Chapter 2
The profession of Shibata Katsushige, the next head of the Shibata family, one of the side branches of the Yotsuba, officially meant that he worked as the Secretary for the Ministry of Defense.
Katsushige’s Magic combat power was extremely high, but instead of using magic in battle himself, his work was to reflect on how to use magic in battle.
In South America, Africa and Central Asia there were still many battles, but East Asia and the western part of the Pacific region have been in a state of calm since autumn of the 19th year. Thanks to this, many employees of the Ministry of Defense did not work overtime and left early.
The day after the media raised a big hype (ordinary citizens who had no relation to magic, did not even know about the topic) around the disclosure of the identity of Taurus Silver.
After leaving the office at 19 o'clock, Katsushige didn’t go home, but to a hotel in the center of the city. Although it was not a first class hotel, whose name was known even abroad, it was popular among businessmen for delicious food and an acceptable level of safety.
In the restaurant of the aforementioned hotel, he quickly found the person with whom he had a scheduled meeting. Naturally, he found him quickly, because here, everything was arranged in the form of separate rooms, and he knew which room to go to.
"Hi. I'm sorry I called."
He was dressed in a regular suit of a man of the same age as Katsushige’s father.
Even to Katsushige, who knows his occupation, he looked like an ordinary businessman.
"No. It's all because my dad couldn't come. Forgive us for the impolite change of the contact person."
"No, no, no. Asking for a meeting so suddenly is a thoughtless act from me. Here I have to apologize."
"If you say so, then I am grateful, Kuroba-san."
Like Katsushige said, the partner he met was Kuroba Mitsugu, head of the Kuroba family, one of the side branches of the same Yotsuba family.
At the invitation of Mitsugu, Katsushige sat down. Mitsugu also sat down at the same time. The waiter, who entered the room with Katsushige, came to the table. Mitsugu and Katsushige only ordered sake and light snacks and let the waiter go.
"So."
Mitsugu straightened out, and then slightly bent over the table.
"Today I called for an important reason. We need to talk about him."
"Are you talking about Tatsuya-kun?"
Mitsugu said "about him" unclearly, but Katsushige easily guessed the person he meant was Tatsuya. But Mitsugu did not make a mistake, and did not make a gloomy face.
"Right. Yesterday the identity of Taurus Silver, in the end, became well-known. What do you think, Katsushige-kun?"
"Was it not inevitable when Edward Clark made it clear that he knew the name of Taurus Silver? Although it is unfavorable for the Yotsuba family, but I do not think that Tatsuya-kun is to blame."
The answer Katsushige gave was not what Mitsugu expected.
"But don't you think that this situation could have been avoided if he hadn't entered First High and obediently sat at home? Because it is obvious that 'project Dione' takes into account not only the achievements of Taurus Silver, but also the experiment 'Stellar Furnace', which he did last spring."
Katsushige shook his head at the words of Mitsugu.
"Admission to First High was not Tatsuya-kun’s intention. It was inevitable because of the Yotsuba family's sentinel system."
"Katsushige-kun may not know, but after the incident Yokohama the head-sama ordered him to drop out of school and sit under house arrest.
But he did not obey and continued to attend First High. If he were to disappear from the stage at that moment, he would never have been noticed."
"No. After using Material Burst, it was only a matter of time before Tatsuya-kun would be discovered behind the scenes by international politics, only this would have happened in another form. Besides, at that moment it was impossible not to use Material Burst. Without this magic, Japan would have suffered immense damage."
"Is that so? There is the Yatsushiro family in Kyushu. If there is a battle at sea, the Itsuwa family will depart. In naval battles, the Itsuwa family has a great battle force even without the use of 'Abyss' by Mio-Jo. The Great Asian Alliance is a strong enemy, but I don't think we'd lose to them if we hadn't used the Material Burst."
"Even so. At that stage there was no other choice but to use Material Burst. In war, Victory is not always the best way out, but it does not mean that you have to lose. After the invasion of the country, the forces for the next battle would remain less. Not only time, but also economic power is needed to replenish the combat force. If you look at the Great Asian Alliance, suffering from the consequences of the monstrous attack of Material Burst, you will understand."
Mitsugu had nothing to object to. He knew and understood it even without these words.
