Hello, ITalkToSky here.

This is probably the fastest 10K word chapter I have ever churned out from scratch. After 12 days of on and off effort, I got a new personal record. It surprises even myself, since it contains the character that I find the most difficult to write, namely Miyuki.

Discord invite code: nSMHjar

Come over and say hi some time.

00000

Tuesday morning, First High

"Where is my brother?"

Both Alice and Lunaire eyed the raven head with undisguised surprised. Throughout their morning classes, Miyuki kept her stare glued on them. An almost insatiable grudge of a vengeful spirit burned in her eyes. She hid it poorly or did not even bother to, because even the least perceptive classmates started to notice. Considering all this, it was still unexpected for her to throw out such straight question.

Out of all the things she could do, she chose the least productive and possibly self-destructive option. If this was the product of the education afforded to the most esteemed children of Yotsuba, it was far from impressive.

"That is a strange question to ask. Why would his sister, of all people, ask us about where her brother is?" Alice answered, half baffled, and half amused.

"Right, we are not exactly close to him. It might be better to try talking to his classmates. They might know something." Lunaire schooled his expression into a curious smile. "If it is not so urgent, perhaps you can wait till lunch time and grab him at the cafeteria."

Miyuki muttered darkly, "Are you playing dumb?"

"Playing dumb? Did we do something to deserve such accusation?"

"As Alice asked previously, why you think we know where he went when even his sister doesn't?" Lunaire massaged his temple. "At most, Tatsuya is a friend of a friend, a step above mere acquaintance. We should be the last to know"

"So, you intend to play dumb to the end?" Miyuki glared at them. Hate welled in her eyes.

Lunaire stepped forward in front of Alice, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. At that moment, a pale glow flared up from Miyuki's body. It enveloped her body like a layer of solid light. A thin sheet of frost crept across the polished floor, radiating out in a circle from where Miyuki stood. Snowflakes fluttered in the air as her hair fluttered from the nonexistent gale.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" Lunaire raised his hand protectively.

There was no reply. Staring into Miyuki's eyes, Lunaire felt like he was gazing into murky lake, filled with desperation and obsessive single-mindedness. A pang of guilt and sympathy rose from him. He imagined his empty gaze was quite similar to hers when Edmund died. Yet, she had another one coming if she thought that her fury was truly righteous. Her brother was not the innocent party in this, and she knew full well of this fact.

The frost spreading across the floor reaching the two magicians but strangely avoided them, leaving a perfect circular gap within the expanding ice sheet. No matter her fury, not a lick of cold reached the two, seemingly isolated from Miyuki's turbulent magic. Such defiance only fueled her ire, intensifying her power. Yet, the magicians stood unflinchingly. Against all odds, the frost around them appearing to be receding, inch by inch.

"If this is meant to be a joke, it is no longer funny. I will give you a chance to explain yourself. To assault us with magic…this does not seem to be anything about your brother but more of your personal enmity against us."

"I know you know those people. Ask them where my brother is."

"What people?"

"That damnable Atelier, of course!"

"You are being hysterical. What would a CAD manufacturer want with a mere high school student anyway? I mean, he seems to be an impressive magic engineer. But comparing to what they managed to achieve, he is hardly special."

Lunaire's words yielded the impact he desired as her aura violently flared. He suppressed his morbid amusement from surfacing on his face.

Alice also resisted the urge to smile and mock the girl for her poor judgment. Not only did she decide to confront them head on, but she also even used magic. Alice would not fault her for thinking that she had the advantage. As a part of student council, Miyuki possessed the privilege to carry CAD around the school premise, unlike other students. By conventional wisdom, she had the absolute advantage. Unfortunately, she neglected the implication of using her magic in a place packed to the brim with psion sensitive people.

"What is going on here?"

The two magicians cared little on who walked in on them first. Though when Mari rounding the corner gave them pause. Luck was not on Miyuki's side for the first to see this scene was none other than the Public Moral Committee chairman.

The first thing Mari would see is a hallway covered in ice. The source of such powerful spell was of course the ever-graceful freshman, Shiba Miyuki. Standing within her magical tundra was a pair of students. Against the onslaught of magical might, the young man stood protectively in front of his companion, glaring at his opposition with determined eyes.

"Stop right there!" Mari interceded with her hands on her CAD. "Explain, what is going on?"

"Chairman, I…"

"Shiba-san called both of us out during break, saying that she has something to discuss." Alice stern voice cut her off. "Then she questioned us about her brother whereabouts, whom I have never seen since last Friday. When we cannot provide answer, this situation result."

Miyuki's face gradually shifted from rage to shock, causing Alice to almost giggle. She alternated her wide-eyed stare between the two magicians and scowled. Lunaire and Alice made no reaction to betray their thought, but Miyuki knew that they were probably gloating in their mind. She got spectacularly checkmated.

Alice's testimony held no fault. She described the situation that played out truthfully and in a way that painted Miyuki as aggressor. Admittedly, it was still a 'he said she said' situation. With no eyewitness of the incident other than the parties involved, it remained difficult to verify Alice's word. However, Miyuki failed to notice that and defaulted to justifying her position. This was a lost cause. To prove her logic, she needed to justify the reason that Alice likely knew of her brother's whereabouts but concealed the information.

Since the two magicians were connected to the Atelier and Tatsuya last known location was at their facility, Lunaire and Alice had a means to find her brother. Unfortunately, she could never justify what Tatsuya was doing in that neighborhood. At least, it was impossible without compromising her identity. Miyuki had no other choice but to eat a loss.

