A letter from the head of the family Juumonji arrived at the house of the Kudo family shortly before noon the day after Tatsuya received the same. Kudo Minoru watched indifferently, as if behind a TV screen, as his brothers fussed over an unexpected invitation.
Today, on a weekday, at this time he had to be at school. However, Minoru was fevered from yesterday evening, and today he missed classes at school. The condition of the vice-president of the Second High School Board, Minoru, worsened due to the accumulated fatigue from the busy days associated with the entrance ceremony.
Minoru was unhappy that he, a member of the school board, had to be absent at the very beginning of the new school year. Minoru, who did not know the truth, was convinced that no one was to blame for his weak body, including himself. He did not blame anyone, because he did not know why he was born unhealthy. He just could not blame.
However, Minoru reproached himself for not being able to transfer responsibility to others. Having magical power, suitable for the Ten Master Clans, he could not demonstrate this power due to the predisposition to bed rest.
For Minoru this seemed worse than not having the magical power of the level of the Ten Master Clans.
And the fact that the Kudo family left the Ten Master Clans only spurred his self-loathing. Minoru was not involved in the loss of status of one of the Ten Master Clans. He did not bear any responsibility at all. However, being the heir of the Kudo family, Minoru thought that if he could participate in notable events, such as the Nine Schools Competition, they would not have left the Ten Master Clans.
Despite his self-sacrifice, he also looked with contempt on his brothers and sisters. Brothers, sisters and father, whose pure magical power was inferior to the strength of his grandfather, Kudo Retsu, his cousin, Fujibayashi Kyoko, and also his own strength.
He loved Kyoko Fujibayashi like a real sister, and was sure that she was looking for a method to heal his body, but so far there has been no progress. He himself could not even join in important discussions on which, perhaps, the future of the Kudo family was being decided. He did not need to become an opponent in a dispute to his brothers and sisters who had a mediocre magical power, and it remained only to sit slowly in a warm place...
Minoru did not notice that this despair weakens him.
He did not say anything (in fact, they did not ask his opinions), and it was decided to send Minoru's brother, slightly older than him, to the meeting, which was received by the invitation from the head of the Juumonji family. Although they say a little older, the difference between them was 7 years old.
At that moment, Minoru wondered what his brothers were doing here.
The older brothers should be at work, and the two older sisters have already married and are sitting with the children. Only he had to stay at home.
Then, what is he doing here? With such vague thoughts, Minoru remembered what he was eating. As his condition improved slightly, he asked the servants to arrange dinner for him in the dining room. When everything was ready, and he came, he found the brothers and sisters at the table.
Before them on the table was set a lot of varied hearty dishes. On the other hand, Minoru was given rice porridge with a lot of dietary supplements for patients. Kashi was initially small, and Minoru already finished eating. Deciding that there was no longer any need to stay in the dining room, he stood up.
Paying attention to the sound of the chair moving away, the next brother in the seniority looked at Minoru.
"Minoru, are you coming back?" This voice belonged to the one who first responded to the greeting of the younger brother who appeared in the dining room.
"How are you feeling?" For the first time today, his second sister started talking with Minoru.
"I still have more of a fever, so I'm thinking of resting." Answered Minoru who stood up, openly showing his desire to return to his room as quickly as possible.
"Really? Very sorry. If it were not for your health problems, I was thinking of taking you with me to Tokyo."
However, this intention did not reach the elder brother. Minoru remained helplessly in place.
"Does Minoru know the next head of the Yotsuba? If your health improves, you need to renew your old friendship."
"Right. If there is an opportunity, of course, I will." Said Minoru, and, bowing slightly, left the dining room. The thoughts of his elder brother were obvious. It is clear that the Kudo family, after losing the status of one of the Ten Clans, wanted to regain its strength, and for this, it seems, they wanted to bring the Yotsuba family to their side. And they thought to use Minoru for this. However, from such a naive plan, Minoru was suddenly nostalgic.
He met the brother and sister (now the bride and groom) from Yotsuba six months ago, in the autumn of last year. They spent together only a few days.
Since there were days when they acted separately or he was lying in bed because of the worsened condition, then one can say that in reality they spent together only 2 days.
However, the memory of these two days was a ray of light in Minoru's memory.
How he showed them the city of Nara and how at the foot of the mountain Kasuga helped to resist the opponents who turned out to be the pawns of a foreign magician. As they walked around Kyoto in search of this foreign magician, Zhou Gongjin.
Those two days were for him the time when he was exactly what a magician should be. After that, he collided with Zhou Gongjin himself and prevented his escape, and it was a simple job. He was not a difficult opponent, and for Minoru it was commonplace.