"... I understand your thoughts that his magic is irreplaceable for National Defense. Then it is even more impossible to let him go to America."
Mitsugu changed his approach.
"Yes."
Katsushige only briefly expressed his consent.
"In that case, should he be protected by the Yotsuba family? And the USNA government can surrender if, for example, he dies suddenly."
Mitsugu, who received the approval from his words, gathered his strength and said what he wanted.
"And if he, moreover, will be killed by 'Humanists', it should reduce the worsening public opinion about magicians."
"Really."
"In this case... Kuroba-san."
Using as a pretext the will of one of the side branches, Mitsugu was going to ask Maya for Tatsuya to be caught and locked away. But Katsushige abruptly interrupted Mitsugu’s speech, in which he wanted to ask for cooperation.
"I couldn’t understand why all the heads of the side branches look at Tatsuya-kun with such hostility."
Katsushige said "couldn't" in the past tense: So Mitsugu already understood the meaning of this sentence.
"So the other day I checked it out, and I asked my dad. He did not want to confess for a long time, but in the end he told everything."
"... I see."
The people of Mitsugu’s generation promised to keep this story secret.
But Mitsugu did not feel that he should criticize the head of the Shibata family, understanding his motives. No, it is right to say that he had no right to criticize. Because Mitsugu himself was the first to reveal the secret. Despite the fact that the one he disclosed it to was Tatsuya himself.
"Kuroba-san. I can't agree with you and my father. To be hostile towards Tatsuya-kun is wrong."
The voice of the waiter was heard from outside the room.
They briefly interrupted the conversation, waited for the waiter to put glasses on the table with chilled sake and left the room, and then continued.
"... But he's dangerous."
"One person possesses the power to destroy the whole world. One influential person has access to a 'button' that can destroy the whole world. One government possesses a military force capable of destroying the entire world. Of these three concepts, the first two seem to differ in nature from the latter, but in their essence they are all the same thing. As far as how 'democratic' the country is, its military force is always ready for use. Otherwise there would be no point. There is no point in maintaining military capabilities if the country itself is destroyed while democratic procedures are in place. Civilian control is what deters influential people from willful use of the army in fear of losing office, and stops the use of already applied force. In the presence of a system capable of completely discontinuing the use of military force, in any case it will be impossible to properly defend from, even when preparing in advance."
"However, instead of the complete absence of brakes, it is better to have at least some. Even if it is only a partial limitation."
"You're right. Therefore, dictators should not be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. Military power must be under civilian control. But Kuroba-san. Influential people elected by Democratic vote can also turn the key to launch strategic nuclear missiles. Even if the startup key is divided between several people, it is necessary to understand that the owners of these keys are chosen by influential people themselves, without the participation of voters."
"...This is an extreme argument."
"The fact that Tatsuya-kun will destroy the world is also an extreme argument."
"If you think so, the use of weapons of mass destruction by dictators is also an extreme argument."
"No. A dictator is called a dictator because the structure of his power is arranged so that no one can stop him. It's different with a normal person.
You can't interfere with a person's thoughts. What a man thinks, what he decides, cannot be stopped by other people. But if it is an ordinary person, not a dictator, then they can be influenced to be stopped. You can limit them to change their mind. He can be persuaded."
"...Are you saying that ordinary people are closer to influential people from the democratic government than to dictators?"
"People living alone... No, people who think they live alone will be closer to dictators. However, those who wish to live with someone, people who feel that they cannot live alone, cannot become dictators."
"..."
"Kuroba-san. It is not necessary to consider Tatsuya-kun a dictator. If you really care about the future of the world, then he should not remain alone. Sorry for the rudeness, but what you want to do will only backfire. This will not only harm the fighting power of our country. As a result, it will harm the future of the world."
"...Is that your opinion?"
"I came here instead of my father. You might have guessed from this fact."
Katsushige got up.
"Kuroba-san. Be realistic."
Finally having said this, Mitsugu continued to sit, while Katsushige went home, where he was waiting for Kotona and he cooked her dinner.
At the same time, when Mitsugu and Katsushige parted in a tense atmosphere.
At the headquarters of the Magic Association in Kyoto, the Chairman of the Association, Tomitsuka Hitsui sat at the desk in her office, clutching her head.