Miyuki grit her teeth, thinking that they orchestrated this entire charade. Normally, her brother would be there to suppress her emotional outburst. Barring that, it would usually subside on its own. For this reason, faculties and Public Moral Committee members often turn a blind eye. But this time, they intentionally agitated and used her as a beacon to guide other people in. Thinking to this point, she almost flared up again, but the pointed look that demanded explanation from Mari stopped her.

"I will hear of the circumstance. All of you follow me."


Wednesday night, Atelier de Dantalian HQ and production complex, Naka Ward, Yokohama

Knock. Knock.

A polite, soft knocks echoed in the small room, alerting Tatsuya of the coming meal. In this featureless sterile white room with only a table and a chair, it was his only method of keeping time. Bacon, ham, and eggs rolled around twice, meaning that two days passed since his capture. This was the third meal of the day.

Unfortunately, the arrival of dinner brought Tatsuya neither relief nor joy. Courtesy to the chef, the food provided agreed superfluously with his palate. Tatsuya could never have expected that he could taste such delightful cooking, rivaling five-star hotel, in captivity of all places. Alas, he would have relish on the dishes if they were not reminding him of his shortening time.

There would only be three more.

Perhaps, this was the feeling best described as the reaper breathing down his neck, Tatsuya thought. The impatient, anxiety and dread gnawed at his bones, begging him to act. At this rate, he was obediently waiting for his execution. If there was anything he took from his conversation with Lunaire, it was the realization that his death would also seal Miyuki to an unhappy fate as well. Just the mere thought of it drove him from his seat.

The door opened slowly. A maid quietly pushed the trolley in as per usual.

Their first introduction had been a surprise for Tatsuya. Lunaire informed him clearly that Sakuya would deliver his meals. It was an unfamiliar name, so he never thought much of it. Much to his surprise, Sakuya was the name of the woman who so easily handled him that night. In hindsight, Tatsuya was certain that the silver-haired magician did it on purpose.

Tatsuya clearly remembered the moment when he dared not twitch lest his tendons were cut. Even after pouring his thoughts over it, he still could not figure out whether it was sheer speed or illusions or something else entirely. Without the slightest clue, it was a struggle to stave of the creeping sense of helplessness, that he was merely a lamb to the slaughter.

Undoubtedly, Tatsuya feared her and continued to do so even after meeting her up close and personal.

Graceful demeanor, armed with ample confidence and competence, Sakuya was clearly a first-rate domestic servant. Greyish hair and blue eyes greatly reminded him of Lunaire and gave her an aura of solemn maturity, despite her rather youthful face. Normal people would drop their guard before a woman like her. But she was still the very woman who mercilessly slit his throat without even batting an eyelid as if she were cutting up vegetable.

The dinner was a rather simple one, grilled salmon served with a side of salad.

Purely out of the force of habit, Tatsuya eyed the silverware intently. Offering improvised weapon to a captive was never a smart idea. Killing with a butter knife was never glamorous business but certainly possible, let alone with a dinner or steak knife. The pathetic excuse of a holding cell also did not help the case.

Instead of holding cell, it was more fitting to describe the room as an unfurnished office with a bed, table, and chair. The door certainly looked the part. For a start, this setup would be somewhat serviceable if they added a window to see what the prisoner was doing inside and a feeding slot. The latter was particularly important as it obviated the need for the guard to be in physical proximity of the captive. Unfortunately, common sense was never a strong suit of this company. Instead of all that, Sakuya merely unlocked the door and walked into a cell with unbound prisoner.

When he received his first meal, Sakuya untied every restraint bolting him to the chair. The maid merely snapped her finger and the wires slithered off his body. Almost like living snake, the thin silvery thread curled up neatly on her outstretched palm. Tatsuya could not wrap his head around such feat either. Such organic movement from object with large degree of freedom was unheard of in the field of magic. But he digressed.

Such lax security presented such a tempting opportunity to escape. Perhaps, when Sakuya was entering or exiting the room, he could use Flash Cast to slam the door and quickly incapacitate her with the impact. The utensils could also be repurposed as a lockpick. They were susceptible to Mist Dispersion, unlike the door and walls, so he could file away the material to create any shape he needed.

Yet, he never acted on it. The parting remark from Lunaire still echoed endlessly in his mind.

"If you are going to run, make it count…You have one chance."

With so much on the line, Tatsuya was not quite willing to play that game.

Standing next to his bed and lost in thought, Tatsuya snapped back to attention after noticing an unusual addition to his meal. Tatsuya took a long look at the notebook placed on the table along with his dinner. There was no such thing from the previous occasion. Sakuya merely inquired him of the decision and left promptly after hearing his rejection or a moment of silence.

The same refined voice clarified his confusion. "Shiba-sama, that is for when you wish to write something down."

Tatsuya craned his neck a little, a somewhat unusually strange gesture from a prisoner. From his interaction with Sakuya, unless he directly asked her and only on the non-sensitive topics, she would never speak.

"Many people have no luxury of leaving something behind. At the very least, we can afford to spare you such worry." Sakuya ended with a sardonic grin and pushed out the trolley. Unlike the usual, she did not wait to hear his answer.

Her words certainly found its mark and struck Tatsuya squarely. His eyes found themselves pulled inexplicably toward the thin notebook and pen at the corner of the table.

Somewhere, somehow, Tatsuya believed their disregard for Yotsuba's might to be an empty bravado. While seldom used as a primary tool of negotiation due to their secretive policy, the world did not quite forget the sudden collapse of Dahan at the hands of several individuals. Some companies in Japan borrowed part of their name, whether with consent or not, just to make others think twice before trying any monkey business.

When given time to ponder carefully however, Tatsuya began to question the supremacy of Yotsuba. Their foes were nothing like any they faced before.