Now these were good memories, despite the shame of the day when he had to lie in bed in the hotel room under the supervision of Minami.
Minoru, frankly, envied Tatsuya and Miyuki, who had friends like Minami.
After traveling to Tokyo, he again meets Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami.
It was very pleasant, even taking into account the stupid calculations of the older brothers. Such a thought originated in Minoru.
Masaki learned of the invitation when he returned home from school.
"I'm sorry."
Returning home, Masaki first went to the room where his father lay. The head of the Ichijou family, Ichijou Gouki, who was in a state of exhaustion of unknown origin, was not hospitalized, but was being restored at home. Hospitalization was not required, because there were no visible injuries, and no abnormalities were found with bones and internal organs. However, this was not the only reason.
"Masaki? Come in."
Gouki, who received damage in the battle, was not able to rise on his own, but he was conscious. He slept longer than usual, but in a waking state his thinking was clear. Therefore, Gouki himself hoped that he would be restored at home.
"Father, is it normal that you are not sleeping?"
Gouki had a bent bed with an electric drive, and he adjusted it to a semi-sitting position.
"Yes. Today, strength has largely returned to the hands and feet."
After answering Masaki, Gouki ordered "We continue" standing next to the bed of the subordinate. He, with the help of the remote, moved the page of the electronic paper attached to the bed. Gouki used his waking time to manage the subordinates of the Ichijou family. He usually left it to the nearest helper, but now there were signs of an invasion of Tohoku and Hokuriku. So he gave instructions straight from the bed to prepare for this.
"Father, did not the ship of the New Soviet Union disappear?"
Hearing in conversation with the subordinate the affected topic of the suspicious ship, which caused Gouki's weakness, Masaki involuntarily wedged into the conversation.
"Belonging to a suspicious ship... It was not confirmed that it belongs to the New Soviet Union."
Gouki's answer to Masaki's question did not make much sense.
"This is not an official conversation, so it's okay. Or, father, do you seriously believe that this ship could belong to someone other than the New Soviet Union?"
"...The suspicious ship is missing. Perhaps it was flooded."
"Destroying evidence? I heard you were talking about searching... Do you want to search for debris at the bottom of the sea?"
"Maybe I will."
Recently, Gouki's responses have become somehow meaningless. Since it did not look like he could not find the words, he had the impression that he avoided certain statements.
As if he was afraid of the ears of third parties...
When this thought occurred to him, Masaki realized his own oversight.
He was not particularly interested in asking about the abandoned ship, but he also had previously prepared other questions. Finishing the conversation with his father with a short "Really," Masaki spoke with the "third party" who came to the hospital today.
"Tsukuba-san, thanks again for today."
"It's my pleasure. The state of the mind itself is gradually improving, but for me it is also a relief, because as a result this did not show my incompetence."
Tsukuba Yuuka in a joking manner answered Masaki, who bowed with gratitude. This was the last reason for choosing a home care for a patient instead of hospitalization.
On the day when Gouki was brought to the hospital, and there was no way to diagnose the cause of the weakness, the family was overwhelmed with anxiety. His daughters, Akane and Ruri became emotionally unstable and cried from time to time. Gouki's wife Midori behaved staunchly, but for the rest it was obvious that it was a pretense to cheer the daughters. Masaki also pretended to be cold-blooded, but in his mind could not restrain the excitement.
Those who extended a helping hand to them were surprisingly the Yotsuba family.
Forgetting even the surprise that they found out about the symptoms of the Gouki on the same day, they could not but accept the offer to send a specialist to Gouki, who at that time did not even know what to do.
And it all turned out that now this young woman, Tsukuba Yuuka, stood before Masaki. He heard that she is a graduate student at the Magic University, but she has no medical qualification.
At present, the magic calculation zone is not an object of medicine.
However, considering the goal "to restore a healthy state to a weakened person," what Yuuka does isn't all that different, otherwise you cannot call it "treatment."
But if the fact that the treatment is handled by an unqualified person, would be disclosed, it would cause problems in various aspects. Such judgments were also present.
"Will my father... recover?"
The day before yesterday he was in a position that he could not even stir his head and it was difficult to talk. Until yesterday, he could not keep his position immobile when the bed bent. Given this, although still he could not get up himself, the ability to keep in this position was a great step forward.
However, despite the fact that outwardly he was on the mend, from time to time he heard that in reality the condition is deteriorating. Masaki could not calm down, just seeing it with his own eyes.
"Yes. As for the treatment, there are still a lot of incomprehensible parts, so I cannot say when he will recover, but the condition is steadily improving. Everything will be all right, he will recover."
