When Hayama gently chided his master for declaring "myself" as the reward for this incident, Maya let a small smile spill as she sipped the tea from her cup. After savoring the taste as if to confirm it, Maya continued speaking.
"Tatsuya-san probably doesn't care much about the movements of the branch families, but this incident is an act that threatens to nullify the Kagurazaka family's—Yugen-kun's—efforts. Honestly, even if the ringleaders are eliminated at the New Year's Celebration, there is nothing I can do about it."
Whether it was the Parasite Dolls at the Nine Schools Competition or the subjugation of Zhou Gongjin, thanks to Yugen's efforts, the matters were settled with far less effort than anticipated. Accurate information regarding this had been passed to the heads of the Yotsuba branch families, so there was no way they didn't understand the significance.
Maya mused that although she didn't want to be overly suspicious, she was tempted to suspect collusion between the branch heads and the Saegusa family. Sensing this, Hayama spoke up.
"Madam, do you believe the branch heads are conspiring with the Saegusa family?"
"It's a mere fantasy with not even a one-in-ten-thousand chance, but they are interfering with what I am trying to do. Doesn't it make you want to suspect as much?"
"I understand your feelings, but perhaps that is going too far. At the very least, Fumiya-dono and Ayako-dono are cooperative with Yugen-dono."
"He is someone as reliable as Tatsuya-san, after all. Ayako-chan, in particular, seems to think of Yugen-kun as an older brother."
There were no romantic feelings between Yugen and Ayako, but from Ayako's perspective, Yugen was a benefactor and someone who supported her own romantic endeavors. From Fumiya's perspective, Yugen appeared manly and was someone to be respected. Maya, of course, knew this and felt that regarding the Kuroba family, things might work out somehow.
"By the way, Madam, there are two things I wish to ask."
"My, it's rare for you to ask questions, Hayama-san. I don't mind."
"Then... regarding matters concerning Miyuki-sama and Yuuka-sama—is there a reason you have not mentioned their engagement with Kagurazaka-dono to the individuals themselves?"
Miyuki and Yuuka had already been informally decided as fiancées for the next head of the Kagurazaka family. Considering their romantic feelings, it was appropriate, and in Miyuki's case, she was aware that a deep relationship had formed with Yugen, partly due to his position living with them.
However, Maya had continued to avoid mentioning the engagement to Miyuki and Yuuka until now. In response to Hayama asking about her intentions, Maya placed her cup on the table and began to speak.
"Currently, Miyuki-san is regarded as the leading candidate for the next head of the Yotsuba. Since she is viewed favorably by the branch heads and servants as well, this is an undoubted fact."
"So, if you were to send Miyuki-sama outside the family, backlash would be unavoidable?"
"There would certainly be some. Besides, considering what I intend to do from here on, it is essential to first tighten control within the Yotsuba family. In that sense, I need Miyuki-san's cooperation as well."
To marry Miyuki into the Kagurazaka family, the Yotsuba family would lose face unless the internal ranks were aligned. And considering what Maya intended to execute taking this opportunity, Miyuki's cooperation was indispensable. Maya judged that the New Year's Celebration was the perfect opportunity to maximize the effect of that move.
"In other words, the reason you didn't announce Yuuka-sama's engagement was to align it with Miyuki-sama's?"
"If I announced Yuuka-san first, Miyuki-san might get jealous and turn the city center into a world of ice."
"I understand perfectly (the ice has melted). Then... what will you do about Katsushige-dono?"
Hayama voiced his concern that Shibata Katsushige, one of the candidates for the next headship, might interfere with Tatsuya and the others.
Rather than the interference itself being the problem, Hayama was concerned about the issues that would arise from Yugen, the Head's proxy who was accompanying them, standing in the line of fire due to that interference. Nodding lightly to acknowledge that the concern was valid, Maya stated:
"Yugen-kun himself anticipated that prediction, and he mentioned that if it comes to that, he has a plan to bring Katsushige-san into the fold. Most likely, he intends to 'cure' Kotona-san and Kanata-san."
"I see. If I recall correctly, Mutsuzuka-dono's younger brother was living at the Shibata family home."
Maya was aware of the fact that Mutsuzuka Toya was living with the Shibata family, and she understood that the head of the Mutsuzuka family was favorable toward her based on their exchanges at the Master Clans Conference and the polite seasonal greetings she received. Furthermore, considering that Toya and Yugen were former classmates, it wouldn't be strange for him to have heard about Kotona and Kanata.
