"Even so, it's rare for you to actively use magic as your primary tool. Is it that you cannot tolerate your younger sister being used?"
"It is my responsibility, and the Intelligence Department has already gauged my capabilities. Using magic to move now serves as nothing more than secondary evidence. Since I need to conceal my true magic, there's no reason not to use this."
What Yugen prioritized above all was keeping the existence of [Mirror Gate] hidden from the public eye. To that end, he felt no hesitation in using [Sonic Drive], a form of pseudo-teleportation.
Even if exposed, the underlying spell formula depended on his unique magic, [Kaleidoscope]. An ordinary mage attempting to use it would inevitably suffer an information processing overload due to magic calculation capacity limits. At worst, it could be used as a single-use trick, but he had no intention of releasing such a cruel, inhumane spell into the world.
"Once we arrive on site, I will apply reinforcement magic to the mansion before we breach. I've requested the police to handle surrounding surveillance. Are the arrangements with the higher-ups proceeding smoothly?"
"Master Todo accepted with unusual willingness... Did you do something?"
"I simply stated that sitting idly in the seat of the Four Elders would not be permitted. Though once this matter is settled, another complication will be added."
Recently—specifically during the spring break in early April—after settling the aftermath of the Yotsuba's revenge drama, Senhime had explicitly stated: "At the latest, the seat of the Four Elders of the Council of Elders will be handed over before Golden Week." The main reason was that dragging the mess caused by the previous Four Elders' outbursts into future generations was unacceptable.
The previous Todo head had been eliminated by the Kamiizumi and Kagurazaka families, and the previous Kashiwa head had been assassinated by Senhime's hands. Leaving those grudges to be inherited by future generations was deemed detrimental to the nation's interest, and advanced age was cited as the reason for their retirement.
Despite his youthful appearance, Gozo was fast approaching the 90-year mark, and Senhime was in her mid-80s—neither was young anymore. Thus, clearing the path for the next generation made complete sense. As for the Todo family, Mikihiko would be adopted as the next Todo family head, allowing Sana—who carried direct Todo blood—to inherit the seat among the Four Elders.
Though, when Sana remarked with deadpan seriousness, "If only Mikihiko-san would take the Four Elders' seat, I could devote myself entirely to making and raising babies," Yugen could only let out a wry chuckle.
"It seems Brother Mototsugu will also be handed the Four Elders' seat by Grandfather within this year, so things are going to get busy."
"In that case, what does Master Kashiwa plan to do?"
"Nothing. Or rather, I will allow him to do nothing. He will be reduced to a figurehead sitting idly until a 'proper successor' is ready."
While this seemed to contradict his earlier statement, the Kashiwa family had originally been nothing more than a stopgap to fill a vacant Guardian position. Since Kashiwa had shown clear malice toward Yugen, Yugen's first order of business upon assuming his position among the Four Elders would be to completely purge the Kashiwa family from the Council of Elders.
"Hmm, a 'proper successor'... Judging by your tone, you already have someone in mind."
"Yes. It's a somewhat ruthless method, and she will undoubtedly view it as a nuisance, but she'll just have to accept that meeting me was her bad luck. Or to put it another way, I'm dragging her down with me."
Yugen understood through her background that she held no particular attachment to her original family. Fortunately, he had established connections through her, paving a clear path forward. With this, a full-scale reform of the Council of Elders was in sight, though a complete overhaul of the entire Japanese magical community was still a long way off.
"As for the Tohyama family, it's obvious they will run crying to the Jumonji family using their ties to the Tenth Institute. Therefore, I will leave the Tohyama family's handling entirely to the Jumonji family."
"You're being surprisingly lenient, considering they might hand down a soft judgment."
The reason Yugen chose this ruling was due to past movements regarding the "Extra Numbers"—families stripped of their numbers, such as the Ichihana and Nanakura families. Wiping them out completely would prevent future grudges from those individuals, but leaving them alive minimized resentment from third parties seeking to exploit them.
Originally, it was the government's self-serving policies that had forced these families into lives of crime, and Yugen had no desire to sink to that same level. Furthermore, intentionally leaving the Tohyama family intact served as a pawn to keep the Kashiwa family bound and immobile.
"I won't deny it's lenient. However, keeping them alive makes it easier to predict their moves when they inevitably lose patience. Of course, if they show explicit hostility, I will take responsibility and execute them myself."
"In other words, the Tohyama family serves as a 'bell' around the Kashiwa family's neck. That certainly makes them easier to keep on a short leash."
Settling scores with the likes of the Kashiwa family would take place after rationally eliminating international threats like Edward Clark and Igor Andreivitch Bezobrazoff from the world stage. For now, Yugen deliberately maintained the illusion that an opening existed, ensuring that his final, decisive table-flip would shatter the enemy's plans entirely.
Disposing of the Tohyama family would happen only after stripping away their backing in Kashiwa Manitaka. If their role was to act as shields for government VIPs, letting them fulfill that duty would vent their frustration. Another reason was that maintaining order could not be left to individuals with flawed reasoning.
"To be frankly honest, even as the current Chairman of the Ten Master Clans Council, I question why a teenager like me has to clean up the messes left behind by adults."
"My, my... Those words would make any high-ranking adult wince... It seems the others have arrived, so shall we wrap up our chat?"
"Agreed."
Yugen, having arrived early to secure the use of Kokonoe Temple's grounds, ended his conversation with Yakumo as Erika and the group appeared, stepping forward to meet them.
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