―――The incident in which Yotsuba Maya was abducted and Saegusa Koichi was wounded during the Young Magicians Exchange Meeting, hosted by the Asian Branch of the International Magic Association.
―――Maya's "human experimentation" at the Kunlun Institute of the Great Han, the nation that then controlled the southern half of the Chinese continent and held superiority over the Great Asian Alliance in modern magic.
―――Maya, bearing deep spiritual wounds; Miya, who killed her own heart to save her sister; and the subsequent vengeance against the Great Han government and the Kunlun Institute, fueled by the rage of having a daughter's future stolen. This series of events would later be handed down through history as the "Yotsuba's Revenge," synonymous with the terrifying epithet: The Untouchable.
In the official narrative, this is simply the catalyst for Maya and Miya's tragedy—the origin point that necessitated the existence of Tatsuya and Miyuki. Unless one was a member of the Yotsuba family, there was little desire to probe deeper.
Strangely enough, my maternal grandfather was involved in that revenge tragedy as Yotsuba Genzo's close friend and was the sole survivor among the thirty-one combat magicians who participated. That said, I never intended to ask him for details. Every human being has a skeleton or two in their closet they wish to keep buried.
The trigger that compelled me to learn the truth came four years ago.
After the Defense of Okinawa, I was cleaning out the warehouse at Gozo's request when I found a letter slipped between the gaps of a box. The name on it was "Yotsuba Genzo." I immediately showed it to Gozo. He likely slipped it in there when he stopped by the warehouse before joining the revenge mission—a mission he joined simply to accompany his friend.
The stationery inside bore a single line: "It is cruel to ask this of you, but please, watch over the future of Maya and Miya."
At that moment, Gozo, realizing that Genzo had gone into that battle fully prepared to die, shed rare tears. Judging by his muttered words—"That stubborn fool..."—Gozo had likely joined the fray in a desperate attempt to change Genzo's future, precisely because he wanted his friend to live.
The group that injured Koichi and abducted Maya was undoubtedly influenced by the Great Han government. The reason the Yotsuba targeted not just the Kunlun Institute but the government itself was likely because they discovered Maya's kidnappers were soldiers of the Great Han army.
The year 2062 AD was a time when the Twenty-Year World War had not yet concluded. To hold an exchange meeting in Taipei—geographically close to both the Great Asian Alliance and the Great Han—was risky. However, given that Great Han had formed a military cooperation pact with Japan against the Great Asian Alliance at the time, it is highly probable the meeting was realized through their backing.
Perhaps they thought that even if they abducted Maya, Japan would not retaliate against Great Han as a nation; that if they hid it well enough and smoothed it over, they could manage it. That is how lightly this country was regarded... a fact made painfully obvious by the history of relations between this island nation and the continent over the past two thousand years.
The Yotsuba's revenge was, by all definitions, a massacre driven by personal vendetta, sufficient to spark an international crisis. Yet, Hayama Tadanori—an agent of the Senate—was attached to the Yotsuba clan as an advisor at the time.
In short, the Senate calculated that if the Yotsuba annihilated the Great Han government and the Kunlun Institute, the World War in the East Asian theater would end, ultimately reducing the damage to Japan. Thus, they sent Hayama to assist.
On the surface, one could judge that the Senate acted in the national interest. However, doubts arise.
Considering his age at the time, Toudou Aoba would have been around thirty. It is logical to assume that the seat of the Four Elders was then held by Aoba's father (hereafter referred to as Lord Toudou). If Lord Toudou backed the Yotsuba's revenge, he must have been certain that the benefits would outweigh the cost of severely depleting the combat potential of his subordinates, the Yotsuba. This contradiction raises questions.
Furthermore, Gozo's father, Masatsuna, was still alive and held a seat as one of the Four Elders. Senhime, it seems, was also already seated as an Elder. The Kamiizumi and Kagurazaka families opposed the revenge, fearing the decline of the Yotsuba's power, but were forced to agree when Gozo decided to participate.
Hearing these circumstances, I began to suspect that members of the Senate were involved in Maya's abduction.
I investigated the possibility that someone was displeased with the engagement between Koichi and Maya. However, relations between the Yotsuba and Saegusa families were relatively warm at the time; otherwise, the engagement wouldn't have happened. I checked military and government connections, but found no evidence of grudges deep enough to warrant such an act.
This left the Senate as the most suspicious entity. I conducted a thorough reinvestigation. The conclusion... was that the probability of Lord Toudou lending a hand to Maya's abduction was extremely high.
