It was already past six in the evening when they gathered at the Chiba Main House. At the Senjin-ryu dojo, evening practice was beginning, so students were coming and going. However, as they passed Yugen and Erika standing in front of the main entrance, they bowed politely before heading toward the training hall.
Soon, Leo and Mikihiko, who had explicitly offered their assistance, along with Jiro, a member of the mandatory participation group, arrived and joined them.
"Miki, did you make sure to see Mitsuki safely back home?" "Of course I did… Why do you look so displeased, though?" "Oh, no reason at all~" "Good grief…"
Perhaps influenced by Sana, Mikihiko maintained a serious expression, which Erika responded to with a mild, displeased tease. Seeing this, Yugen let out a sigh of exasperation before turning his gaze toward Jiro.
"Jiro, did you get permission from your family?" "Yes. My father told me once again to follow Yugen-san's orders." "I see…"
After wrapping up their discussion in the Student Council room, Yugen had sent a detailed email to Gen and Genji to explain the situation. Because it was encrypted using the [Pentagon], even the Intelligence Department would be unable to decipher it, even if they somehow intercepted the transmission.
The fact that they complied so obediently might stem partly from a desire to make amends for having been utterly helpless against Tsukasa. Yet, looking at how they didn't hold Jiro back, it was ultimately a reflection of their overwhelming concern for Shiina.
"What about the Yaguruma family?" "We've completely lost track of them. However, it seems both the Head of the Family and Genji-sama believe there's no need to make a scene." "Well, that makes sense."
Knowing the circumstances surrounding Shiina's disappearance, they were likely worried that making a careless move would expose their vulnerabilities. In fact, their inaction was actually a relief. After all, the force participating in this operation had "increased" since then.
"Having too many people join would only complicate things, and since we're launching a surprise assault, there needs to be a strict limit on personnel. Erika, have you made arrangements with the police?" "I've had them wait on standby in front of the location in advance. My brother and Inagaki-san have been stationed over there as well… But what about you, Yugen? Are your older brothers and sisters really going to be alright?" "Far from being alright, I'm actually starting to feel uneasy."
It wasn't that he doubted their capabilities. After all, among the Mitsuya siblings, Mototsugu, Shizuru, Kana, Mika, and Yugen had not only gone through anti-personnel combat training at the Third Institute, but they had also accumulated actual combat experience. The fact that they could fight off supernatural entities like Parasites was proof enough.
The real reason Yugen voiced his anxiety was whether the mansion they intended to raid for the rescue would even remain intact.
"When you consider that Shizuru-nee's [Defense Breaker], Kana-nee's [Gravity Bullet], and Mika-nee's martial arts augmented by [Blitz Road] are going to be unleashed, the mansion will collapse in an instant unless it's heavily reinforced beforehand." "…Eh? Is it really that dangerous?" "Especially Shizuru-nee. Given her role in martial arts instruction, she dotes on Shiina heavily. If she gets serious, she could destroy a skyscraper in a single strike."
For Erika, a born swordswoman, to be shocked meant the situation was truly beyond common sense—even if she herself was someone who already had both feet planted in that same extraordinary domain.
"…Are we even going to survive this?" "I think you don't need to worry about that… probably." "Yugen!? At least give us something reassuring, even if it's just to comfort us!" "How could I lie to you about something that directly affects your life, you idiot?" "Ah, ahaha…"
Naturally, they would never blow up the mansion along with Shiina who was presumably inside. Yet, as if voicing the grim reality that their own survival was at stake rather than the primary goal of rescuing Shiina, a forced, wry laugh escaped Jiro's lips.
At any rate, standing around in a high-traffic area made them stand out (though there was a chance enemies were already probing them the moment Jiro made his move), so Erika led them into a compact tearoom. Needless to say, Erika couldn't help but grumble quietly, "I really don't see how this is necessary for swordsmanship, though."
Rewinding the clock slightly, a secret meeting was taking place at the Mitsuya main house in Atsugi between the family head, Gen, and the heir, Genji. Genji relayed the report he had received directly from their servant, Shiro Yaguruma, to Gen.
