone for an incoming email and called out to Tatsuya, who was reading an e-book behind her.
"Onii-sama, could you please check the email on my terminal?" "An email? Got it."
While not possessing a personality insensitive enough to snoop into Miyuki's private messages, he was not reserved enough to refuse when asked by Miyuki herself. Taking the communication device from the bag, he checked the email.
"It's an email from Shizuku. She says Shina has gone missing, but Yugen will be taking the lead in dealing with it." "Yugen-san is?"
Since she was in the middle of getting her hair styled, Miyuki tried not to get in the hairdresser's way while still showing a look of surprise. Precisely because of his position as someone concerned about stepping back from his sister, taking an active role here came as a surprise. Furthermore, being able to talk about the content of the email so casually was solely due to trusting the hairdresser's tight lips.
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