"Not at all. I must apologize for dropping in unannounced while you were away."
"Please, don't be. Had you given advance notice, I could have returned sooner."
After exchanging modest pleasantries, Katsuto gestured for her to sit, and they both settled onto the sofas simultaneously.
"It has been a while. Allow me to offer my belated congratulations on assuming the headship of the Juumonji family."
"Thank you. I had hoped to see you at the Master Clan Council meeting in February."
"That was remiss of me. As you may know, my family's policy prioritizes military service, so I have left matters regarding the Toyama family entirely to my younger brother."
Just as she stated, she belonged to the Toyama family—one of the Eighteen Assistant Clans. Her name was Tsukasa Toyama. However, within the National Defense Force, she served under the name Tsukasa Tooyama.
While technically a clear case of identity misrepresentation, her superiors in the Intelligence Department of the Defense Force were well aware of it. Thanks to a covenant between the Toyama family and the shadowy powerbrokers who effectively controlled the Army Intelligence Department, she served in the military under a covert identity.
"In that case, are you visiting today on behalf of the National Defense Force?"
"No, that is not the case."
"Then, what brings you here today?"
Despite Tsukasa's polite, emotionless smile, Katsuto pressed straight to the point. Tsukasa showed no sign of annoyance at his directness. Though she was four years his senior, maintaining such composure around someone of Katsuto's stature was difficult even for older peers. Her poise was likely a byproduct of bearing the weight of the number "Ten" in her surname, much like Katsuto himself.
However, underlying Katsuto's urgency was the strained history between the Juumonji and Toyama families. More specifically, the Juumonji family had recently drawn cold, watchful stares not only from the Kamiizumi family but also from the Kagurazaka family—all due to scheming orchestrated by the woman sitting right in front of him.
That scheme was the ambush targeting Yugen Kagurazaka (who went by the name Yuto Nagano at the time), led by the National Defense Force Intelligence Department. The attack, planned after labeling him a "threat," thoroughly enraged Gozo Kamiizumi, the head of the Kamiizumi family at the time. To make matters worse, the operation had been tacitly approved by a powerful shadow figure within the "Elder Council"—an act of internal betrayal ordering an attack on the family of one of the Four Grand Elders within their own organization.
In the fallout, the Saegusa family—who had turned a blind eye to the military's raid—was forced to pay heavy penalties, while the Yotsuba family officially assumed guardianship and oversight of the Chubu and Tokai regions. Caught in the wake of the Saegusa family's blunders, the Juumonji family also suffered significant fallout. They were forced to hire several disciples of the Shinkage-ryu sword school as part of their penalty, and the Kamiizumi family legitimately acquired a controlling stake in companies owned by the Juumonji family. While one could generously view it as gaining the backing of the Kamiizumi family, in reality, it placed the Juumonji family under strict Kamiizumi surveillance.
Furthermore, the target of that past ambush was now the President of the Master Clan Council and current head of the Guardian Kagurazaka family. Honestly, it would not have been surprising if the Toyama family had been stripped of their status among the Twenty-Eight Master Clans due to incurring his wrath. Yet here she was, visiting unannounced. As the new head of the Juumonji family, Katsuto could not entirely shake off his suspicion toward an uninvited guest.
Still, since she wasn't displaying any overt hostility, Katsuto prioritized hearing her business over interrogating her about the unannounced visit.
"I am here regarding the invitation you sent out, Katsuto-san. I am deeply sorry, but given the circumstances my family currently faces, the Toyama family must decline."
"Is that so... Then it cannot be helped."
The Toyama family originated from the Tenth Research Institute—a facility dedicated to developing specialized magicians. While the Juumonji family focused on "anti-military defense" against threats like missiles and mechanized units, the Toyama family specialized in defending state infrastructure—specifically "VIP protection."
If the former existed to protect the nation and its territory, the latter existed to safeguard the functioning mechanisms of government. Consequently, the Toyama family maintained deep ties with the core of the National Defense Force. Bound by their mandate to protect key figures during emergencies, they had embedded themselves deeply into the darker operations of the military.
The original purpose of the Ten Master Clans was to form a unified front so that magicians wouldn't be exploited and discarded by state power. Under the active intervention of the two Guardian Families, the alliance was being restructured into a far more effective organization than the framework once proposed by Retsu Kudou.
Even so, Katsuto felt that a simple letter would have sufficed to decline the invitation. He saw no reason why the Toyama family couldn't come up with a plausible excuse on their own, given their resources and political experience.
"What reason will you be citing for your absence?"
"That is actually what I came to consult you about. I would be most grateful to borrow your wisdom on the matter, Katsuto-san."
The only family fully aware of the internal affairs of the Toyama family was the Juumonji family. However, Tsukasa's involvement in the previous military attack on Yugen had been disclosed to all members when Yugen assumed the position of Council President. Although presented with the caveat that it was a "resolved matter," the Toyama family—one of the Twenty-Eight Master Clans—had effectively picked a fight with the Guardian Kamiizumi family. As a result, the Juumonji family couldn't even attempt to shield them, and the remaining twenty-six families viewed the Toyamas with cold detachment.
"Even if you ask me, I am afraid I cannot come up with a convenient excuse for you."
"...On a side note, have any other families requested to decline the invitation besides the Toyama family?"
This gathering marked Katsuto's very first initiative addressing the Twenty-Eight Master Clans since taking over as head of the Juumonji family. Politically, declining such an invite was difficult, and Katsuto possessed no petty desire to ostracize anyone over a refusal.
However, for other families, passing up potential opportunities was too significant a loss. Even so, given how suddenly the meeting was called, Tsukasa likely guessed that some families might genuinely be unable to attend—which prompted her question.
"We have only received a few responses so far, but the Tanabata family sent a letter of apology stating they will be declining."
"What reason did they provide? Could it be because their next head is currently enrolled in the National Defense Academy?"
"...That is correct."
Katsuto frowned slightly at how casually she pried into the contents of another family's private correspondence. However, wanting to avoid prolonged probing, he acknowledged her accurate guess.
"In that case, the Isshiki family—whose son is also at the Defense Academy—as well as the Gotou and Hassaku families, whose sons are currently in military service, will likely decline as well."
"...Tsukasa-san. Please refrain from sounding so pleased about it. Furthermore, we have already received a letter from the Isshiki family indicating their intention to attend."
Though he didn't share the finer details with Tsukasa, the Isshiki family—a recent addition to the Ten Master Clans—was indeed sending a representative. While their son could not make it, their daughter was currently attending Third High. The letter from the Isshiki family humbly noted that she would be attending on their behalf.
"Is that so? At any rate, the Toyama family will be declining for similar reasons."
"...Understood."
In stark contrast to Tsukasa's smiling demeanor, Katsuto maintained a somber, tight-lipped expression. Tsukasa's nonchalant attitude—smiling as she casually brushed off his invitation—was undeniably irritating. Yet, knowing the delicate position of the Toyama family, he was in no position to force the issue.
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