First, while the Yotsuba were once subordinates to the Toudou family, that relationship was dissolved after the revenge tragedy. Ostensibly, this was "to preserve the Yotsuba due to the secrecy of the Fourth Laboratory." But if that were the only reason, they could have simply stopped assigning frontline missions without dissolving the relationship.
Yet, they severed the subordinate relationship while maintaining the sponsor dynamic and the master-servant contract for specific requests. They likely did this because they feared retribution if the truth ever came to light.
Dissolving the relationship may have been an attempt to hide the fact that they were "subordinate killers."
In the original story, Aoba tends to view magicians as weapons. His father, Lord Toudou, likely held that tendency even more strongly. To them, Yotsuba Genzo's mental interference magic, Grim Reaper, was their greatest asset—and simultaneously, their greatest threat.
Lord Toudou feared Genzo. He may have schemed to have the Great Han and Kunlun Institute abduct Maya as a way to force a separation or death upon Genzo. By directing the Yotsuba's rage outward, he avoided the spear pointing at himself while rationally whittling down the Yotsuba's dangerous combat potential to make them easier to control. Although Gozo's participation was an irregularity, the plan succeeded in depleting the Yotsuba's strength.
The Senate holds immense influence over Japan's political and financial worlds. If they wished, they had connections abroad. They could easily arrange for Koichi and Maya to attend the exchange meeting using pro-Han military officers or diet members.
If it were merely about human experimentation on magicians, Koichi likely would have been taken as well. Yet, while he was injured, he was not abducted. This suggests some form of "consideration" was at work regarding Koichi. The result was the dissolution of the engagement, leading to the bad blood between the Saegusa and Yotsuba families.
No matter how superior the Yotsuba's intelligence network was, considering the preparation and time required to locate Maya in the Kunlun Institute and successfully rescue her within two days, it would have been nearly impossible unless someone provided information to Kuroba Juzo. Furthermore, while domestic intelligence is one thing, obtaining such precise foreign intelligence so quickly points to an entity on the level of the Senate.
Incite the Yotsuba by abducting Maya. Direct their hostility toward the Great Han and Kunlun. Eliminate Yotsuba Genzo and whittle down the clan's military strength to keep their power in check. Cause the significant decline of the Great Han to invite a victory for the Great Asian Alliance, thereby ending the regional war and securing Japan's safety.
The Yotsuba Revenge Tragedy was an incident triggered by the fear of one man who held the reins of the country—fear that his status would be threatened by a curse. Lord Toudou quietly eliminated anyone trying to reach this truth. When his concern, Gozo, went into seclusion out of shock from losing his best friend, Lord Toudou was convinced of his victory.
But Lord Toudou made a fatal miscalculation.
Gozo's son, who was acting as the head of the Kamiizumi family in Gozo's stead (the child of Gozo and Kaname, Shiho's brother, who would undoubtedly have succeeded the family had he lived), witnessed Lord Toudou's actions against the Yotsuba and learned the truth. Lord Toudou had him killed, disguising it as an "assassination by Great Han remnants." This deception was exposed to Senhime.
Without hesitation, Senhime conveyed the truth—including the "Yotsuba killing"—to Gozo. The two deemed Lord Toudou's actions "conduct contrary to the interests of this country" and killed him. That was thirty-five years ago.
When Aoba succeeded the leadership of the Toudou family and the seat of the Four Elders, and sought to marry one of Gozo's daughters to bolster his legitimacy, the massive conflict between him and Gozo was largely due to Lord Toudou's "killing of the Yotsuba" and "murder of Gozo's son." Although Senhime and Kaname mediated to settle the issue, Gozo still detested Aoba's attitude toward magicians—an attitude inherited from his father.
Gozo understood that the sins of the father should not visit the son. That is why he reluctantly approved the marriage to his daughter. However, he stated clearly what would happen if Aoba ever tried a similar stunt:
"Listen well, Toudou Aoba. If you do not make my daughter and her children happy, I will kill you myself. The same applies to the Yotsuba, whom your father feared. We of the Kamiizumi trace our roots back to the sword saint Kamiizumi Nobutsuna. If you ever disparage us or those I hold dear—my family—with baseless contempt... assume that the Kamiizumi family will destroy 'everything' of the Toudou, and wipe your name completely from history."
Even if his magical power had waned, Gozo as a martial artist had stepped into the realm of masters. He projected a killing intent so sharp it felt as if Aoba's head would fly from his shoulders in an instant. Sensing Gozo's serious intent, Aoba had no choice but to bow his head in silence.