For one, they knew next to nothing about the Atelier. Yotsuba wholeheartedly subscribed to the notion that knowing the enemy was half the battle won. Ever since their establishment, the times they fought with information disadvantage could be counted on one hand. With their limited number, Yotsuba could not afford any surprises. Unfortunately, the Atelier would have an overabundance of those in store.

What they did know about the company painted a rather grim picture. Their technological advances left them in the dust. Philosophie surpassed everything that came before it so utterly that it defined a new era, just like how the unveiling of HMS dreadnaught defined every other warship as pre- and post-dreadnaught. Tatsuya could not fathom the limits of their research apparatus. They already showed something so far ahead of the curve that he could not grasp just how much lead they had. More worryingly, it was not unthinkable for the Atelier to keep the more advanced toys to themselves. He dreaded the mere thought of them having something even better, because even the released items had the potential to achieve casting at the speed of thought in the most literal sense.

In term of personnel, everyone involved with the company seemed like run-of-the-mill civilians. Among their number, Tatsuya believed not even Maya knew if there were any more Lunaires or Alices lurking about…or god forbid, another Sakuya.

Tatsuya knew that his enemies, at least the one lucky enough to remain living, regarded him as the untouchable monster. Many died before even catching a glimpse of him. When they did, none of their weapons and spells found their mark. His lethal hand struck them down all the same. On these points alone, Sakuya ironically served as his counterpart within the company.

Sakuya could strike without warning, allowing no resistance. Strong or weak, one moment and everything would be all over. Most alarmingly, she wounded him faster than his Regrowth. At one point, while his spell was still restoring one of his tendons, another was already severed. Whatever her magic was, its activation speed was monstrous. Combining its absolute lethality with minimal delay, he imagined their operative group being wiped out with ease in a minute flat.

With only information on hand, Tatsuya saw Yotsuba Maya as the only viable threat to Sakuya, assuming she was not hiding more cards up her sleeves. Even then, it would be a very lethal first strike match. It depended on who saw the other first.

One-on-one, Maya stood at a stark disadvantage. She qualified as a combat magician but lacked the sense of a true bloodhound. Most likely, Sakuya would find and slit her throat first. Accounting for Maya's retinue, the fight sounded more even, until Lunaire and Alice joined the fray.

At this point, Tatsuya had no choice but to accept Atelier as a credible threat. In an open conflict, they could exact a terrible toll and possibly rally other influential parties in Japan against the Yotsuba.

With his hunger long gone, Tatsuya picked up the blank notebook. He riffled through the blank pages with a sigh. On one mind, he wanted to get started. If these were to be his last words, he had so much to be said. So many thoughts rose to the top of his mind, waiting to be spilled onto the pages. At the same time, Tatsuya felt the moment he penned the first letter was also an acceptance for his death. More that he liked to admit, just the mere thought of it irritated him.

Knock. Knock.

Another usual thing, Tatsuya wondered. When the door opened, he jolted off their chair, setting it clattering behind him.

"Good evening, Tatsuya-kun."

"H-Honami…how, no," Tatsuya corrected himself. It was a stupid question to ask.

Tatsuya still remembered holding her trembling body, watching the light slowly drifted from her eyes, unable to do anything. With her labored breath, she begged for release from service, a peaceful eternal rest. A tool of Yotsuba chose her own death. Tatsuya remembered letting go. Whether out of sympathy for her bitterness or to alleviate his own sense of uselessness, he had no answer.

Then came that blinding light that cured what his vaulted spell could not.

Tatsuya remembered letting go again. Yet, it was more hopeful, knowing the woman he had come to trust would have a chance at a new beginning. Never had he thought that fate saw fit to bring them back together in this manner.

"We meet again."

"Honami-san…if you are here…"

The woman chucked cheerfully. "Hehe, I see that you haven't changed much."

"Same for you." Tatsuya muttered numbly.

Honami had not aged a day since the last time they met. It would not be an empty flattery to say that she appeared much younger. Her glossy lips, bright complexion, and clear eyes sung the tale of a woman in her prime. Even the frown lines she got from her usual concentrated look disappeared. Much to his relief, she was living well.

Of course, it did not stop his analytical side from kicking in, hence the jab from Honami. While having such an emotional reunion, the implication of her appearance at this facility was not lost upon him. Without doubt, the people behind this company were or at least related to those mysterious magicians that the world scoured high and low for.

"Can I join you?"

"Please."

Honami waltzed in and set down a tray. Various porcelain cups and utensils chimed cheerfully as she primly sat down opposite of him.

"Tea? I never knew of your fancy for tea."

"I still prefer coffee. But hear me out, Tatsuya-kun." Honami sighed theatrically. "I haven't had my daily coffee for ages."

"Is it not allowed?" Tatsuya furrowed his brows. This could be some strange side effect from the method they restored her.

Honami pursed her lips as looked as if she had bitten a bug. "It is not allowed per say, but…everyone here vastly preferred tea. They just cannot handle coffee for some reason. While it is not forbidden…that look of pity they give you. Having a taste for coffee does not mean I have something wrong with my tongue."

"I-I see."

"Its not that I dislike tea though. They have quite an extensive tea collection from all over the world. But nothing hit the spot quite like coffee." Honami measured out the leaves with utmost precision with purely her instinct. As if performing magic, she brewed the tea all in one smooth continuous motion. "This is one of the best second flush Darjeeling from last year."

"You seemed to have developed quite an expertise on tea."

"Not quite to that extent."

Letting the leaves steep in the hot water, Honami turned to Tatsuya. The two stared at each other. The woman smiled wryly, noticing the complicated look from the boy she had not seen in many years. She caught a glimpse of him from the Monolith Code broadcast, but it could never quite capture the feel of meeting him in person. He changed much since that time, yet his piercing eyes remained the same. Faint as it was, Honami saw a hint of her previous mistress in him. He was indeed Miya's son.

