Facing Miyuki's confusion, Tatsuya voiced a single possibility.
"...'Taurus Silver.' He intends to use that as the pretext to exile us."
"Most likely. But even if we were to accept it, I plan to demand an outrageously high price. For instance... demanding they hand over the USNA's SIGINT system, Echelon III."
It was a condition extreme enough to make Princess Kaguya step back and say, "Wait, even I wouldn't go that far..." aimed not only at the USNA, but the International Magic Association. If they couldn't accept it, he would announce not only TOB (Takeover Bids) for Maximilian Devices, major CAD manufacturers, and media outlets, but also the total liquidation of all US-treasury bonds he personally held.
"That... I hardly think the other side will accept."
"I have no intention of letting them accept. Setting Tatsuya aside, I am entrusted with the defense of this country under the trust of both the Retired Emperor and the Current Emperor. Demanding I abandon that duty is equivalent to insulting the Emperor himself. A private citizen who is not even a king must be made to understand the weight of putting such words into speech."
Since adults were trying to decide someone's entire life for them, it made no sense unless those adults suffered losses of their own. If Bezobrazov announced his participation, Yugen even planned to hit them with the absurd demand of ceding and dividing the eastern half of the New Soviet Union among the Great Asian Alliance, Japan, and the USNA.
It was a second coming of the Hull Note, but he was deliberately taking up the fight that Edward Clark—and by extension, the USNA—had picked. Honor couldn't buy national security, after all.
"Calling us allies while, at their core, they fear retaliation from World War II. Well, if they want us to provide the Stellar Reactor technology, I intend to fleece them for a massive trouble fee."
To begin with, despite suffering heavy losses during the Parasite incident and the Seventh Plague drop incident, the USNA military was still aiming to neutralize Material Burst and Starlight Breaker. The only silver lining was that high-ranking government officials, including the USNA President, had issued an official apology.
"And then there's the UK too. As for the New Soviet Union... I don't even know if they have the funds to pay, so maybe I'll just seize their hypersonic missiles."
"...Coming from you, Yugen, it doesn't sound like a joke because you might actually pull it off."
"It's a joke. (Though I've basically already received the compensation.)"
The compensation seized from the New Soviet Union was Bezobrazov's Strategic-Class Magic, Tuman Bomba. Excluding the New Soviet Union, Yugen was the only person in the world who fully grasped its entire formula. That said, off the record, his own reincarnation perk had resulted in an even more refined version of Tuman Bomba being completed.
"Regardless, Tatsuya will likely be summoned in the coming days. I'll grant authorization for your magic and Third Eye Eclipse, so I'll leave the decision to use them up to you."
"Understood. Still, you have it rough too."
"...I gave up and accepted it long ago."
Before he realized it, Miyuki was clinging to Yugen's left arm, while a slightly embarrassed Mizunami stood on his right. Any other boy would surely look on with jealousy and hatred, but from Tatsuya's perspective, he inwardly praised Yugen for navigating tightropes between multiple women, while feeling a sense of apology as a relative of the Yotsuba family.
◇ ◇ ◇
The following day—Saturday, April 13th.
Though curricula differed between First, Second, and Magical Engineering Course students at the Magic High School, lecture classes via personal terminals were common to all. Yugen was looking at his terminal in the classroom when an emergency message from the school stopped him, causing him to stand up and leave the room.
Though eyes were on him, Yugen cast a glance toward Miyuki and Shizuku seated nearby that conveyed I'll explain later, to which both nodded lightly and returned their eyes to their respective terminals. Thinking how useful his position truly was at times like this, Yugen headed toward the location specified in the message.
That location was the school's reception room, where Sanada in a suit and a school staff member were waiting. When Yugen gave a subtle cue, the staff member bowed quietly and left. Left alone, Sanada let out a small smile.
"Well now, a reasonable decision for someone in your position. Or perhaps it's thanks to your rank."
"Hardly, Major Sanada. Ah, speak of the devil."
"Major Sanada, and Yugen too?"
Tatsuya had likely come after receiving the message on his terminal, but he couldn't understand why Yugen—who had just publicly declared he would "grant authorization for magic" the other day—was also called. As if to answer that, Sanada erected a noise barrier and began to speak.
"The situation has changed. We need your strength."
"...What do you mean by that?"
It was Yugen who questioned Sanada's words. Given the New Soviet Union's forces, Bezobrazov's movements, and the anticipated invasion route, there was no necessity for Yugen to deploy, even if Tatsuya had to. In the first place, Yugen's affiliation with the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion was strictly as a special service officer serving as a "non-combatant," and using magic for military purposes required approval from the Joint Staff Council.
"I cannot disclose details. However, this is a mobilization order from Major General Saeki."
"...Tatsuya, I'll grant authorization on the spot, so can you go?"
"Understood. In that case, I'll submit an early departure form."
Although Yugen had heard about this in advance from Maya, he issued the request to Tatsuya in his capacity as the "Master Clans Conference Chairman" and "National Defense Army Special Lieutenant General." Understanding the intent, Tatsuya left the reception room to submit his early departure form.
"Major Sanada. Setting Tatsuya aside, I am not originally expected to engage in combat. Even if the Joint Staff Council grants approval, I operate under a chain of command distinct from the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion. You should be well aware of this from the Okinawa incident."
Among those remaining in the reception room, Sanada held the higher position within the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion, but in the National Defense Army, Yugen held absolute seniority. Furthermore, Yugen had personally designed over half of the National Defense Force's magical equipment.
He had only done so to assist his former family, the Mitsuya family, and was not soft-hearted enough to lend his power unconditionally to military matters.
"Yes, I am aware. However, considering the enemy unit is 'Igniter,' I simply thought we needed the power of the one who handled the Sado region forces during the 'Halloween' incident."
"Given the anticipated scale of the enemy forces, it will not suffice to bring down this country. With Vladivostok naval port currently under reconstruction, forcing their hand with Tuman Bomba here could strangle the New Soviet Union itself."
Even with Bezobrazov's brilliant mind, the attacks in the original storyline were meant to "let off steam" for the soldiers, keeping the output restrained. Causing excessive damage would invite not only nations allied with Japan, but also the Great Asian Alliance—currently in a state of truce—to potentially march straight through Central Asia toward Moscow. The EU would also likely dispatch troops, even if it meant pushing themselves.
Furthermore, with the system integrated into the recently overhauled Third Eye Eclipse, Yugen was confident Tatsuya could master it even without prior practice.
"Naturally, countermeasures against 'Igniter' have already been built into Third Eye Eclipse. For Special Lieutenant Tatsuya, it means using it cold on the fly, but given his mastery of Trident, I've determined it won't be an issue... Do you still believe I need to personally take the field?"
"...I understand. My apologies for making an unreasonable request."
Sanada caught that Yugen's final words were spoken in his capacity as "Special Lieutenant General Tatsuzo Kamijo," and bowed his head as an "apology" for Yugen's refusal of the order. Seeing this, Yugen simply left the reception room with a brief, "Excuse me."
(Supplementary explanation regarding the latter half: Although Yugen is treated as being on "secondment" from Army General Headquarters, the system has been updated such that requisitioning him for military action requires approval from General Soga at minimum. While he barely permits the provision of magic technology, he rejects the order regarding physical force, deeming Tatsuya alone sufficient.
Questions may arise as to whether a public servant military officer is allowed to refuse orders, but even Saeki of the 101st Brigade holds the rank of Major General, whereas Yugen is a Special Lieutenant General in the same Army; thus, Saeki lacks the authority to order Yugen. Since it takes the form of an "optional request," refusal is fully permitted.)
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