Yuuka assured in the restoration of Gouki, without removing the smile from her face.
"Do not worry, Masaki. I will not stay forever. I'll be better soon."
Hearing not only from Yuuka, but from Gouki himself a vigorous promise to "be healed," Masaki seems to have calmed down a little.
"Then .. for today, please forgive me. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ah, I'll see you off."
"Thank you so much. But do not bother."
After politely declining Masaki's offer, Yuuka, bowing to Gouki, left the room. The subordinate Gouki followed Yuuka to accompany her to the exit. When they were left alone, Masaki immediately wiped a polite smile from his face.
"Father... in reality, how is it?"
"What do you mean?"
Laying his head on the pillow, relaxing his neck, Gouki asked. It seems that it was rather difficult for him to climb so far. Masaki hurried to the switch and led the bent bed back to the reclining position.
"Can I trust her?"
Overlapping the faint noise of the motor lowering the bed, Masaki's serious voice reached Gouki's ears.
"There is no doubt that my condition is improving. There are no guarantees that it would improve if we did nothing. I have no choice but to believe it."
"It is so, but..."
On an emotional level, Masaki found it difficult to convince himself that one can entrust his helpless father to a person under the auspices of the Yotsuba family.
Although this is called a cure, in fact it is exposed without any resistance to the Mental Interference magic. Even if it successfully restores from the current state, it is not known what "bombs" can be installed.
"Masaki, if you start to suspect, it will take longer."
"Really..."
As Gouki himself said, this risk was worth it.
"Since there are no other options, it remains only to believe...?"
With regard to the treatment of the Gouki, they did not have absolutely no clues what can be done.
"Such are these cases. By the way, Masaki."
"What is it, Father?"
"You see the envelope over there? It's addressed to you."
The sudden change of theme of Gouki was designed to prevent the son from plunging into a bottomless abyss of suspicion.
"Open it."
It was not a personal letter, so he asked to open it here.
"Okay..."
Masaki did not understand what this request was to, but, deciding that there was no point in refusing, took a letter lying on the table from the side. His face immediately tensed.
"A letter from Juumonji-dono ..?" He read the name of the sender on the back of the envelope.
Taking a paper opener into his hand, Masaki carefully opened the envelope. The other party that sent the letter was their partner. It was necessary to avoid even the unlikely event that the document inside will be damaged, that it will not be possible to read it.
Seeing how Masaki's eyes reading the letter stopped, Gouki turned his head to him and asked:
"...What is written there?"
"...it is an invitation."
"Where?"
"Juumonji-dono proposes to collect magicians under 30 from "the 28
houses" and discuss the issue of countering the anti-magic movement.
The time is next Sunday, the place is the branch of the Kanto Magic Association."
"Next Sunday? That's pretty soon."
Masaki felt the same thing that Gouki expressed aloud. It seems that because of the difference in experience, Gouki was faster, but Masaki also thought so.
"It seems that Juumonji-dono does not want to be interrupted."
"Disturbed? Who can do this?"
Kichijouji, for example, would quickly understand the so-called duty of Gouki. However, Masaki has not yet reached such a level (in the sphere of conspiracies and intrigues).
"For example, the defense forces. Or the police."
"...Does the government intervene in the affairs of the Ten Master Clans?"
"That possibility is also there."
Explaining to his puzzled son, Gouki did not try to convince him. This was the educational policy of Gouki, in which Masaki must independently understand everything and come to an agreement.
"By the way, what are you going to do?"
Gouki asked instead of explaining. Masaki was not so stupid as to not understand what he was talking about.
"I will participate. I'm worried about the possibility of an attack, but that does not mean that I can skip this event."
"That's right."
Gouki approved Masaki's decision. He also did not think that he would receive objections, but now the alarm of uncertainty was clearly dispelled. Instead, another alarm arose in Masaki's mind.
"Father... In such cases, you must also respond with a letter?"
"Of course." Gouki replied briefly, however, unfortunately, Masaki never worked on drafting official documents for communication in the circle of the Ten Master Clans.
"...What should I write?"
At the son who asked with a lost voice, Gouki looked with pity.
The evening of the ninth of April.
Back home from the University of Katsuto received a report that he was waiting for a guest. He asked the housekeeper, who reported this, how long she was waiting. She replied that it was about half an hour. Hearing this, Katsuto hurried into the living room, not changing clothes. Despite the fact that the visitor came without an invitation, Katsuto was not a person who would be rude about dealing with partners.
"Sorry for the wait."