Honami noticed a slightest frown on his face and grimaced. These past few days did not pass by so peacefully for the young man. As both his former confidant and colleague, she learned to notice the small cues. Tatsuya frowned rather lightly when under stress. Most people never noticed. It happened so rarely. His rigorous mental discipline ensured that he operated at maximum efficiency in all situations. But even a machine was not infallible. Tatsuya hid these episodes as it was unbecoming for a guardian to show his emotion outwardly. Yet, Honami could notice the telling tense expression and thin frown lines between his eyebrows.

Not that Honami did not understand. Lunaire spoke of the matter with Tatsuya quite openly with her. Perhaps, it was his way to apologize after roughing up the kid that was once in her care. Honami was quite miffed with both Sakuya and Lunaire, the former for slashing his throat and the latter for bringing up Miya's unhappy marriage, which was quite the low blow.

Minutes flew by. Neither of them said anything. Suddenly, Honami turned her attention back to the tea pot, pouring its amber content into the cups. No matter the distraction, she could tell the brewing time down to the second. The aroma wafted up with the steamy haze, bringing a look of surprise to Tatsuya's face.

Tatsuya closed his eyes. He wondered just what tea it was to have such strong aroma that he could smell it from across the table while not being too offensive. It carried a distinctive aroma of muscatel with indescribable rose-like note.

"Here."

"Thank you." Tatsuya received the delicate teacup. His first sip did the aroma justice. Tatsuya felt his stress melted away, easing up the tension in his shoulders.

"Pretty good?"

Tatsuya nodded appreciatively. "Yes, very."

"Glad to hear that. I have had a lot of practice and a very, very strict instructor." Honami stuck out her tongue childishly.

Tatsuya paused, seemingly hesitating, and then said, "You seem happy here."

"Why would I not be?" Honami piped. "I have everything I could possibly ever need or want. I get to do what I like, taking care of wonderful people. Ah…but they are sometimes troublesome to look after because they are a little too on top of their things."

Tatsuya could not help but chuckle. It was the same gripe Miyuki had about taking care of him. His nature drove him to do everything himself and clean up after his own mess, making it difficult for her to do something for him.

The two conversed over tea. Even if she mostly knew everything from the stories Lunaire, Alice and Marisa told of him, Honami listened attentively. In turn, she told him of her tutelage under Sakuya on her path to hone her housekeeping skills to mastery and some other non-sensitive tidbits.

Minutes blurred into hours as the two caught up to each other. When they finished the last of their tea, Honami sighed deeply. Tatsuya caught a rather long gaze from her.

Honami hesitated but finally asked, "Will you not ask, what I came here for? Why am I not trying to convince you?"

"…"

"Because there is no point, you are a smart young man. I am sure you already thought things through that my words will do little to change your mind." Honami looked down melancholically. "I requested special permission just to meet you again. It would not do for me to muddy the water and make it awkward for both of us."

Tatsuya felt a pang of disappointment. He harbored a speck of hope that Honami would help him, on the account of their past relationship. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Honami was no longer the augmented magician serving under Yotsuba. Her loyalty lied with her rescuer.

"Is that so…"


Thursday, Atelier de Dantalian HQ and production complex, Naka Ward, Yokohama

As the acting CEO of the Atelier de Dantalian, Aya knew that perching on a chair and look dignified was not going to cut it. Even if the experts recommended by or lent to them by both the Itsuwa and the Di Avini Conglomerate respectively handled all matters with professional finesse, this was still their business. Someone needed to be there to prevent any shenanigans from happening under their noses.

To this end, both the magicians and her looked through and approve each outgoing paperwork at least once. With their busy schedule, Aya ended up with most of the work, much to her woe. She understood a little the reason for the grumpiness shown by some of the managerial Great Tengu back at the Youkai Mountain.

"Aya-sama…"

Aya stilled her hand from depressing the company seal and looked up. If she recalled correctly, he was one of the clerks working under the legal advisors from the Itsuwa. The man fidgeted under the stare of the clear red eyes that pressured him to either spit out his thought to leave her.

"There is someone at the front gate, requesting to meet you."

"There has been no lack of such people as of late." Aya applied the stamp seal and replied flatly, having lost interest in the matter. "Is there a reason why you must trouble me with such triviality?"

"I…she is not the guest to be turned aside lightly."

"That is a surprise after turning so many away."

"S-she is a representative from the Yotsuba family."

The man answered gingerly. His eyes widened in surprise. Instead of appearing impressed, Aya continued eyeing the documents. Normally, anyone hearing such news would question the validity of such claim first and foremost. Yotsuba was not a name to be brandish about lightly.

"Her name is Kuroba Ayako. She claimed she bear a personal missive from Yotsuba Maya and had a letter to prove her identity." The man narrated, half-disbelieving at his own words. On one hand, it was not strange for Yotsuba to make a move for the Philosophie. On the other, it was still shocking to see their representative of the most secretive clan in the flesh. "She said she came to discuss the matter from Monday."

Aya continued her work without pause, only the bored expression could be seen on her face. His disbelieving eyes turned to her instead. He agreed that this whole thing was fishy. This Ayako could simply borrow the name of the infamous clan just to get a foot in the door. However, turning her away and risk snubbing the Yotsuba was not something to be taken lightly.

"And what is the matter from Monday?" He mumbled softly, almost only to himself.

That earned him a warning look from Aya. He felt an unseen pressure as if the air thickened around him, weighting him down like jelly. He staggered back. The little girl barely old enough to even be consider a legal adult was replaced by someone, no, something much older. That suffocating pressure vanished quickly as it came.