"Father, it seems Shiina has been taken. And upon learning of the situation, Yugen has taken action." "I see… Did Yugen say anything else?" "He said that because he 'cannot rule out the possibility that danger might extend to Mother, Honami-san, and the others,' you and I must not move from here."
Under the agreement with Tsukasa, only Shiina was involved. However, the current Mitsuya family was a large household consisting of three sons and seven daughters (including Lina, Laura, and Alisa) when counting adoptive children, and Genji's wife, Honami, was connected to the Yotsuba family. Taking those ties into account, leaving Gen and Genji to guard the home base was a completely logical course of action.
"Also, Jiro-kun is reportedly moving under Yugen's orders… Is that fine with you?" "Something of this measure hardly counts as atonement toward him."
By "atonement," Gen was referring to how he had relieved Jiro of his duty as Shiina's bodyguard without proper explanation. Having kept Jiro by Shiina's side as an attendant until now had backfired. Gen believed that this mistake did not rest solely on the shoulders of the Yaguruma family.
"Even so, to think Jiro-kun didn't know Tsukasa-san… Well, perhaps it can't be helped if he didn't recognize her." "Even though he attends the Third Institute? Could it be that the Toyama family's magical traits are involved?" "That plays a part. However, I never expected them to push things this forcefully."
No matter how powerful a backing the Toyama family possessed, after their two failures two years ago, they were on the verge of being ostracized by the Master Clan Conference. Considering that, for the Intelligence Department to deliberately instigate an incident that could drag Yugen into the fray was nothing short of a suicidal move.
Yet, Tsukasa had used Shiina as a test for the Yotsuba family—primarily targeting Tatsuya, as Gen deduced. At that point, as a warning, Gen had asked her, "Have you explained this to Yugen?" And the response he received from Tsukasa… was absurd enough to leave even Gen dumbfounded.
"A reasonable person would consider the risk of failure and refrain from acting." "Yet in reality, Shiina was taken. And in doing so, she has touched the sore spot of Mototsugu, Shizuru, Kana, Mika, and Yugen." "…For better or worse, the traits passed down from my father-in-law and father have begun to bloom in them."
In that sense, Genji was perhaps a bit too gentle to be the next head of the Mitsuya family. With the emergence of an extraordinary prodigy like Yugen, an unneeded desire had welled up inside Gen, causing him to let out an involuntary wry smile. He doubted they would reduce everything to ashes like his father-in-law did—especially since Shiina was there—but Gen predicted that even the elite units of the National Defense Army Intelligence Department wouldn't last more than a few minutes against them.
"On a related note, I received a message from Chihime-san. She asked, 'Would the Mitsuya family like to own a villa in Karuizawa?' and mentioned that we would receive the land deed from a lawyer at a later date." "Karuizawa? That area falls within the Yotsuba family's surveillance zone… Father, could this be related to Shiina's destination?" "Because we cannot eliminate that possibility, we cannot refuse their offer. Refusing it would also mean undermining Yugen's standing."
Since this incident would inevitably place the Mitsuya family and the National Defense Army Intelligence Department in direct opposition once again, there was no turning it down. With this, the Intelligence Department's "unlawful occupation of private property" and "trespassing" were cemented. Even if Shiina, as a party involved, remained at the location of her own free will, the moment they threatened Gen, charges of "extortion" and "kidnapping" were effectively established. Furthermore, violations of the National Defense Forces Law and the Sword and Gun Control Law would be tacked on as well.
"Once this incident is resolved, I intend to transfer the land rights to the Yotsuba family free of charge. Owning an isolated property like that would only be a hassle to manage, and since the Yotsuba family oversees the Chubu and Tokai regions, they won't reject it outright. On our end, we must repay at least a fraction of what we've received from the Yotsuba family." "Though the root cause of everything stems from Yugen." "Yugen himself likely doesn't expect any grand favors or thanks, but considering everything he has accomplished so far, it is only a fitting token of appreciation."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"