The next day—December 31, 2096 AD.
Considering the consecutive days of interference, Yugen assumed there would be some form of obstruction today as well, so he was preparing the Dreadnought in the garage early in the morning. Then, Tatsuya, who had been thinking the same thing, appeared.
After confirming there were no signs of Miyuki or Minami nearby, he spoke in his usual casual tone.
"Oh, Tatsuya. Morning."
"Morning, Yugen. That motorcycle seems to have had quite a lot of work done on it."
"Technically, it's treated as a military vehicle under the jurisdiction of the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion. Well, I'm the only one who can operate or maintain it, though."
"Is that so."
Tatsuya seemed deeply interested in the Dreadnought. This electric motorcycle made abundant use of magic technology and was, on paper, an "experimental machine" for establishing magic deployment technology while moving at high speeds. In reality, it was operated as Yugen's personal "one-off," and he often went touring on this bike once a week.
"If you want one, Tatsuya, I can arrange for another unit to be made available."
"Is that okay?"
"It's not like having another one would cause trouble. You can consider it an early birthday present."
"I feel like it's too expensive for a birthday gift."
Tatsuya stated this with a hint of exasperation, but Yugen had similar experiences with gifts.
To give specific examples: he had received a large cruiser through Gozo's connections, been bestowed ceremonial robes by the Pope that were originally only allowed to be worn by Cardinals (he couldn't wear them, obviously, so he kept them carefully stored), and had been transferred about one-third of Bastian Rosen's inheritance rights.
Compared to that, a single military electric motorcycle was cheap... Leaving aside his financial sense, one might ask if confidentiality was an issue, but since vehicle management related to motorcycles fell under his jurisdiction, transferring it to Tatsuya, a Special Officer, posed no problem.
Perhaps judging that continuing this topic would be tiring, Tatsuya changed the subject.
"Yugen, do you think there will still be interference?"
"There will be. Or rather, I should say I can't imagine there won't be."
The possibility of Fumiya or Ayako, who respected Tatsuya, interfering was extremely low, but the possibility of Katsushige, who was ostensibly in an antagonistic relationship with Miyuki and Yuuka, interfering was high. And considering Katsushige's magic characteristics, the locations where he could lie in wait on the route were quite limited.
"Near the entrance of the tunnel where the gate to the Yotsuba main house is... I think that's the most likely ambush point. What's your opinion, Tatsuya?"
"I agree. We should leave as early as possible."
"Right. Well, I'd like to avoid an accident, so shall we leave as soon as Yuuka-san wakes up?"
"Yeah."
He prepared breakfast, timing it for when Yuuka and the others woke up. Yugen ate first and then served breakfast to Tatsuya and the others, but he was glared at not only by Yuuka but also by Miyuki. Minami looked somewhat unconvinced, and Tatsuya was sighing.
Why was he being glared at just for making breakfast? He had kept the flavor subtle; he wondered if it was too bland and tilted his head inadvertently.
After efficiently cleaning up breakfast, Yuuka, who was finishing her preparations to leave, whispered to him, "It's your fault for making such a delicious breakfast so nonchalantly, Yugen-kun." He wanted to express his extreme regret.
Just like yesterday, they departed with Yugen's Dreadnought taking the lead. On the shortest route to the main house—up to the tunnel where the gate to the main house was located—no hostile forces were detected. Given this, as predicted with Tatsuya, interference just before the tunnel was expected.
They departed at 9:30. It was about a two-hour journey from the villa to the main house, but assuming interference, arriving early was better. Yuuka reluctantly agreed after being persuaded by Yugen and Tatsuya.
Honestly speaking, it seemed funny to him that he, not being a Yotsuba, was involved in the main story like this. He had intended to move in a position where he wouldn't oppose Tatsuya or Miyuki, preferably as an ally, but he couldn't help laughing at how things had turned out due to various connections.
However, such thoughts were pushed to the corner of his mind by the signs of magic activation he felt as they approached the tunnel. following the signs of magic, a white tsunami—an avalanche—surged from the side of the road.
"Don't be reckless... Good grief!!"
Yugen deployed a hemispherical Phalanx, disguised as barrier magic, wrapping around the motorcycle and the car Yuuka and the others were in. Minami's hemispherical shield also deployed around the car. Furthermore, the avalanche turned into water and flowed away as a muddy stream. Judging that no further avalanches would occur, he deactivated the Phalanx, parked the motorcycle in a spot where it wouldn't be in the way, and stowed the Valkyrie inside his suit.