Aya huffed. Perhaps, it was merely a slip of tongue, even if his mumbling was suspiciously loud enough for the other occupant to overhear. This was the price of not relying on the people they trained from ground up.

"Turn her away."

"But…"

"…"

"I understand." He nodded sheepishly.

As he left, Aya sighed deeply and slouched in her seat. The appearance of Ayako reminded her of another troublesome matter on her schedule for the next day. She wondered idly whether she would end up handing Tatsuya over to the Yotsuba as a man or as a corpse.


Night, Main House, secret Yotsuba village, Yamanashi Prefecture

Knowledge is power. Since the dawn of man, the statement remained unfailingly true. To that end, USNA (United States of North America) secretly developed one of the most sophisticated information interception systems known to man, Echelon III. Some touted it as the final evolution of cyber intelligence gathering. The operating principle was rather simple. The Echelon III was designed to intercept transmission of data, whether from computer terminal to terminal, mobile device, cloud server, anything. What made the system so special was the unimaginably wide scope it covered. It was not an exaggeration to say that Echelon III could search through every piece of electronic information being transmitted through the internet, period.

Its only limitation came only because of its nature as interception system. By design, Echelon III was meant to remain completely undetected, which could be undermined by active infiltration. Therefore, the files in a completely isolated system would be safe. If the information were not transmitted, it could not be extracted even from a device connected to the network. Regardless, there was exceptionally little that could evade the watchful eyes of Echelon III.

With such a powerful and dangerous tool, USNA spared no effort in safeguarding and monitoring the Echelon III. Despite their vigilance, the system hid a secret backdoor, a method to access the system's functionality without the required approval of the state.

This was not mere mistake in the programing but by design. Otherwise, there would be no explanation for the seven unique terminals that housed the necessary clearance code to utilize this backdoor. The system even had a name, Hilðskjálf, the throne that allowed the chief god Odin to peer into all realms. No one knew for certain who concocted such a treasonous scheme from within the UNSA and for what purpose.

One thing was for certain. Whoever created this system was a lunatic who proceeded to distribute these seven all-seeing eyes to different people around the world, seemingly at random. The recipients came to be known in hushed voice as the Seven Sages.

And Yotsuba Maya happened to be one of mentioned personage.

For the past few days, the infamous Queen of Night spent her time locked up in her office, even taking her meals there. In her restricted sanctum, Maya leaned back on her seat. Covering her eyes was a slim head mount display (HMD) terminal. The woman seemed to be sleeping, except for the occasional twitch of her fingers, manipulating her virtual environment through the integrated motion sensor. This seemingly innocuous mundane VR goggle was the terminal to Hilðskjálf.

Normally, Maya was not the one to spend time pouring over Hilðskjálf. It was no doubt very useful, able to gather information that one could not obtain with any other method. Yet, it was against her nature to rely on such a crutch. Hilðskjálf possessed a strange quirk. It recorded any search conducted by its user, which could be seen by anyone on the network. While the name was not shown, the search terms could help deduce the interest and even identity of the sages. Maya despised showing any kind of exploitable opening.

However, she was left with no choice. After Tatsuya's disappearance and subsequent admission from the Atelier to have captured him, any designs she concocted for the company ground to a complete halt. Against all common sense and for the first time in decades, someone dared hold a member of Yotsuba hostage.

Normally, such situation demanded retribution. It was about time they made an example to reinforce the reputation that had long shielded the family since her father's generation. Unfortunately, the hostage this time was rather special.

Maya truly understood the value of Tatsuya to the Yotsuba. The power in his hands was not something she was willing to risk at any cost, even yielding to these upstarts. It was mortifying, almost unbearably so. But she grits her teeth and endured.

This did not mean that she sat around twiddling her thumb. With Tatsuya in their hand, Yotsuba could not twitch a muscle. It was a different story with Hilðskjálf in her hands. Hence, she spent her time unceasingly scouring for any information that the company may have received or transmitted from their network. Maya needed something, their weaknesses, secrets, Tatsuya's whereabouts, anything at all that she could use to her advantage.

Reality was often disappointing. To a degree that boggled the mind, the Atelier was utterly cold to the omniscient Echelon III. A company that did not transmit any digital information sounded just absurd as earning a doctoral degree without being literate. But the reality just stared back at her, silently mocking, and taunting her.

Technically, it was not completely null, but the television shows and cat videos steaming did not count. Maya fumed inwardly.

Then, suddenly, the system flagged an outbound data package from one of the terminals in the facility. The destination seemed to be some obscure private cloud server.

The search term caught was…induction-stone.

Just this one word blew away any exhaustion she felt and filled her glee. Her wait finally rewarded her. The other sages were also watching and would no doubt gain access to this information as well, but any victory was better than nothing for Maya. The Atelier probably was not expecting their most prized secret to leak. This could serve as a good blackmail material. Maya quickly called up the information to be displayed on screen.

What greeted her was a 20-page document. Maya felt her brows creased. At times like this, she despised the restriction against storing the information. Apparently, the reason she could only read and not save anything was to prevent USNA from tracking the file transfer to the terminal. Maya had the unenviable task to commit everything to memory.

How difficult could it be, Maya resolved herself.

The next four hours were probably one of the more agonizing experiences in her life. The document read like a research paper, written by either a rambling mad scientist or a retard. It was a mishmash of some obscure references and unfamiliar technical jargons to create one of the most convoluted sentences and paragraphs. Maya found it difficult to even extract the meaning from the wall of text. Many times, she went through a page and she wondered what she just read at the end.

Maya picked up some tidbits, mostly names of ingredients and reagent. Much to her disappointment, the Atelier did not seem to have any secret components to their magical induction stone. Everything sounded very mundane and common place, like alum crystal and synthetic sapphire. This meant that the magic was in the process, forcing her to memorize the convoluted procedure line by line. The fact that it hardly made sense to her compounded the difficulty.