A woman in a business suit stood up and bowed to Katsuto, who had entered the drawing room and apologized.
"For my part, I also apologize for coming during your absence."
"Nothing wrong. But if you'd let me know, I'd have come home earlier."
At the criticizing words of Katsuto, the woman showed an apologetic look. With Katsuto calling back to the sofa, they sat down at the same time.
"Long time no see. I'm late, but I congratulate you on the succession of the Juumonji family rule."
"Thank you. I thought we'd see each other at the Master Clans Conference in February."
"Ara, I apologize for that. As you should know, according to the policy of my family, I focus on military service... And my younger brother deals with the affairs of the Tooyama family."
As she herself said, she was from the Tooyama family of Eighteen Replacement Families. Its name is Tooyama Tsukasa. But in the army she is known as Tooyama Tsukasa.
[Last name in the first case is written ? ?, in the second ??. It is read alike by ear. About the fact that the Japanese are not surprised by the equally sounding names, knowing that they can be written in different ways, was told in the first volumes.
I will use the writing of Tooyama for the real name with the Number
"10" (?) and the writing of Tooyama for the "fake" name. In the text, both names will meet repeatedly.]
You do not even need to say that this is nothing more than hiding a real name, but in her case, her boss is also aware of this. Thanks to the secret agreement of the Tooyama family and influential personalities who were pulling strings in the secret information sphere, as well as managers of the army's intelligence department, she concealed her social status and engaged in activities that were outlawed.
"In that case, do you have any business today concerning defense forces?"
"No, I did not mean that."
Tooyama Tsukasa briefly answered by denying Katsuto's question, without any gestures and with a smile, in which there was absolutely no emotion.
"Then, what's your business?"
Tsukasa did not show disgust on her face about this impatient behavior of Katsuto in a formal conversation. Tsukasa this year is 24 years old. She is 4
years older than Katsuto. However, despite the age difference, it was difficult to maintain the usual calm before Katsuto. She, undoubtedly, was also brought up with manners suitable to the wearer of the number "10"
[?] in the surname.
"It's about the invitation received from Katsuto-san."I'm really sorry, but in a situation in which, as you know, the Tooyama family is located, we are forced to ask for our absence."
"That's it... Sorry, there's nothing to be done."
"The situation of the Tooyama family", about which Tsukasa said, was the connection between the Tooyama family and the army.
The Tooyama family was established by the Tenth Laboratory (Tenth Magician Design Institute) as the last line of defense of the capital region.
Unlike the Juumonji family set up to intercept missile and mechanized forces, the Tooyama family was aimed at defending key points and escorting important individuals after the breakthrough of primary defense.
The Tooyama family are magicians not to protect citizens, but to protect the functions of the state. Their relationship with the key figures of the army is the strongest among the "28 families". They will assist in the preservation of key people at the time of the state of emergency. This is the task of the Tooyama family. Because of this nature, the Tooyama family is considered a shadow, or even a "dark" part of the defense forces.
"Ten Master Clans" was the mechanism that magicians did not become a
"used and thrown out" political tool. They were created as an organization that can adequately respond to a country called Japan.
However, the Tooyama family, being part of the "Ten Master Clans"
system, will never become one of these Ten, because it is forbidden to defend the interests of magicians from the state, as one of the Ten Master Clans.
"And what about the reason for the absence?"
This fact was known only by the Juumonji family made in the same Tenth Laboratory. Perhaps there were other families who knew about this, but pretended to be ignorant. However, the only partner that the Tooyama family could reveal their position to was the Juumonji family.
If the Tooyama family is absent from the meeting, its position as a member of the "28 families" may deteriorate.
"That's what I wanted to talk about. I want to borrow Katsuto-san's wisdom by any means."
Even having the power of the army behind him, it would be a great omission to be expelled from the society created by magicians in the same laboratories. Therefore, Tsukasa asked him to help her with an excuse not to do this. ...But even in this case, she did not look worried.
"Even if you said wisdom, I'm not so gifted in such matters..."
Katsuto also felt it. There was no zeal in response to the response.
And yet, Tsukasa was not bothered by this frankness of Katsuto.
"In addition to the Tooyama family, were there other families who reported they were unavailable?
For Katsuto, who only just took the post of head of the Juumonji family, this was the first collection of magicians from 28 families, and the first attempt to gather everyone at the meeting. Refusing to participate was quite difficult psychologically. In addition, they could not get rid of the worry that they would miss important conversations and that any decisions could be made without them.
However, in any case, this was a hasty conversation. Are there any other families that refused to participate, except us? Naturally, such a question arose in the mind of Tsukasa.
