The Alisa issue had already expanded to involve two Guardian families, two Master Clans, and even the Toogami family. If they were to take Alisa into the Juumonji family now, it would devolve into an internal family issue for the Juumonjis, potentially risking a complete split at worst.
The silver lining was that Katsuto was already the head of the Juumonji family, but even so, something that Alisa and the Toogami family had agreed upon and accepted could not simply be wiped clean now.
"In addition to the two I just mentioned, Mibu Mitsuaki-dono, who is engaged to Riri-jou, is also aware of this fact. If you spread this truth any further, it will undoubtedly reach the ears of Kazuki-dono's wife and children. Are you fine with a situation where the Juumonji family splits straight down the middle at worst? I can hardly believe those are the words of a father entrusted with a household."
Besides, just when the matters with the Saegusa and Kudou families had finally settled down, if the Juumonji family were to stumble here, it would bring the very purpose of the Ten Master Clans into question. Kazuki failed to realize that his proposal was virtually equivalent to an act of "rebellion" against the current family head.
Even if Kazuki had taken Alisa in after confirming Dariya's survival, domestic trouble would have been completely unavoidable. Kazuki's wife, Keiko, was a sensible person, but that did not necessarily mean she would welcome Alisa with open arms.
"And most importantly of all, legally speaking, you are not Iba Alisa's father. No matter how much blood you share, if you bring up genetic grounds as justification, we will have Katsuto-dono or your wife inherit your family business while forcing you into distant retirement. If you object to this decision, I will personally be your opponent. I state clearly right here and now that I have both the preparation and resolve to crush you by force at worst."
Precisely because Yugen was Alisa's fiancé, he permitted interaction kept at a certain distance, but interacting with them as direct relatives was out of the question. He had explained as much to Mitsuaki and Riri, and they had agreed, saying, "We wish to maintain a good friendship with our senior."
As Kazuki stood silent, rendered speechless by the bloodlust Yugen directed at him, Katsuto bowed his head.
"Kagurazaka-dono, I thank you not only for taking the trouble to come here today, but also for explaining the circumstances. When I heard that my father had fathered an illegitimate child, even I was left exasperated. I will persuade my father to treat her as someone unrelated to the Juumonji family from here on, so please, sheath your weapon for now."
"...Very well. Katsuto-dono—no, Head Juumonji. I leave your father's disposition to you."
"I thank you for your generous treatment."
Yugen had no intention of becoming deeply involved in the Juumonji family's internal affairs, and once Katsuto and Mika married, Alisa would indirectly become an in-law to the Juumonji family anyway. There was no need to publicly announce her as a Juumonji, and Alisa herself had explicitly stated that she "did not want to take the Juumonji name."
If Katsuto was going to handle Kazuki's disposition, it meant less labor expended on this end, so Yugen accepted Katsuto's proposal as it was. How the Juumonji family settled this matter would also serve to test Katsuto's skill as a family head.
After Yugen left, Katsuto returned to his office, casting a stern gaze toward Kazuki.
"Father, why did you demand the handover of Alisa-jou, who has become Kagurazaka-dono's fiancée? Was it a lie when you said you would leave negotiations entirely to me? Please answer me honestly."
Katsuto had learned about Alisa on March 14th, after the restructuring of the Master Clans Conference system had settled down. After thinking it over for a while, Katsuto visited the Kamiizumi residence, where he had acquaintances. There, he heard the circumstances from the current head, Mototsugu.
He hadn't understood the connection between the primary parties, the Toogami and Mitsuya families, but the facts Yugen laid out today connected those dots.
"It was not a lie. However, as a father, regretting that I could do nothing for her hurt more than anything else."
"Then bringing up negotiations with Kagurazaka-dono was far too reckless. Even if it had been realized, the Juumonji family would have been pushed into a position like the Saegusa family's. You are not so dense as to not realize that, Father."
The defense and oversight of the Kanto region was scheduled to be handed over from the Saegusa family to the Mitsuya family in early May of this year. It was the first time since the establishment of the Master Clans Conference that an assigned region shifted to another "Numbered" family, transitioning from the Saegusa/Juumonji structure to the Mitsuya/Juumonji structure. Katsuto and Mika's engagement was the cornerstone of building that relationship.
At the same time, the two Guardian families where members of the Mitsuya family had been adopted were elements that the Juumonji family could not afford to ignore. Even Kazuki, as a former head of the Ten Master Clans, should have understood that. While this proposal had stemmed from his lingering regrets as Alisa's father, those single words had touched the raw nerve of the current head of the Kagurazaka family.
"...Father, tomorrow I will visit the Mitsuya residence. I will have Mitsuya-dono intercede regarding this blunder, but I will not negotiate the handover of Alisa-jou whatsoever. This is my decision as the head of the Juumonji family."
"...Understood. I will accept Katsuto's decision."
Eliminating the lingering concerns held by the Juumonji family—Katsuto himself understood the abnormality of Yugen, who had achieved that feat. As long as Yugen possessed techniques capable of neutralizing their trump card, 'Phalanx', members of the Juumonji family would be essentially stripped bare with no means of resistance should they turn hostile.
Considering the functional skills carried by the Juumonji family, Katsuto had also considered taking Alisa in to prevent them from going out of control. However, assuming Yugen possessed magic capable of restoring the father standing before him as a magician, persuasion dwelt within Yugen's words that the concern had been resolved.
Naturally, Katsuto had thought of plans to have Yugen avert the Juumonji family's tragic destiny using that magic. However, as a family of magicians, he understood that such an ability could not carelessly be brought to light, nor could he begin to imagine how immense the price paid to him would be. At worst, the Juumonji family might end up placed under the protection of the Kagurazaka family.
Having clearly become subordinates to the Guardians at the Master Clans Conference, Katsuto, as head of the Juumonji family, chose to leave Alisa in the hands of the Mitsuya family. To that decision, Kazuki could do nothing but silently nod.
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