When she reached the last page, Maya sighed deeply in relief. This was the last stretch. She could finally be done with this infernal paper that made her temple throbbed so furiously.

Then, she read the last step…

…Add seasonings, salt, and pepper as preferred. Pour in hot water, wait 3 minutes, then serve.

Suddenly, Maya felt an irresistible urge to chuck her head mount display terminal to the ground and give it a good stomp. She was not the only one to experience the onset of violent thought that night. At the very least, there were six others to share her fate.


Underground bunker, Atelier de Dantalian HQ and production complex, Naka Ward, Yokohama

"There is no way they will fall for that."

"Come on, at least someone is going to read till the very end."

"I doubt it. Anyone can tell at a glance that they are being messed with."

"Right, a prank that won't work is just a waste of time!"

"Can I leave now? There is still something I want to test?"

"Aww…but at least…at least it is a good change of pace, right?

"Well, I guess."

A silence stretched out between the group of blue-haired girls crowding around the computer terminal. They glanced at each other, asking for unsaid opinion, quite like a group of rowdy siblings. Seeing that none had anything else to add, the one seated in front of the keyboard ran out of patience and nudged aside the Kappas leaning on her.

Then, in unison, they blinked. In a brief moment of understanding, they giggled. It soon grew into a chuckled, a conspiratorial laughter, and then outright demonic cackling.


Friday, Atelier de Dantalian HQ and production complex, Naka Ward, Yokohama

"You have something of mine, and I have come to reclaim it."

"My, my…I was wondering since yesterday, what exactly those uninvited guests, that high school boy and the Yotsuba have in common." Aya covered her lips as if speaking of something scandalous. "Pardon my surprise, but I didn't know you like them young."

Aya was given the rare opportunity to play around with the infamous Demon King of the Far East. Her mischievous and gossipy side was unwilling to let it slip. Spotting a slight twitch from Maya, she could not repress her widening smile.

"To make the matriarch of the clan that values secrecy above all else, just what did he do to make you so smitten. Is it the sweet nothings he whispered in your ears? Or is it his youthful passion?" Aya giggled the more twisted Maya's expression became. "Oh, forgive me. I did not mean to pry into such an intimate matter. I got too into it and forgot the order of things."

Maya closed her eyes. Her lips pressed together tight in a cramped smile from the insinuation. Maya knew that Aya was simply trying to irritate her. This young gutsy CEO at least vaguely knew of Tatsuya's connection with the Yotsuba.

Those sent to infiltrate the Atelier factory were booted out with a message. Tatsuya was held hostage and whoever wished to have him back best come personally. Maya sent many of her pawns as to not implicate the Yotsuba. Unfortunately, all attempts ended in failure. With great reluctance, she had little choice but to send Ayako as her representative, but even she was barred at the gate. This clearly indicated that they explicitly demanded her presence. Maya gritted her teeth and came, only to be greeted like this.

Hayama, Maya's butler, glared at Aya like she was an upstart that dared. He held his tongue though, not wishing to complicate the negotiation for his mistress. This matter was as sensitive as it came, and the other party held the initiative.

"Frankly, it is a little difficult to comprehend. You seem to have an understanding of the feeling when something of yours is taken. Yet, you have no hesitation to rob something that is rightfully ours."

At such obvious sarcasm, Maya maintained her silence. It could not be that Aya, the CEO, did not understand that righteousness was worth very little in the scheme of things, perhaps other than spurring the other fools to dance. Be that as it may, Maya was in the awkward position of losing both the battle and the moral high ground.

"Thankfully, even if our security that day was severely lacking, the only guard on station managed to avert the incident."

"Do get to your point," Maya muttered.

"Disregarding what is right or wrong, it still begs the question." Aya crossed her fingers and smile. Her red eyes glimmered. "I am sure I instructed Itsuwa-san to pass on our conditions for remaining this country to both the Ten Master Clans and the Japanese government. For the most part, they all seem to be sitting pretty, so I cannot discount your action as simply missing the memo. Is this sanctioned by the military or merely your independent action?"

Maya was in this business longer than this lass, so there was no need to spell it out. It was a checkmate, which Aya seemed only happier to rub it in.

An independent action that jeopardizes the national interest warranted the harshest punishment, especially from those meant to protect it. Forcing the pioneers of critical technology from the country and into the embrace of their rivals fit the bill. If the matter came to light that Yotsuba was the root cause, Maya was certain that the vultures would swoop in to take advantage. The chance to take a shot at her clan with minimal risk of retaliation did not come by often. To prevent this, Maya needed to break the link between the incident and Yotsuba.

Unfortunately, Tatsuya's capture threw the wrench into that plan. If Aya filed an official complaint along with the undeniable proof of his presence at the facility, the main suspect would be the military. Completely oblivious of the matter and fearing the blame, it was not out of question for them to disclose Tatsuya's true allegiance. Given that both the military and the Yotsuba had no evidence of ordering the act–one did not do it and the other was too thorough – it would become a situation of he said, she said. The outcome was determined at that point. People would choose to believe in whatever truth suited the purpose.

For the other Ten Master Clans and the government that already feared the growing influence of the Yotsuba, it was without question which truth they would choose to believe. This was their wildest dream come true, a pretext to curb the Yotsuba handed to them on a silver platter.

"…"

"As for the boy you came for, you may have him. He has already served his purpose. Picture, fingerprints, dental imprint, hair, and blood samples were all collected. Of course, we sealed them all in special container just like out induction stone to prevent Shiba-san from reducing them all to dust afterward."

