"Hey, Yūgen. Is this area really safe?"
Fuko voiced her suspicion. As one of the Forty-Nine Institute's most gifted, her near-prophetic intuition couldn't be dismissed as mere fancy. Yūgen acknowledged it while spreading electronic paper across the table, displaying a map of Kyoto's city center.
"I've got 'Phoenix' monitoring the surroundings from this annex, but if there's an opening, crushing it preemptively isn't a bad idea... In that case, Reimi-san, please hold the fort."
"That seems prudent. Though they might target me too."
"Then take this."
Yūgen handed Reimi a talisman. It looked like a standard demon-ward, but it was a one-use emergency escape device—a contact-activated, Saion-infused mod of Mirror Gate that would teleport her to Yūgen's vicinity.
For security, it came in pairs; Yūgen kept the other.
"Pseudo-instantaneous teleportation magic. The world would kill for this."
"If it leaks, I'll silence the source without mercy—military misuse is inevitable."
"...Now I really feel for the fiancées who got to you first."
He didn't condemn military applications outright, but the National Defense Force's factional ties made meddling risky. Original knowledge placed Zhou Gongjin's hideout at a defense base, eroding full trust.
Criticizing the force as a National Defense Ground Forces Special Major felt hypocritical, but excess power intoxicates—sometimes becoming a national poison. Strength to avoid defeat was necessary, but over-victory invited complications.
Factions advocating aggressive invasion of the Great Asian Union versus appeasement weren't the issue; that defense personnel—public servants tasked with protection—were allowed such stances was.
The Union's continental nation carried historical grudges—tribute diplomacy, wokou pirates—fostering a condescending view of this country. Military conquest wouldn't recoup postwar costs; bordering New Soviet would spike expenses. Even superior magic offered no edge—theirs matched. A total rat race.
"Back to business. I'll deploy the Holy Heaven Eight Extremes Protection Array across all Kyoto. I've placed talismans and catalysts at Ishimizu Hachimangu and Mount Hiei, so tomorrow I'll visit Kiyomizu Temple under the guise of sightseeing."
Even without grand setups for barriers, long-term maintenance required harmonizing with the land's dragon veins—talismans and guardian crystals as catalysts were essential.
He'd visited Ishimizu Hachimangu before Nagura met Zhou Gongjin; Mount Hiei first upon arriving in Kyoto to establish the north-south line. Coincidentally, they aligned with Kyoto's onmyōdō demon gate (northeast: Enryaku-ji on Hiei) and rear demon gate (southwest: Ishimizu Hachimangu). Basing the array there was logical.
"So the talismans and crystals for the Tendai head priest were for that."
"Activation points benefit too—potent charms, solid deterrents."
"Then east-west lines remain. West: Arashiyama. East?"
"Inariyama seems fitting. I'll head to Arashiyama after dinner."
A 'Traditionalist' faction lurked in Arashiyama; daytime for visibility was ideal, but against presumed hostiles, no need for restraint. Night cloaked actions better.
Fuko turned serious.
"Yūgen, take me."
"...You half-admitted it earlier, so permission granted. But no recklessness. Break that promise, and you're benched from future ops."
"Understood. I'm still mid-training in Celestial magic. Nowhere near Miyuki-jō's level."
When Yūka and Fuko joined the fiancée roster, he'd taught them psion control and Celestial magic. Their skills soared—but so did their affection, skyrocketing.
Yūka visited the Sibata house weekly post her guardian's death (befriending Yūgen's sister Shizuru provided cover). Her friendship with Miyuki meant overnight stays in Yūgen's room drew no complaints. Miyuki's clinginess was inevitable.
Her prowess ranked just below Miyuki's, yet she declared, "If I became heir, I couldn't marry Yūgen-kun," rendering the Yotsuba seat worthless to her.
Fuko, from an ancient magic lineage, refined techniques exceptionally. Miyuki had combat experience (incomparable to Tatsuya), but house stances differed—resolve varied accordingly.
Thus, Yūgen and Fuko headed out; Reimi stayed.
◇ ◇ ◇
The optimal spot for talisman and crystal burial was ironically a Traditionalist hideout. Tatsuya, less versed in ancient magic, would've stormed it. But with Osiris Sight, visual confirmation was unnecessary.
"Time to wrap this quick."
Yūgen touched the ground. Instantly, screams erupted from the village hall-like building. Even Fuko managed a wry smile.
"No mercy. No interrogation?"
"When I extract info, life or death is irrelevant... Scared?"
"Not denying it, but it's reassuring."
Yūgen "reasonably" unlocked the door. Inside: a dozen unconscious bodies, waking in hours. He touched hands systematically, reading data.
The leader held Zhou Gongjin intel—Yūgen stopped, broke flooring, buried talisman and crystal, then used Valkyrie's Reformation to restore perfectly.
Fuko observed intently, studying including the metal Celestial spell Chidori used earlier.
"No support needed, huh."
"Just luck this time. Fiancées must handle this casually. Let's go."
"Mm."
Destroying the hideout risked alerting Zhou Gongjin to relocation. Yūgen erased memories of his magic with Tsukuyomi, then Mirror Gate home with Fuko.
At the annex entrance, Reimi greeted.
"Back early."
"Yūgen was too strong—no role for me."
"Not picking fights with all Traditionalists. I'm sweaty—bath time."
He'd braced himself, but needed mental prep.
Seeing Reimi in yukata evoked resigned dread—why?
◇ ◇ ◇
Contrary to Yūgen's desire for solitude, Fuko and Reimi invaded the bath. Atmosphere swept him along. He cast a line-not-to-cross spell—just in case—but intimacy continued in the room.
Habit woke him early regardless.
"...My mind's aged uselessly. Why?"
As Kagurazaka heir, progeny was duty. Past-life inexperience likely fueled this-life libido. Multiple partners, yet they coordinated.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"