"So far, only a few answers have come, but... I already received a letter with apologies about the absence from the Tanabata family."
"For what reason?"
Katsuto frowned reflexively at Tsukasa's bullet-ridden question. It's hard to say that the desire to know the contents of other people's letters conformed to the rules of etiquette.
"Is it not the reason that the heir-donor visits the Defense Academy?"
However, while Katsuto hesitated with an answer, Tsukasa answered herself.
"...Exactly."
Her reasoning was absolutely correct, and Katsuto had only to reluctantly agree.
"'Exactly,' then, the same student of the Defense Academy, the son of the family of Issiki, as well as the sons of the families Goto and Hassak, also involved in the affairs of the army, will also be absent?"
"...Tsukasa-san, I would ask you not to talk about it with such joy."
Having said this, Katsuto showed Tsukasa his passive consent.
"What a relief. Then, perhaps, my family Tooyama will be absent for the same reason."
"...I understand."
Katsuto agreed with an upset face that contrasted with the smiling Tsukasa. He did not like the attitude of Tsukasa, with a smile that gave a kick to his invitation, but because he knew about the circumstances of the connection between the Tooyama family and the army, he could not force them to take part.
Katsuto gradually grew tired of the company Tsukasa.
This was different from the ever-present feeling of discomfort in conversations with Mayumi. Mayumi does not have malicious intent, even if it looks bad. She is inherently a good person.
Tsukasa, in turn, lacks malice, but there are no good intentions either.
She does not have such a point of view that someone may be dissatisfied with her ideas. Although her own feelings and emotions are well organized, she easily ignores other people's feelings.
However, while this does not prevent the task, this is much worse, because it does not contradict the rules and morals. She is not a robot without emotions, and not even a stranger with other values. But to get results without any inconvenience, in conversation with her fatigue will accumulate at a fast pace.
But her business is already over, only the exchange of farewells has been left, thought Katsuto.
"By the way."
This turned out to be a false conclusion, based on observation and desire.
"Will the heir of the Yotsuba family Shiba Miyuki-san and her fiancé Shiba Tatsuya-san attend the meeting?"
"...I have not received an answer yet, but I think they will visit."
"Katsuto-san is familiar with these two, are you not?"
"They are Kohai from First High ."
With a friendly smile on her face, Tsukasa looked into Katsuto's eyes.
Instead of bright light, there was an obscure abyss in my eyes.
"What kind of people are they?"
"I was not close with them, so I do not know the details of the character."
"Can you just tell me everything you know? Despite the fact that they are people of the secretive Yotsuba family, how can they understand that they want to show up at this meeting?"
(Clearly, is that her goal?)
Only now Katsuto realized the true purpose of Tsukasa.
If you think about it, although there was a purpose to find out what to justify, but it is impossible for Tsukasa to visit him only for the reason to report absence. She is a member of an organization that is tirelessly fighting internecine strife on the shadow side of society. She is also an important person, playing an important role. As an envoy of the Tooyama family, there is another suitable person.
Katsuto realized that she came to him to get information about the magicians of Yotsuba, under the guise of apologies for the absence.
Katsuto could also reject her request. He did not have to answer to her question in detail.
"As for the heir, I'm not very sure."
As a result, considering that he cannot remain silent, Katsuto started talking.
"But the groom, in matters of loyalty is a strict man."
"Is strict?"
Tsukasa's doubt was natural for a normal person. But in her voice she heard that she was asking, already knowing the meaning of Katsuto's words.
"Entering into an alliance, he will never betray. But he will also betray the betrayal. I think that Shiba Tatsuya-dono is such a person."
"That's how..."
Tsukasa pondered briefly, suspending the conversation.
"...And if he is betrayed by the government, no, the army, do you think it will be the same?"
"He will not help the enemy by going against the state."
"Is it only to show hostility to the military leadership and government leaders?"
"He's not a stupid man who will show hostility on his part."
Katsuto responded in a calm, but strong-willed tone to Tsukasa's question, which seemed to be trying to talk in an alarming direction.
"So, still, there is no absolute loyalty?"
"In the end, it's just what I see in Shiba Tatsuya-dono. I think, even if there is no loyalty to people, there is loyalty to the country."
"I believe that the self-righteous patriot is as bad as a fanatical pacifist."
"Neither patriots nor pacifists are evil. If they really do not hurt, they will not interfere with internal affairs."
Katsuto's sharp gaze collided with the soft gaze of Tsukasa.
"No, really. The Tooyama family will have no business with the Yotsuba family."
Katsuto frowned. With clearly pretending face Tsukasa finished her long-cooled tea.
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