"So, what is it that you want?" Maya narrowed her eyes. If Aya wished to deal damage to the Yotsuba as retaliation, she merely needed to follow through with her words. From the impression, while sharp tongue, she did not seem so vain as to call Maya here just to gloat.

"I like people who understand everything quickly. It saves me the hassle to spell it out." Aya purred in satisfaction. "Since you people only disturbed our guard from her nightly read, it is not necessarily to pursue this matter to its fullest extent, provided that you are willing to compromise, of course."

"Oh, and what will you have us do?" Maya asked nonchalantly. While she was on the backfoot, it was of poor form to show it openly.

"We would like to invite you to join us on a masquerade."

"A masquerade?"

"Do let me digress a little." Aya let her eyes wandered to the window. "Does having a firearm in your pocket solve every issue?"

"…You want a soft deterrence."

Aya clapped her hands softly. "My, my, I have underestimated you, marvelously done."

The threat to pack up and leave would force both the Ten Master Clans and the government to toe the line. However, it would not prevent them from slowly pushing the envelope. Just like how one could not pull a gun on everyone who looked at them funny, it lessened the weight of the threat to employ it for every little minor infraction.

"You wish to join hands with Yotsuba."

"Not joining hands…after all that happens, we are not exactly on friendly terms and my company still wishes to maintain neutrality." Aya shook her head. "Masquerade is already an apt term. Whenever those old bones start to give us trouble, a little show of cooperation between the Atelier and Yotsuba will surely foil any of their design. We reach out our hands and you reciprocate."

"In pretend?"

"In pretend, of course." Aya grinned. "In return for your cooperation, we are more than happy to drop the unfortunate incident between us and will be happy to lend a hand should you require a little political nudge."

Boiled down in essence, to the Atelier strong-arming the Yotsuba into a political defensive pact. If anyone applied pressure upon either of them, they could pretend to be friends and expect the other side to follow along. The possibility that the two powerhouses joining hand was the worst nightmare of their enemies.

"But there is a catch." Aya giggled. "What? You did not expect that we will let you off scot free after moving against us, did you?"

Aya watched gleefully, hearing a hitched breath from Maya. Her mulberry eyes looked up warily without a hint of condescension at the start of the conversation. The CEO of the Atelier was not a lady to be trifled with.

"Since you might also miss this part of the memo from the Itsuwa, I will reiterate it again for you. The Atelier will change its mode of distribution, at least for our CAD. As a device soon to be recognized as military grade technology, the Philosophie cannot be sold by various store around Japan. It has to be obtained and fitted directly at this facility. Of course, the prospective owner requires quite a bit of vetting process to assure their qualification to hold on to such a sensitive hardware."

"How does that relate to everything?"

"Since we are the sole provider, we have the exclusive right to determine who we sell our product to. I believe you can already guess where I am going with this."

"You wish to ban my people. Is that it?" Maya asked incredulously.

"Are you unhappy? You are getting off quite lightly in my opinion." Aya huffed, annoyed. "Since we are supposed to be friends, I wish that you do not submit the names of anyone related to your clan for vetting process. It will not do for people to see us rejecting your candidates."

"Hmph, very well."

"While we do not know every nooks and crannies of your clan, should we find out that you managed to slip your men through the process, our earlier agreement will be canceled. Our company will file an official complaint against your clan and pursue the matter to the fullest extent."

"That is fine," Maya replied, still appearing nonchalant.

"Very good…"

From Maya's point of view, this punishment to deprive the Yotsuba off the Philosophie was unenforceable. Even if they never sent any of their free agents to obtain one on their behalf, they could still steal some from the legal owners.

Unfortunately, Maya did not know of another curious property of the induction stone. The previous report of its potential to adapt to its user was disclosed to the high-ranking members of Japan. However, one of the most recent findings was conveniently left out, specifically, what happened when an attuned induction stone was used by another user. While the ramification was hardly hazardous, anyone but the original user would find the Philosophie outperforming others in the market, yet unable to display its full capability. The induction stone already tainted by psionic echo would never grow to conform to its new master.

Frankly, Aya thought this amounted only to a small prank, not at all comparable to the violent break and entry that Yotsuba attempted. However, she gained too much out of this to complain.

"Then…do you accept the deal?"

"Is there any alternative?"

"Well, none that won't cost you dearly." Aya chuckled and extended her hand.

In Maya's book, Aya looked like a little girl, still wet behind her ears. A superlative talent in magical technology had no relation to political acumen. Although a lot of her success that day could be attributed to the powerful cards in her hands, Aya deserved credit for playing it so well. At the very least, she deterred any thought Maya had for doggedly pursuing the matter. There would be peace between the Atelier and the Yotsuba…for the moment.

Maya eyed the pale hand silently before shaking it strongly.

Aya smiled in response. Her eyes glimmered mysteriously, making Maya suspected she missed something. Sadly, unless she mastered divination, she could never know why Aya seemed so happy at the end.

Neutralizing Tatsuya, prime blackmail material on Yotsuba while also getting their cooperation, wanting anymore would be too greedy.


Tatsuya marched onward slowly and evenly. This was meant to be a moment of rejoicing. With every step, he moved closer to the place he longed to return for the past few days. He imagined her worried visage and normally would be considering the myriad of ways to placate her. However, instead of the girl with raven hair and flawless white skin, he found his thought lingering on something else. His shoulders sagged slightly and there was a slight frown on his face. Once in a while, Tatsuya cast a sidelong glance, taking in the view idly.

As per protocol, the Yotsuba ran through him multiple times with a fine-tooth comb. Whenever their agent was captured, there was always the risk of them being compromised. Bloodwork screened for any chemical contaminant in his blood. Physical examination and advance imaging system screened for foreign object that could be implanted unknowingly during his captivity. Disregarding the fact that normally his Elemental Sight and Regrowth could detect and revert any change done to his physical body.

