Three days ago, Tokyo, atop the Rubl Hotel, one of the city's most prestigious establishments.
A blue crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, while rare furs served as carpets on the floor.
Amidst the extreme luxury composed of fine wines, gourmet food, and various curiosities, a man named Clue Gaiuslink lounged in a bathtub, enjoying a massage.
Three young women dressed as bunny girls attended to him.
Although playing with more than ten 'bunnies' simultaneously might usually displease them, under the magic of money, the bunnies clearly had no power to resist.
Gently swirling the red wine in his glass, enjoying the sensations of 'ice and fire', 'liquid fire', 'Jell-O', and more, Clue narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Not bad at all. The girls from Japan really know how to take care of people.'
As a member of the Clock Tower's Gaiuslink Family, Clue had already achieved the rank of Fes at a young age.
Although he couldn't compare to that Kayneth, who had officially become a Lord and possessed the rank of Brand, it was still quite impressive.
As the representative sent by the Clock Tower to negotiate with Japan, specifically, with the Shinomiya Conglomerate, his time in Tokyo had been spent enjoying the pleasures of this international metropolis.
Yes, in Clue's view, his Gaiuslink Family was one of the twelve Lord families of the Clock Tower, and while Shinomiya Conglomerate might have the economic power to influence a nation, but what did those ordinary people know of the nobility of Mages?
Even if the opponent was the Einzbern, one of the reputed Three Great Families, Clue was never worried, solely because of his absolute confidence in the Clock Tower.
Playing with the bunnies in his arms, indulging in pleasure, he soon welcomed the arrival of night.
"Hey, how are the preparations from the Shinomiya Conglomerate going?"
Dismissing the drowsy bunnies, Clue leaned back on the soft sofa.
"My apologies, Clue-sama. The Shinomiya Conglomerate has refused our cooperation. They have chosen the Einzbern."
"What did you say?!"
His clenched fist instantly crushed the phone. As a member of one of the Clock Tower's twelve Lord families, the Gaiuslink Family, which adhered to Aristocratic principles, was exceedingly arrogant. Raised in this environment, Clue was no different.
He even believed that only nobles could be considered truly human, while the rest were merely uncivilized inferiors.
The proposed cooperation with the Shinomiya Conglomerate was, at its core, just some basic commercial ventures.
The specifics of the deal were unimportant, and it was merely the Gaiuslink Family's probe into entering Japan.
But...
"Who was the person in charge of these negotiations? Which piece of trash dared to refuse us?"
Getting a new phone, the enraged Clue shook his head, the chill in his voice unmistakable.
"It was... the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Conglomerate, Shinomiya Kaguya."
"Very well, I understand."
Crushing the phone once more, Clue looked up information on Shinomiya Kaguya and quickly decided on a method to teach her a lesson.
To make her understand that the glory of Mages was absolutely not something ordinary people could insult!
On the other side, Shinomiya Conglomerate.
"Ojou-sama, is it really alright to refuse the Gaiuslink Family's cooperation outright?"
As one of the three major Conglomerate dominating Japan, the Shinomiya Conglomerate was a leader in construction, entertainment, networks, and various other fields.
With economic power reputed to influence the Prime Minister's decisions, the family was headed by the President, Shinomiya Gan'an. His eldest daughter, Shinomiya Kaguya, was a fourth-year student at Shuchi'in University and the Student Council President.
Looking at her childhood friend and maid, Hayasaka Ai, Kaguya's voice was somewhat cold, yet held a touch of softness.
"No need to worry about the Gaiuslink Family. I heard their representative in Tokyo spends his days indulging in pleasure. Such trash is useless."
Her crimson eyes coldly surveyed the steel city beyond the floor-to-ceiling window. A contemptuous sneer curled Kaguya's lips, "What era is this now? The CCG hunting Ghouls, the Jujutsu Headquarters, the old monsters of the Shinsengumi, and various other supernatural entities are all emerging. Those Mages still cling to their arrogance? How foolish."
"Pay them no mind. This era no longer belongs to the Mages."
The last thing she remembered was discussing the next steps for the project's development with Hayasaka. During her lunch break, Kaguya thought about going downstairs to buy a drink to relax. But the moment she stepped out, she felt dizzy.
When she regained her senses, the luxurious surroundings startled her.
"Where is this...?"
"Oh, you woke up quite quickly."
In her field of vision, Clue of the Gaiuslink Family looked down on her arrogantly, the desire in his eyes unconcealed.
"You! Do you have any idea of the consequences of your actions?"
Glaring at Clue, trying to sound fierce, Kaguya suddenly realized how foolish she had been, 'Damn it, I had been too careless.'
Although she had heard much about the pride of Mages, that they were a group who didn't see ordinary people as their kind, but as animals, seemingly born with an almost stubborn arrogance… the progress of the modern world had led Kaguya to believe that Mages weren't brainless. At the very least, they should understand that the world had changed.
'But now it seemed I had thought too much. These lunatics weren't lacking a concept of reality, they genuinely didn't care about ordinary people's feelings.'
'In their eyes, the only true humans were probably Mages themselves. No wonder the Mage's Association had been declining in recent years… there was a reason for it.'
However... it seemed she didn't have time to ponder other things now.
Watching Clue's increasingly twisted face drawing nearer, Kaguya made a certain resolution.
…
Morning.
As the dawn light spilled in, Ryuya opened his eyes.
"Ryuya, time for breakfast."
A gentle knock sounded on Ryuya's door. Yukino had prepared a rather delicious breakfast.
"Yuki-chan."
"Hmm? Ryuya, why did you suddenly call me 'Yuki-chan'?"
Seemingly having no memory of last night's confession, Yukino's face instantly turned red upon hearing Ryuya call her 'Yuki-chan'.
"Why am I calling you Yuki-chan? Don't you remember what happened last night?"
Feeling a strange unfamiliarity, or rather an eeriness, about the surrounding world, Ryuya felt a peculiar sense of dissonance washing over him.
"Last night... What happened last night?!!!!"
In her memory, secretly using Ryuya's bathwater last night was Yukino's biggest secret. Thinking she might have been found out, she noticed Ryuya looking towards the front door. Through that door, he seemed to perceive something strange.
"Hey, Yukino, open up! I brought you guys breakfast."
Having agreed with Yukino to go shopping for art supplies today, Eriri, standing outside the door, was clearly extremely excited for this wonderful first-time experience!