The factor was Toko, his fourth-ranked fiancée. She was the second daughter of the Shijuukuin family, but her father was a former Imperial Prince who had renounced his royal status to marry. Moreover, due to the Kagurazaka family's policies, the current Emperor had many children, and Toko's father was the Emperor's fourth son—meaning he was the Crown Prince's younger brother.
Senhime's father, who had also renounced his royal status, was royalty, but the degree of kinship cleared any issues easily. Therefore, the Imperial family didn't need to go through the trouble of forcing an Imperial Princess onto Yugen. Incidentally, it seemed even Toko herself didn't know this fact, and right about now, she was probably undergoing rigorous education at the Shijuukuin household without even time to be surprised.
(Moreover, these two are key characters in the original story...)
Liu Leilei was the indirect cause of Masaki releasing the Strategic Class Magic Ocean Blast, and Effia was the person who created the cause for Tatsuya being driven into a state of near-confinement in Izu due to the Active Air Mine. Putting the former aside, when he investigated the latter's current status, it seemed she had obtained French citizenship and become a military magician with a rank in the French Army.
Increasing the number further was honestly depressing, but if he took in Effia Mensah, he could cut her off from Africa and simultaneously provide one Strategic Class Magic user to France, potentially crushing Edward Clark's schemes.
Masaki's peace of mind and Tatsuya's peace of mind were not necessarily equal in Yugen's eyes. Especially with Liu Leilei; one wrong step could lead to a combat route with the New Soviet Union. Taking in Effia would require explaining things to the other fiancées, but he would just have to accept that as a necessary expense.
Regarding engagements with royalty-class individuals, he had just sent an email to Senhime saying that thanks to the Airi connection, he had enough, but he might be willing to add Effia Mensah to the ranking. Just then, there was a knock on the door. When Yugen invited them in, Miyuki peeked her face out from behind the door.
"Yugen-san, could you come to the living room?"
"The living room?"
"Yes, Aunt wants to consult with you about something."
He thought Tatsuya and Miyuki had already finished contacting Maya, but Miyuki conveyed that Maya wanted to consult Yugen. He assumed he would at least be told about the school protest and the engagement to Miyuki.
Since he had reached a stopping point with his work in his room, Yugen stood up and went to the door. Miyuki hugged his arm, clinging to him. She tended to be affectionate when no one was around, so he had long resigned himself to it. As he was practically dragged by Miyuki to the living room, he saw Maya and Tatsuya exchanging words on the monitor.
Then, Tatsuya noticed Yugen and Miyuki and turned his gaze toward them. Sensing that Maya had likely been digging for information regarding the fiancées, Yugen stood next to Tatsuya, while Miyuki let go of his arm and stood beside Yugen.
『Good evening. And I'm sorry, Yugen-kun. You were resting.』
"Good evening, Maya-san. I was just doing some family work. So, Maya-san, you had a matter to consult?"
『Actually, it's about what I just discussed with Tatsuya and Miyuki-san. A letter of inquiry regarding Miyuki-san's engagement arrived from the Ichijou family.』
"A letter of inquiry?"
In the original story, they had interfered with Tatsuya and Miyuki's engagement. In Yugen's case, he had discussed the worst-case scenario (suspicion regarding the relative decline in ability of the Twenty-Eight Families due to leaving the Ten Master Clans, and the credibility of the Ten Master Clans' title of "strongest"). However, as a result, the Ichijou family had changed their approach to a gentler "letter of inquiry" rather than a marriage proposal.
『I initially thought they would object to your engagement with Miyuki-san and then propose an engagement between Ichijou Masaki-kun and Miyuki-san. But Yugen-kun is Senhime-san's adopted son and now the head of the Kagurazaka. Even Lord Ichijou likely decided he didn't want to pick a fight with the Kagurazaka family head.』
"I see... (Mother said I would take the name upon graduating high school, but she probably sped it up to prevent strange interference.)"
Even at high school graduation, he would be 18 when taking the name, so the original schedule was moved up by a little over a year. The Kyoto 'Sanctuary' and 'Traditionalist' matters were originally strategies anticipating the future decline of the Kudo family, but they ended up serving as "gilding" for his succession as Kagurazaka head.
It seemed Maya had also anticipated Yugen's assumption. Apparently, not only Maya but Hayama as well tilted their heads in confusion at the format of a "letter of inquiry" rather than a proposal.
『I cannot approve of anyone other than Yugen-san as Miyuki-san's fiancé. It also serves as a punishment for those who have treated Tatsuya with contempt. So, I am troubled as to how to reply.』
"Is that so..."
