At the Ueyama family's main estate in Takasaki, Gunma, Gozo sat in a detached room, facing a monitor. At 88, he wielded modern magic knowledge and tech skills rivaling the youth.
His conversation partner was Chikihime, the current Kagurazaka head, via video call.
"Should've met in person, but I'm swamped. Sorry," Gozo said.
"No worries, with Rosen Magicraft and all," Chikihime replied.
The Ueyama family led the overhaul of the Nine Schools' operations, addressing Rosen Magicraft and the Defense Forces' covert actions. Last year's No Head Dragon infiltration justified the response, leaving the Defense Forces and Magic Association no room to object. Mototsugu, the current head, was away, so Gozo, leveraging Ueyama connections, took charge.
"About the Tokyo Offshore Tower incident, Yugen reported New Humanity Front used Dancing Blaze and Cast Jammer, exclusive to Stars," Gozo said.
"We've heard. Zhou Gongjin might've accessed that during the Parasite Incident, but the issue is their ties to USNA magic societies," Chikihime replied.
The mage community, a minority globally, naturally formed alliances for strength. Years ago, Gozo and Yugen "thinned out" groups targeting them, but smarter ones avoided trouble and survived.
"Gu Jie's a pain, oblivious to being used by the USNA—or rather, Edward Clark," Gozo said.
"Clark, one of Echelon III's developers, right?" Chikihime confirmed.
"Wanting global dominance via information is understandable, but it's a hassle for those caught in it," Gozo said.
Gozo and Chikihime once joined an extralegal international guerrilla unit during the World Cluster Wars to avert nuclear conflict, protecting Japan without its own nuclear umbrella. Despite invasions, Japan maintained its sovereignty. Strategic magic was vital for this maritime nation, coveted by the Great Asian Alliance, New Soviet, USNA, and Europe. If they threatened Japan's magic, even allies would face no mercy.
"The anti-Alliance hardliners and Retsu are contained, but Saeki's scheming—likely to suppress Yugen and Tatsuya's strategic magic," Gozo said.
"Your intuition, Brother-in-law?" Chikihime asked.
"I won't deny it. They don't get it. Unlike us, the Ten Master Clans can't exceed civilian bounds. It's understandable to fear individuals with nation-shaking power," Gozo replied.
Gozo understood the danger of civilians wielding such might but believed aligning interests was the way forward. Fixating on magic while ignoring other factors was shortsighted, in his view.
"We'll discuss later. If Zhou Gongjin falls, Gu Jie will show up—likely at next year's Master Clans Conference," Gozo said.
"Yugen proposed countermeasures last summer. The trap's already set," Chikihime said.
"That kid's mind rivals the sharpest Kagurazaka heads," Gozo said.
"He's still the next head, Brother-in-law," Chikihime teased.
"What? Acting head's basically the real thing," Gozo countered.
Both old enough, Gozo and Chikihime saw the future as the youths'. Gozo entrusted his role to Mototsugu, while Chikihime chose Yugen as her successor.
◇ ◇ ◇
New Humanity Front members were detained, their base and funds largely uncovered. They had ties to USNA magic societies, with some members falsifying magic factors to enter the US. FEHR (Fighters for the Evolution of Human Race), a legal Vancouver-based society, cut ties with New Humanity Front a month before the tower attack, unable to stomach their radical tactics. Rumors hinted at an anonymous tip.
Most US-bound members joined FEHR, and pursuing them further was deemed unproductive, halting investigations.
"Off I go," Tatsuya said.
"Take care. No souvenirs needed," Yugen replied, seeing him off.
As the door closed, Yugen's words reflected his role in setting up today's events. Miyuki peeked from a corner, eyeing him.
"Yugen-san, Onii-sama's gone out?" she asked.
"Yeah. Didn't expect you to push Tatsuya and Honoka's date so hard," Yugen said.
"Onii-sama's clueless with women," Miyuki sighed, showing slight exhaustion.
Her shifted affections played a part, but her spring talk with Ayako and Tatsuya's protagonist-like demeanor shone through. Chatting at the entrance felt odd, so they moved to the living room, sipping coffee Minami prepared.
"Clueless is a bit harsh," Yugen said.
"I want him to be proactive like you," Miyuki replied.
"My case? Outer and inner moats filled, no escape," Yugen quipped.
Post-tower incident, Miyuki's bold affection greeted Yugen at the Shiba household. He couldn't deny worrying her, but skipping relationship steps for a fait accompli left him no choice to refuse.
A year into dating Miyuki, Yugen barely maintained equality. Her desire to "submit" was dodged, but multiple fiancées and a mistress role emerged. He couldn't let his guard down, lest it become reality. Despite mage society's push for early or strategic marriages, Yugen valued restraint, questioning Chikihime's claim of his superhuman vigor.