The avalanche wasn't on a direct course for the car, but for the motorcycle, it was definitely a direct hit. Perhaps from the opponent's perspective, they expected only the car to pass through. Even so, coincidence or not, the fact remained that they were lying in wait.
"Yu... Ahem. Kamisaka-san, are you alright?"
"Yes, I am fine. It appears the opponent predicted only Lady Yuuka's car would be passing through."
"Onii-sama, was Kamisaka-san targeted?"
"No, it's likely as Kamisaka-san predicted. And, this is an ambush."
Yuuka almost said Yugen's name but cleared her throat before asking, and Yugen replied that there was no problem. When Miyuki asked Tatsuya about the event, Tatsuya affirmed Yugen's opinion and stated the opponent's objective. Hearing this, Yuuka shouted as if roaring.
"Come out! If you don't come out, I won't hold back!"
On the Yotsuba main house's home turf, not only had they targeted the car she was riding in, but they had also tried to involve her bodyguard. Moreover, though his identity was hidden, that bodyguard was her fiancée. Combined with those circumstances, Yuuka activated the mental interference magic Mandrake in earnest.
(Yuuka-san is serious too... Using such a nasty magic.)
Mandrake was a magic that generated not an image of fear, but the emotion of fear itself in the opponent. Those subjected to this magic were seized by intense fear regardless of their psychological durability, and their minds were significantly weakened. The victim would fall into a state of frailty, lose consciousness unable to withstand it, or in some cases, suffer deep mental scars.
Moreover, because this magic used Psion waves—Psion "sound"—as a medium (more strictly speaking, based on information equipped in the Psions, the Psions altered the oscillation wavelength of "sound" to alter the opponent's emotions), it could not be prevented by physical sound insulation.
In other words, defense was possible if one used similar Psion waves of "sound." As if to demonstrate this, a magic was fired—the sound wave attenuation magic Silent Veil—mitigating the Psion waves of Mandrake.
Miyuki and Minami were surprised, and Tatsuya stated, as if explaining, that he recognized it as Silent Veil. And Yuuka had an idea of who had cast that magic. She shouted the name of the person she assumed had anticipated her use of Mandrake.
"This magic is Kotona-san, isn't it! Your identity is exposed! Katsushige-san, stop hiding behind a woman and come out!!"
Immediately after those words, a heat ray was fired in front of Yuuka, creating a heat haze from the heat generated on the road surface. It wasn't just that the moisture evaporated due to the heat ray; the paving materials were heated, creating a localized layer of hot air. And Yugen and Tatsuya recognized that magic immediately.
"...Phonon Maser, is it? That's another interesting magic to use."
"I don't think interest is the issue here."
Tatsuya sensed that Yugen's words were somewhat joking, but he stated firmly, as if driving a nail in, that this wasn't the time for it. It was obvious that the person in front of Tatsuya couldn't be measured by the standards of an ordinary magician.
"I am not hiding."
A deep, resonant voice echoed from ahead, and Yuuka, Miyuki, and Minami, whose eyes had been stolen by the heat haze, involuntarily looked up. Only Yugen and Tatsuya had noticed three men and women appearing from the shadow of a giant boulder that had fallen during the earlier avalanche.
"It just took some time to navigate through the scattered obstacles."
If it was troublesome, you shouldn't have done it, Yugen thought, but the man standing in the middle of the three...
He was tall at 188 centimeters. Although he looked slender outwardly, there was no sense of the sluggishness often associated with large men. His body was solidly forged, possessing a physique that wouldn't look out of place if he were introduced as a heavyweight boxing ranker. This man was a first-year employee of the Ministry of Defense, a member of one of the Yotsuba branch families, and the eldest son of the Shibata family: Shibata Katsushige.
Precisely because he knew Tatsuya well, he had forcefully detained them using such means.
"If you weren't hiding, why didn't you answer immediately?"
"I intended to get close enough to speak like this before answering, but you were the one who fired before I could answer. You're as belligerent as ever, Yuuka-san."
"I won't deny that, but my bodyguard was nearly involved in danger. I merely retaliated for that."
"Ho? I heard Yuuka-san's Guardian passed away... It's the first I've heard that there was someone skilled enough for you to acknowledge."