In the original story, Aoba never tried to deepen his relationship with the Yotsuba, yet showed a cooperative stance where possible. Though I haven't heard it from Aoba himself, perhaps he learned of his father's "Yotsuba killing" and is cooperating with Tatsuya and Yakumo as a form of atonement.
Thirty-five years have passed since then. Sana was born to the Toudou family. To show he held no ill will toward the Kamiizumi, Aoba took the tonsure upon his sixtieth birthday, taking the name Aoba Nyudo. Yet, he still fulfills his role as the Toudou head. And, to demonstrate consideration for the Yotsuba, he identified Miki—an Ancient Magician on good terms with Tatsuya—and adopted him.
When I confirmed this sequence of events, including my own deductions, with Senhime and Gozo, they both affirmed the facts. It is a miracle this information never reached the Yotsuba until now. Since we cannot afford to have Aoba exit the stage at this juncture, we are prepared, in the worst-case scenario, to have Kashiwa take the fall for everything. After all, Kashiwa was also involved in the Yotsuba revenge drama orchestrated by Lord Toudou.
Sins committed can never be erased. Running away is out of the question. But that there are those who try to push their sins onto a single existence to escape... perhaps that is just the karma born of human survival instinct.
Most of the Keishunkai participants, as well as the servants (excluding Hayama and Kurebayashi), were thrown into chaos by the shocking facts Maya had stated. To Maya, she had merely explained the truth concisely and clearly.
Breaking the silence, Tsukuba Touka, head of the branch family that had been quickest to declare neutrality, posed a question.
"Madam Head, may I ask a question?"
"Touka-san. Yes, you may."
"I understand the circumstances behind your nomination of Tatsuya-san as the successor. However, I wish to hear the reason why you kept this hidden even from us, the branch heads, until this Keishunkai."
Touka's point was reasonable. Had the branch heads at least possessed the information that "Tatsuya is a potential successor," they might have had material to make better judgments, perhaps avoiding the current confusion.
Once the venue fell silent, Maya began to answer Touka's query.
"It is quite simple. Before we even knew if Tatsuya possessed the power to be a successor, most of you in the branch families tried to take the newborn Tatsuya away from me. When the previous head, Uncle Eisaku, analyzed Tatsuya's abilities, he was most pained by the turbulent behavior of your families."
Tatsuya's existence was born without any consideration for the emotions of Maya or Miya, and without anyone saving them. The one who felt the most anguish over this was the head of the Yotsuba at the time, Eisaku. His will detailed his suffering: his regret at being unable to care for them as a father figure in his brother's stead, and his sorrow that even the Shiiba family—his own children—did not look kindly upon Tatsuya.
Since the child had been burdened with this fate, he would be raised as the power of the Yotsuba. To continue relying solely on the name of The Untouchable would be to cling to the ghosts of the Yotsuba clan who perished in the Great Han revenge, led by Eisaku's brother, Genzo.
To break this stagnation, Eisaku entrusted a sliver of hope to Tatsuya. Even if he was an existence born from his nieces' desire for "revenge," Eisaku believed he would become the standard-bearer who would carve open a future for the Yotsuba clan.
"If we sealed his power until the appropriate time and established him as Miyuki-san's Guardian, no one would willingly think to harm Tatsuya. After all, doing so would anger Miyuki-san... and it would also incur the wrath of Tatsuya's friend. Isn't that right, Lord Kagurazaka?"
Maya used the phrase "take away," but she knew they had intended to kill Tatsuya.
It was Miya who devised a plan. Hiding the fact that he was Maya's child, she claimed Tatsuya as her own and installed him as her Guardian. She believed this would suppress those who wished to harm him until the time was right. Maya agreed.
Eisaku also approved of Miya's plan and imposed rigorous training on Tatsuya. Tatsuya was then positioned as the Guardian of Miyuki, whom Miya later gave birth to, and Miya distanced herself from the main house. It was all executed to protect Tatsuya.
And now... the human connections Tatsuya forged have linked together. Senhime's adopted son, whose power Tatsuya had sealed, became lovers with Miyuki and built a friendship with Tatsuya. Furthermore, there was the boy who saved the hearts of both Maya and Miya.
Maya spoke his name.
The moment Maya spoke, Yugen dropped his presence concealment, revealing himself with his suppression capabilities almost entirely deactivated. Yugen stood up slowly, walked through the "path" that naturally opened in the crowd, and sat cross-legged right in front of Maya. Everyone watched in stunned silence.