If they had simply proposed an engagement, a refusal at the appropriate time—likely during the Master Clans Conference—would suffice. But since the letter mentioned considering Masaki's feelings, Maya probably didn't know what the correct response was.
Seeing Yugen ponder this, Tatsuya asked:
"Yugen, what are you worried about?"
"No, it's just that I beat Masaki to a pulp in the Nine Schools Competition. According to George, the rumor that Miyuki and I are dating at First High is known at Third High via network bulletin boards."
He kept in touch with Shinkuro frequently, and Shinkuro had asked about the rumors concerning Yugen and Miyuki. Since there was no concern warranting a denial, Yugen had confirmed it. However, when Masaki heard the rumor, he strongly denied it, saying, "It's just a rumor; they didn't show any signs of that," so Shinkuro didn't press the topic further.
"He's convinced himself strongly enough to deny the rumors. His father, Lord Ichijou, probably wanted to make an offer, but Masaki's sister Akane-chan or Lord Ichijou's wife likely stopped him... Still, I don't think he'll give up just because of a decision made by parents."
Whether Yugen was using the name Mitsuya during the Nine Schools Competition the year before last and last year, or after changing to Kagurazaka, losing didn't change Masaki's approach to Miyuki. If Shinkuro had guessed it, then Airi, Toko, and Shiori must have heard the rumors too. It was logical to think that the actions before the Thesis Competition were the result of that.
Author's Note:
In the original story, the situation in the African continent is only conveyed in fragments, so apart from the Great Asian Alliance and France (supporting armed groups), other country names don't really appear. The UK is undoubtedly involved regarding the Suez Canal.
Effia's appearance is never described, so if I introduce her in the future, I have to imagine it completely. There is a possibility she might reappear in "Magian Company," but I can't rule it out. In this work, I might give her an appearance considering the historical background... though that's just a plan for now.
Regarding Liu Leilei, if I change her storyline, it would alter the African situation and the power balance with the New Soviet Union, and potentially lock in a war route with Japan, so she is not a candidate. In the worst case, I'll push her onto Masaki (lol).
The problem is that the route of provision for the "Active Air Mine" never appears. To begin with, I don't think the "Index" itself is something that can be viewed easily (and it's extremely mysterious whether that registration actually guarantees the secrecy of the magic).
In the protagonist—Yugen's—case, he improved the "Air Sail Shield" listed in the "Index" to create "Aqua Dolphin," but he got through that by using his father's authority.
Looking at the "Blanche" incident alone, university data with high security levels—especially Activation Sequence data—should require considerable confidentiality... The media storming the university was likely instigated by the Clark father and son. And the intentional leak of information regarding the attack from the Great Asian Alliance side and the counterattack by "Active Air Mine" was likely the work of him, Raymond, or another operator (since MacLeod also benefits from the system, regardless of the operator, the possibility is high).
To begin with, it is strange that no one seriously pursued the feat of stealing a Tactical Class Magic from Japan, which is in a state of peace with the Great Asian Alliance, and handing it to a local armed group supported by France.
After all, it connects directly to the issue of trust in government agencies, namely "damaging the reliability of secrecy regarding the National Magic University's 'Index'." It couldn't be helped that the existence of an insider was suspected, but the university likely had to act tough because there were no traces of unauthorized access to the system... If no one knew of a system that made such things possible, everyone would become suspicious, and as a result, the spearhead turned toward Tatsuya, who was registered as the developer.
Basically, it's strange in itself that the Magic University sent multiple appeals to Tatsuya, a high school student, asking him to register. Perhaps they thought it would work given the precedent of "Cardinal George," but it's also possible the Clark duo's schemes were already in play at this point.
Since Raymond recognized Tatsuya as the user of the Strategic Class Magic "Material Burst" at the time of the Parasite incident, he likely deduced that among the people entering and leaving FLT's Third Development Division, the one with the highest possibility of possessing superior technical skills was Tatsuya—meaning he deduced Tatsuya was "Taurus Silver".
Not long after announcing Flight Magic, the fact that he demonstrated Flight Magic in practice at the Nine Schools Competition might have attracted the interest of the Clark duo. In the original story, the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion annihilated a unit using Flight Magic, but in this work, thanks to the "Shinkai," that part's secrecy has been maintained.
The reason he didn't call his partner Ushiyama "Taurus Silver" was likely because it was heavily blocked by the Yotsuba family, and judging by the achievements in programming (Loop Cast System, Thought-Operation CAD, etc.), he might have deduced it was extremely difficult for Ushiyama, a born craftsman.
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