Katsushige, having heard the exchange with Yuuka, looked at her bodyguard, Yugen. Currently, Yugen was hiding his appearance with Parade and suppressing his presence as much as possible. Therefore, from Katsushige's perspective, he judged Yugen to be no inferior to his own two Guardians.
Yuuka, disliking that appraising gaze, spoke to Katsushige. The young man next to Katsushige looked like he wanted to shout something, but Katsushige restrained him with a hand.
"Then, as a member of the Tsukuba family, I ask you, Katsushige-san of the Shibata family. I am heading to the main house with Miyuki-san, Tatsuya-san, and Minami-san. Could you please let us pass silently?"
"I cannot do that. Yuuka-san is one thing, but I cannot let those three pass."
Katsushige's answer was exactly as Yuuka expected. Yuuka might be allowed, but Miyuki, Tatsuya, and Minami could not be let through. Most likely, he would instruct them to return the way they came.
To suggest such a thing at this time of year made one doubt his sanity, and even if Miyuki and Tatsuya obediently accepted it here, there was a possibility they would fly into the Yotsuba main house using flight magic in the worst case. If that happened, the Yotsuba family would be thrown into chaos. Especially since Yuuka knew the extent of Miyuki's seriousness from yesterday.
"...If we want to pass, you're saying we have to force our way through?"
"Exactly."
"...Kamisaka-san, as the Head's Proxy, what do you think?"
"Wha...!!?"
The fact that Yuuka voiced surprised not only Katsushige but also Tsutsumi Kotona and Tsutsumi Kanata flanking him, and even caused Miyuki and Minami to widen their eyes in shock. Among them, Tatsuya, who was the only one besides Yuuka who knew the circumstances, calmly looked toward Yugen. Yugen sighed once and then turned to face Yuuka.
"Lady Yuuka. If they are interfering, we must recognize that the Shibata family has raised a flag of rebellion against the main house. Especially if you young ladies, who are Yotsuba relations, were to fight, that suspicion would only grow stronger. Therefore, I will fight them as your proxy. Though... I have absolutely no intention of losing from the start."
"Wha, are you screwing around, you bastard!!"
"I am not screwing around. Besides, I think barking so disgracefully will only bring shame to your master standing next to you?"
"Kuh, ugh..."
Kanata shouted barkingly at Yugen's words, but Yugen effortlessly parried him and chided him, asking if he wanted to be a disgrace to Katsushige. Understanding the meaning, Kanata faltered. Yuuka murmured in admiration at this.
"Hee, so you are greatly adored not just by Kotona-san but by Kanata-san as well."
"Yes, to the extent that I think they are subordinates too good for me. Though, there are times I think I should be dry like you if I were to follow the Yotsuba family's style, but you seem to be very fond of that bodyguard."
"...(Like I could ever say it. It's way beyond just being 'fond'.)"
Since she was that bodyguard's (Yugen's) fiancée, Yuuka had no choice but to fall silent at Katsushige's words. Watching for a break in their conversation, Yugen stated his name as a bodyguard and offered an introduction.
"The conversation has strayed a bit... Once again, I am called Kamisaka, serving as Lady Yuuka's bodyguard. So, I have a proposal: if this is to be a duel, I do not mind fighting alone. Whether it is one of you, or two... or if you prefer, I do not mind taking on all three of you at once?"
"What did you say? (Is he sane? But his expression says he doesn't care how we come at him. Moreover, it's terrifying that not just Yuuka-san, but even Tatsuya-kun is letting his proposal slide without objection...)"
Katsushige was troubled about how to reply to Yugen's proposal.
The opponent's ability was an unknown quantity. Moreover, the opponent had stated he didn't mind a situation where he would be at a disadvantage in numbers. Furthermore, he felt a sense of unease that neither his master Yuuka nor even Tatsuya interjected to call the proposal reckless.
Katsushige didn't think he could definitely win against Tatsuya either. Seeing signs that Tatsuya—who had combat techniques beaten into him by the former head of the Yotsuba family from a young age—did not consider "his" proposal a reckless plan, Katsushige found himself in a situation where he hesitated.
(Author's Note)
The disguise using Parade was only used in Hokkaido, and only Tatsuya, Fumiya, and Ayako have experienced Yugen's way of falsifying his presence. Therefore, Miyuki and Minami, who lack that experience, have not seen through Yugen.
This is a result of Tatsuya reading the room.
-----------------------------
I've just uploaded up to 30 chapters in advance on Patreon!
If you enjoy this story, please supporting me on Patreon!
👉 [patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your amazing support!