"Precisely so, Lady Yotsuba. Once again, Happy New Year, Lady Yotsuba, Lord Tatsuya, Lady Miyuki. On this occasion, in addition to the marriage of Lord Shibata, and the nomination of my close friend and Lady Yotsuba's biological son, Tatsuya, as the next head of the Yotsuba, I offer my congratulations as the current Kagurazaka."
"Lord Kagurazaka. I am deeply grateful for your polite New Year's greeting. Come, please, sit here."
Maya sent a glance to Tatsuya, and understanding her intent, Tatsuya shifted to the side. This created a space large enough for one person between Maya and Miyuki. Yugen followed the gesture and sat down. Miyuki let a soft smile spill onto her lips at having her beloved sitting beside her.
Yugen then formally introduced himself to the participants of the Keishunkai. However, unlike his greeting the previous day, both his standing and his tone had changed distinctly.
"I am the 108th Head of the Guardian Kagurazaka Family, Kagurazaka Yugen. I was observing the Keishunkai at Lady Yotsuba's invitation, but I find myself deeply disappointed. Or rather, indignant. Do you understand why, Kuroba Mitsugu-dono?"
"N-No, I have no idea."
"Is that so... You, along with the heads of the Shiiba, Mashiba, Shibata, and Shizuka families, were voicing complaints just months ago about Tatsuya's treatment remaining undecided. Are you now claiming you 'know nothing'?"
As Yugen muttered this, he infused his voice with bloodlust. The atmosphere in the venue instantly compressed. The branch heads turned pale, feeling the cold sensation of a Grim Reaper's scythe pressed against their necks.
"At the end of last year, when Lord Tatsuya and Lady Miyuki were traveling here, they faced obstruction three times. The first was an attack by enhanced psychics from the National Defense Army's anti-Great Asian Alliance hardliners. The second was Captain Hatae's unit, which should have been stationed at the Uji Second Supply Base. And the third was an ambush by Shibata Katsunari-dono."
Miyuki interpreted these attacks as targeting Tatsuya, but Tatsuya felt the preparation was too meticulous to be targeting only him. The firepower had been significantly restrained (no heavy equipment like anti-magician high-power rifles). Tatsuya deduced this was because, although the repercussions for the recent incident were light, taking even a single piece of Defense Army equipment off-base required difficult-to-obtain permissions. They had avoided equipment that would raise flags.
"Well, regarding the third incident, since I dealt with it personally, I have informed Katsunari-dono that I will not hold a grudge. Therefore, I will not dredge up Katsunari-dono's sins now. By the by, Shibata Osamu-dono. Judging by Katsunari-dono's attitude, it seems you were the one who instigated him. Do you have any objections or counterarguments?"
"Th-That is..."
"Lord Kagurazaka, please allow me to interject. My father feared Tatsuya-san's magic and strongly advocated for his 'seal.' Seeing this, I deemed persuasion impossible. To avoid meaningless infighting, I accepted my father's proposal. If you are to punish my father, then I, who carried out the obstruction, am equally guilty."
"No! Lord Kagurazaka, if you say that, then I, who fought against you, must bear the same sin. But please, at least spare Souta."
The person before them should have been a boy the same age as Tatsuya, but seeing the crafty, seasoned atmosphere Yugen exuded, most participants realized they could not treat him as a junior.
While Osamu faltered at Yugen's questioning, Katsunari interrupted to explain, declaring he would accept punishment as the executor. Kotona then spoke up to shield him, claiming she would bear the sin as well, asking only for forgiveness for Souta.
"―――Katsunari-dono. I dislike repeating myself, but since I contacted you under a disguised appearance, I have forgiven you. Therefore, I have decided to forgive Lady Kotona and Souta-dono, whom you instructed, as well. Furthermore, Katsunari-dono attempted to avoid fratricide within the clan. Lady Kotona and Souta-dono sought to fulfill their master's wish without regard for their own safety. Such sentiments are admirable; I have concluded they are worthy of forgiveness."
"Lord Kagurazaka..."
"However, the others who plotted Tatsuya's isolation, including Shibata-dono, are a different matter. If you cut Tatsuya off from the Yotsuba, 'infighting' between the main and branch families—a civil war—will erupt. If that happens, I intend to side with the Yotsuba main house as Tatsuya's close friend. That is, if you have the mettle to make enemies of the Kagurazaka and the Kamiizumi—two Guardian families... If you wish to start right here and now, I am prepared to erase you all from history."
Yugen had not only won over numerous Ancient Magicians during the recent 'Traditionalist' incident but also hailed from the Mitsuya family, one of the Ten Master Clans. His mother was from the Guardian Kamiizumi family, and the current head was Yugen's biological older brother. He was asking if the branch heads were prepared to make enemies of at least two Guardian heads.