Before her eyes on the table lay a document containing an urgent request from the USNA. It said that Edward Clark plans to visit Japan and asks to organize a meeting with Taurus Silver, that is with Shiba Tatsuya.
"Ah-ah, that's it! What do you think I should do?"
Hitsui hysterically shouted, looking at the document lying on the table.
"No, I know what to do! We need to arrange a meeting with Shiba Tatsuya!"
Still holding on to her head, she chided herself. Hitsui’s head was boiling.
"Yes, it is understandable..."
As a result, an exhausted Hitsui’s face fell on the table.
"But I have no such power..."
Still with her face lying on the table, Hitsui sighed deeply.
"I give up... I can't..."
Hitsui slowly lifted the upper half of her body from the table.
"This Saturday... It's too urgent, and it feels like the situation will only get worse..."
She looked at a small display standing on the side table on the side of her desk. An overview of the latest news was displayed there.
"Taurus Silver will hold a press conference the day before that?
Why of all the days exactly the day before? Yes, and what does he want to talk about?"
Reflection over it, Hitsui decided it wasn't that bad.
"Why does all this happens when I am the Chairman..."
Her head collapsed on the table again.
It was late evening, after 21 o'clock, when Maya called Tatsuya.
"I'm sorry about the time."
"No, I've been waiting for this call. Many thanks."
"Don't worry. It's about my promise."
Indeed, when they spoke last time, Maya said she was arranging a meeting with Toudou Aobo. But Tatsuya didn't expect Maya to call in person to report it.
"Did you get a meeting time from His Excellency Toudou?" Tatsuya asked, hiding his surprise, having made a face expressing nothing.
"Yes, that's right. Looks like he's ready to meet you tomorrow at 7:00
p.m."
Maya had a smile, showing that she noticed the excitement of Tatsuya, but she did nothing so hostile, like reproach him for it.
"Where will the meeting take place?"
"In the Temple of Kyuuchouji *. I heard that Kokonoe Yakumo-san will be present at the meeting."
[The name of the temple is written in the same characters as "Kokonoe", but it is read differently]
This time Tatsuya could not hide his surprise. Maya giggled, as if saying, "I caught you."
"...Sorry. But I was also surprised to learn about it, and Tatsuya-san, I see, is also surprised. Now I feel a little calmer."
"I'm surprised. Is the master somehow involved in this?"
"His Excellency and Yakumo-san seem to have been well acquainted for quite some time. But the connection between them is a mystery."
"I thought so too."
Tatsuya responded quickly, but in reality, together with a strong surprise, had tormenting doubts.
The one who introduced Tatsuya to Yakumo was Kazama. Officially, they do not have any connection to the Yotsuba. He communicated directly with Kazama and with Yakumo. He thought that their words could be trusted, considering that the 101 Independent Magic Equipped Battalion secretly quarreled with the Ten Master Clans.
However, everything changed with this additional information about the friendly (how close this "Friendship" is, is unclear) relationship between Yakumo and Toudou Aoba.
Tatsuya and Yakumo’s relationship isn’t one of disciple and teacher.
This was decided at their first meeting.
They were only sparring partners for magic martial arts training, Yakumo has taught Tatsuya nothing. He was taking questions, but he could not answer them. Such was the agreement about his visits to Yakumo.
However, Tatsuya learned a lot from Yakumo. For example, without the help of Yakumo, he would have hardly been able to complete the development of "Far Strike" needed to confront the parasites.
Also, although Yakumo’s position about "answers to questions" has not changed, Tatsuya has received a lot of knowledge from Yakumo, even in cases where this knowledge corresponded to "A question that he cannot answer."
Tatsuya thought it was just some kind of fad for Yakumo. He felt that Yakumo, whom he had not known at the time, had done it for some purpose. He also suspected that it might have been a plan to separate him from the Yotsuba family so that he fell under the control of the self-defense forces. However, the more he communicated with Yakumo, the more scattered these suspicions became.
But doesn't that mean he should have thought that?
Yakumo was not easy. No, according to Tatsuya’s judgment, he was an uncontrollable suspicious man. However, Tatsuya for some reason trusted Yakumo...
"Well, then tomorrow at 7 o'clock in the evening I will visit the temple of Kyuuchouji. Thank you very much for the information."
Answering Maya, Tatsuya tried to remain vigilant in order not to show his anxiety.
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