"And yet, it seems that trouble is bound to continue..."
The basis for Yugen's complaint stemmed from the fact that the movements of the National Defense Force's Intelligence Department were becoming increasingly suspicious. In the original story, Touyama Tsukasa suddenly appeared, followed by an incident staged to mimic an attack by Lina and her group.
If this was an incident involving the Intelligence Department, it could be linked to the involvement of the Counter-Intelligence Division 3—which was under the influence of the Saegusa family—during the Parasite incident, as well as their intervention in the "Traditionalist" incident during last year's thesis competition. In both cases, Tatsuya was deeply involved in the original story, so they likely recognized Tatsuya's danger from those events.
The Intelligence Department had barged into the Kamiizumi residence intending to "re-educate" Yugen. However, Yugen couldn't help thinking that no matter how past his prime Gouzou might be (based on estimates derived from National Defense Force intelligence, of course), they were vastly underestimating the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu sword arts.
Upon investigating the matter, the 150-strong assault force turned out to have originated from a unit stationed at the Asaka Base. Their orders were "to capture Nagano Yugen, who is highly suspected of colluding with an enemy nation." The main party involved was the Capital Region Counter-Intelligence Division of the NDF Intelligence Department—the very division to which Touyama Tsukasa belonged under the alias "Tooyama Tsukasa."
Moreover, those orders had been drawn up and executed under the guise of an "exercise plan." In the end, they were utterly crushed by the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion, the swordsmen of the Senjin-ryu, and the practitioners of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu led by Gouzou.
(...If they consider themselves sane, I seriously doubt their sanity the moment they plan for fellow magicians in the same position to kill each other.)
He admitted that his own ability was head and shoulders above other magicians. However, if they intended to eliminate him based on one-sided logic while proclaiming him a "monster," he was fully prepared to point a gun back at them without hesitation. In the first place, he wanted to ask where on earth one could find anyone capable of guaranteeing those people's sanity.
If they intended to keep hoisting the righteousness of national interest, they would have to pay the corresponding price.
◇ ◇ ◇
The Tooyama family had already drawn Gouzou's wrath. As a consequence including that, the Saegusa family was forced into a reassignment toward the Amami and Okinawa regions, and the Juumonji family was unable to take a strong stance regarding the matter with Alisa.
After returning from Okinawa, Yugen visited the Juumonji residence directly. Katsuto was surprised by the sudden visit, but Yugen's request to speak with the former head, Kazuki, allowed him to gather the general context. After politely clearing the room, Yugen set up a soundproofing field and proceeded with the meeting involving Kazuki and Katsuto.
"I deeply apologize for this sudden visit. However, to prevent future disputes, I needed to settle this matter urgently, so I have come as the head of the Kagurazaka family."
"Disputes, you say?"
"Correct. I have heard the details from Master Kamiizumi. I understand that Katsuto-dono requested custody of Iba Alisa-jou, who was adopted into the Mitsuya family?"
Kazuki could not hide his surprise at Yugen's words. After all, despite being related to the Mitsuyas, hearing the name of Alisa—the Juumonji family's illegitimate child—from the mouth of a Kagurazaka family member was shocking enough. Moreover, even if Yugen had heard the circumstances from the Kamiizumi family, Kazuki could not comprehend why he was putting himself on the firing line.
As Kazuki stood there unable to conceal his confusion, Katsuto spoke up in his place to question Yugen.
"Kagurazaka-dono, why are you involving yourself in a matter between the Kamiizumi, Mitsuya, and Juumonji families? Granted, considering your ties to the Mitsuya family, it is not entirely incomprehensible."
"Katsuto-dono's line of thinking is entirely reasonable... Very well, allow me to explain."
Katsuto had already been informed by Mototsugu, but it was only natural for him to question why the Kagurazaka family was intervening. Yugen answered the question that carried that underlying meaning.
"Back when I was still a member of the Mitsuya family—going by the name Nagano Yugen—I was brought along by my grandfather, Gouzou-dono, to spend time in Hokkaido. Through that connection, an ancient magic family that looked after me happened to have close ties with both the Toogami and Iba families. I met her at her mother's funeral, and upon hearing her request, we formed a bond akin to foster siblings."
It truly was a chain of coincidences leading to another. The moment he made a move to step away from the Mitsuya family, he became acquainted with relatives of the Juumonjis, fell for someone from the Yotsubas, drew the eye of the Kudous, and subsequently became known to the Saegusas following the Ichijous and Itsuwas.
Whether or not one could call it "Stand users attracting each other" like a certain manga, he felt like sighing at how he simply couldn't escape the fate entwined with the "Numbers."
"And at the end of last year, when I visited Hokkaido with my current mother, I accepted Alisa-jou as one of my fiancées. Afterward, the will of her mother, Iba Dariya-dono, was discovered, and in accordance with her final words, the Mitsuya family accepted her as an adopted daughter."
"Such a thing occurred...? Then what about the techniques pertaining to the Juumonji family?"
"I have already 'treated' her, so the risk of her 'Overclock' going out of control no longer exists. Thus, there is no need to teach her the control techniques exclusive to the Juumonji family."
Yugen had treated Kazuki in the past as well. Therefore, there was zero need to open a debate about who had handled the situation. Katsuto nodded in understanding, but it was Kazuki who interjected at this point.
"We are grateful for Kagurazaka-dono's consideration. ...However, all the more reason why I must ask that Alisa be taken in by the Juumonji family."
From Kazuki's perspective, it was likely a plea that included atonement as a father. Because both Katsuto and Yugen naturally understood this, under normal circumstances it might have been an option worth considering.
However, the fact that Kazuki was raising such a point at this late stage caused Yugen to "raise" the intensity of his presence.
"Are you serious, Juumonji Kazuki? Let me make one thing clear: we are fully aware of your circumstances back then. Having maintained an intimate relationship with her, I find it unbelievable that you had the nerve to act as the head of the Juumonji family for 14 years while casting aside that possibility."
"K-Kagurazaka-dono?"
"Allow me to add something else. Your niece, Riri-jou, whom the Juumonji family took in, was vaguely aware that Alisa-jou was an illegitimate child of the Juumonji family. It seems it was written in her mother's diary that you and Dariya-dono had a relationship. Furthermore, your eldest daughter Mika, who is engaged to Katsuto-dono, is also aware of this fact."
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