The questioned parties could not utter a word.
Watching this, Tatsuya realized immediately that Yugen had expanded a force field that seemed to charm the area around Miyuki, while directing his killing intent only at the specific individuals he had named. For a magician of his caliber to terrify them this much with mere killing intent was a feat beyond human.
Just as Tatsuya was thinking this, Maya turned toward Yugen, bowed her head, and slowly began to offer words of defense.
"I apologize, Lord Kagurazaka. The fault lies entirely with me for not strongly persuading the branch heads until now, out of concern for the safety of my beloved son, Tatsuya. Given the occasion, could you not find it in your heart to quell your anger?"
"...Hmm. What Lady Yotsuba says stands to reason. I, too, wish to avoid blood-spattered disputes so early in the New Year. If Lady Yotsuba apologizes and promises to handle all discipline henceforth, it is possible to settle this as an internal Yotsuba family matter."
"Of course, I do not ask you to quell your anger for free. I hear that you, Lord Kagurazaka, are in a romantic relationship with the Miyuki-san sitting beside you. Therefore, as proof that the Yotsuba family harbors no ill will toward the Kagurazaka family, I wish to send Miyuki-san to be your wife."
I see, Tatsuya thought, understanding Maya's strategy and the meaning of Yugen's presence here.
Regarding the recent attack, Yugen had sought no punishment for Katsunari and had won him over by extending Kotona's lifespan.
However, while Yugen forgave Katsunari, he had not forgiven the father. Moreover, Mitsugu had assumed that persuading Yugen would make persuading Maya easy, but Yugen could never tolerate an act equivalent to selling out his friend and fiancée.
Furthermore, regarding Tatsuya's succession as the next head, Yugen had been informed during his discussion with Maya the previous night that he approved it as "appropriate for making the Yotsuba truly Yotsuba." Yugen had also grasped the nature of the seal on Tatsuya's magic beforehand—a fact that made even Tatsuya want to raise a white flag against him.
"Oh? I had heard that Lady Miyuki was a powerhouse considered the top candidate for the next head of the Yotsuba."
"Miyuki-san felt the true nature of Tatsuya's magic firsthand, voluntarily returned the position of candidate, and recommended Tatsuya. When I asked her then, I sensed her desire to be with the one she loves. Not just as the head of the Yotsuba, but as a woman, I want Miyuki-san to find the happiness I could not. Lord Kagurazaka, to grant my niece her happiness, please accept this and quell your anger."
Maya declared that she was sending Miyuki—who had been the top candidate for successor and first in the engagement line—to be Yugen's wife. This was not as Miyuki's relative, but as the "Yotsuba Family," establishing proof of no ill will toward the Kagurazaka.
By having Maya recommend her as Yugen's fiancée at the Keishunkai, she placed the "sin" and "responsibility" onto the branch heads: You branch heads angered Yugen, so we had no choice but to send Miyuki to the Kagurazaka family.
No matter how much they tried to escape Tatsuya's "sin," they would not be permitted to push the sin for which Miyuki took responsibility onto Tatsuya. This was undeniably the Yotsuba family's responsibility, a sin the branch heads had to bear equally.
"Lady Yotsuba, please raise your head... Well, the fact that we were able to reduce the power of both the anti-Asian Alliance hardliners and the appeasement faction is entirely due to Tatsuya's achievements. In consideration of Lady Yotsuba's sincerity and Tatsuya's exploits, I shall accept Lady Miyuki's hand and quell my anger... Miyuki-san, I apologize for advancing the conversation without you, but do you have any objections?"
"No. I am terribly sorry that the branch heads have caused you such trouble on this occasion. I am still immature and have many shortcomings, but please, I ask that you keep me by your side forever."
"I, too, have my shortcomings, but I look forward to our life together."
To those who knew the circumstances, this was nothing more than a "farce." But since the words explicitly recognizing Miyuki's engagement had come from Maya's own lips, Miyuki was inwardly filled with joy. Apologizing in response to Yugen's words, she shifted her position toward him and bowed deeply. Seeing this, Yugen also turned toward Miyuki and bowed.
"My, my. It is the New Year, yet still winter outside... and yet, spring is in full bloom right here."
"Mother... please keep the teasing in moderation."
Perhaps affected by the atmosphere between the two, Tatsuya suppressed the urge to sigh internally and admonished Maya, who was speaking with a beaming smile.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 30 chapters of this story on Patreon.
If you're enjoying it and want to read ahead, feel free to check them out here:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thanks a lot for your support, it really helps me keep going.