"Plus, Tatsuya's admirers are dangerously intense," Yugen said.
Honoka (an Element), Lina (Angie Sirius, Stars' commander), and Ayako (Kuroba heiress) openly liked Tatsuya. The Hirakawa sisters showed hints, Suzune had interest as a graduate, Subaru was curious, and Shiori Kanou from Third High was intrigued, per Kazuko. Recently, Kasumi asked about Tatsuya, clearly interested.
"Tatsuya's been holed up at Kuhoji Temple for magic training. Master Yakumo approved the date, though probably for amusement," Yugen said.
Yugen knew Tatsuya was developing a close-range attack magic against Decomposition-immune foes, with Yakumo's aid. Helping with hardware design made it an open secret, but Yugen didn't pry.
"You're not helping with Onii-sama's new magic?" Miyuki asked.
"He said he needs to figure it out himself," Yugen replied.
FAE (Free After Execution) theory was proven with Brionac, but stabilizing it was unachieved. Psions' rapid restoration demanded casting within a millisecond, impractical. Yugen devised PFE (Psion Free Execution) theory to bypass physical law constraints, lightly explaining it to Tatsuya, who stuck to FAE, possibly to rival Lina.
"I'm busy with my own magic anyway… What's up, Miyuki?" Yugen asked.
"Even after adapting Aunt's magic, you need more?" she asked.
"Not unreasonable," Yugen said.
He was perfecting Starlight Breaker's power control from Scorching Aurora Halloween and developing a non-lethal organic interference magic for ancient mages. It used non-informative psions to lower a mage's psion activity to near-sleep, a downgraded Dream World that neutralized non-mages nearly harmlessly. "Nearly" because falls or crowd-induced domino effects posed risks.
"I want magic use within self-defense accepted publicly," Yugen said.
Non-damaging modern magic leaned toward mental or emotional interference—organic interference, often shunned. A simple spell, like a security buzzer, could embed aversion-inducing wavelengths in psions, deterring hostility without excessive force.
"Mage basics rely heavily on physical ability, yet magic high schools stick to standard gym classes. That's an issue," Yugen said.
"Yugen-nii-sama, that's…" Minami began.
"I get it, Minami. In real combat, standing still to cast is rare unless you have robust barriers like you, Juumonji-senpai, or Riri," Yugen said.
He wasn't advocating military curricula for magic schools, but top mages excelled physically. The Mitsuya head's children, including Yugen, proved it.
"Or you need overwhelming zone interference like Miyuki," Yugen added.
"Onii-sama's a prime example," Miyuki said.
"He's trying to beat Master Yakumo," Yugen noted.
Yakumo updated Yugen on Tatsuya's training at Kuhoji Temple's underground facility, built for nuclear countermeasure magic. Tatsuya's new magic wasn't for nullifying nukes or radiation but something opposite.
"Do you know what Onii-sama's developing?" Miyuki asked.
"Ushiyama consulted me on hardware. Likely a close-range attack using high-penetration neutrons," Yugen said.
"Doesn't that risk radiation weapon violations?" Miyuki asked.
"Tatsuya's magic can neutralize it," Yugen assured.
Unshared with them, Yugen developed a PFE-based attack magic creating psion voids to alter trajectories or pierce defenses. Similar to Tatsuya's Baryon Lance but not neutron-based, it used Meteor Line's theory for a one-hit, unavoidable strike named Gae Bolg.
"Oh, Minami, I'm working on defensive spells for you. I'll pass them over when done," Yugen said.
"Eh?! Yugen-nii-sama, you don't have to!" Minami protested.
"Minami, you're Miyuki's guardian apprentice, but to me, family. I don't want regrets if something happens," Yugen said.
Post-tower incident, Yugen planned to upgrade Minami's barrier magic, a lesser Mirror Force but comparable to the Juumonji's Phalanx. He also aimed to train her against strategic mages, providing wide-area defense magic, approved by Miyuki, Tatsuya, Maya, and Hayama.
"Lina's case shows no guarantee foreign strategic mages or greedy factions won't target Tatsuya. Nor can Tatsuya or I always be by Miyuki's side. You'll protect her then," Yugen said.
"Yugen-nii-sama…" Minami murmured.
"So, I'll handle your CAD and training… Miyuki, stop pinching my side during serious talk," Yugen said.
"It's unfair only Minami-chan gets attention…" Miyuki pouted.
"Why?" Yugen asked.
Seeing Miyuki's jealousy, Minami blinked, then burst into laughter.
Note: Work's been hectic, limiting updates to weekly. This serves as an epilogue and setup for the Old Capital Rebellion Arc, with a power-up flag for Minami but a crushed romance flag for someone. Facing such foes, even a versatile mage like the protagonist stays vigilant.
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