It was a smart course of action. Their opponent was not known to follow common sense. Tatsuya informed them that they successfully held him captive, despite his best attempt to escape. It was not too farfetched if they did something that could evade Tatsuya's detection.

Tatsuya did not care much for these results. After his Elemental Sight regained full functionality after leaving that facility, he took a look at himself and found nothing out of sort. Rather, he was very much interested in the final test.

By the directive of Yotsuba Maya herself, the foremost experts in mental interference magic affiliated with Yotsuba was called up to test him. It was the reason that it was almost midnight when he arrived back in the familiar neighborhood.

All the magicians cleared him without much of a hassle. Their most extensive test found not a hair out of place. They even looked at Tatsuya strangely from his insistence to test him thoroughly.

Then what was that pain, Tatsuya wondered.

When Tatsuya almost let something slip, he was assaulted by a searing pain in his chest, as if his heart were squeezed in an iron grip. It took most of his effort not to show it and draw more attention toward himself. Briefly after, the pain disappeared, but not along with the worry it brought.

Tatsuya signed the pact, banking on the Yotsuba expertise on the mental interference magic, said to be unrivaled by any other magical families to come out of any research institute. The agreement prevented him from mentioning anything regarding the agreement, including the mysterious Geas spell. It did not have any stipulation in regarding to the discovery by third party. Tatsuya was willing to go through any operation necessary if he could be freed from this shackle. While it seemed quite acceptable on the surface, it still felt like a trap somehow. Unfortunately, such hope was dashed.

Once again, the Atelier proved themselves a menace far beyond his wildest imagination. This went both for their technical sophistication and their sheer raw might. Yotsuba stepped on a tiger's tail. Perhaps, it was for the better that he bound them with the agreement to leave Miyuki alone.

Then there was the matter about Honami.

As Tatsuya pondered on rush of events and information that turned his world upside down in mere days, he found himself before the familiar gate. Pulling out his terminal, he hesitated to unlock the door. While he thought of his panicking sister and that delaying it only prolonged her suffering, he felt unprepared.

Alas, the choice was made for him as Tatsuya heard the door slid open with ferocity that made him wondered if the glass pane shattered. Rushed out was his sister, cladded in dainty silk nightgown.

Miyuki looked more haggard that he had ever seen her. Her lustrous raven hair appeared roughly bundled up. Her glossy skin lost its sheen. Her eyes appeared sunken, surrounded by a faint ring. Tatsuya wondered how little she slept.

When Miyuki arrived at the gate, she practically threw the side door open with the strength he did not know she possessed and leapt at him. Tatsuya extended his arms and caught her as a matter of course. He squeezed down on the girl in his embrace, naturally adjusting to the posture his sister found the most comforting. Tatsuya gently patted on her head and drew circles around her back.

Miyuki sobbed and bawled in his chest. Thoughtfully, he slowly maneuvered his sister through inside. A task easier said than done, given that Miyuki hooked him by the neck and would not let go. With a sigh, he looped his arm under her legs and carried her inside.

Tatsuya tried laying down on the sofa, but Miyuki refused to let go. This locked him in an awkward half-bent posture. Without a choice, he indulged her for a little bit longer.

Finally, with insistent but gentle push against her shoulders, Miyuki unwillingly part from him. Tatsuya almost chuckled for the sight. She was a mess. Her eyes swell with tears as she sniffed uncontrollably. Tatsuya gently wiped away her sorrow, but more came streaming out. He smiled bitterly, retrieved a box of tissue, and prepared for a long night.

Miyuki's first words were uttered uncertainly. "Onii-sama, you are safe,"

"Yes, I am back."

"Welcome home!" Miyuki replied tearily. "I was so worried."

"I know."

Once again, Miyuki latched onto his shoulders and redoubled her sobbing, much to his dismay. It was rare even for him to ever witness her in such state. For once, he felt reaffirmed in his decision to accept the deal that Lunaire offered.

"Onii-sama, are you hurt anywhere?" Miyuki hurried looked over her brother. Her hands search for any hint of injury.

Tatsuya grasped both her hands and looked her in the eyes. "I am not hurt, Miyuki. Calm down."

"What happened?

"What do you mean?"

"You told me you would return in the morning. Even if the assignment is extended, there should at least be word from you. Instead, all I get is the damnable silence from Oba-ue." Miyuki bit her lips and pleaded. "Please Onii-sama, tell me. What happened there?"

"…"

Tatsuya arranged his thought. From the look Miyuki gave him, she would grill him until she got the answer she was satisfied with. No amount of empty reassurance would cut it, but Tatsuya could not simply tell the whole truth either. Even leaving out the part required of him by the Geas, he still hesitated to disclose everything.

No matter how severe his tendency to overlook her fault, Tatsuya admitted that Miyuki could be unbelievably stubborn at time, especially on the matter she was personally invested in. His wellbeing ranked among the very top of her concerns. He understood that feeling well, given that he would react similarly in her shoes. However, the Atelier was too dangerous.

"Miyuki, I want you to calm down and listen to the end. Alright?"

"…Alright…Onii-sama."

"As you probably guessed, Oba-ue wishes to obtain the synthesis method for the next generation induction stone from the Atelier. I was part of the team meant to infiltrate the compound." Tatsuya recounted his experience in a stoic tone. "It was trap."

"They knew you are going there?"

"No, I believe they are just prepared in case anyone tried something. It is not surprising considering that they have a military technology in their hands."

"Then what happened? Against Onii-sama, no matter what kind of trap…"

Tatsuya cut her off. "Miyuki…They are the people who developed the induction stone containment chamber that completely denied Elemental Sight."

"That is…" Miyuki's eyes widened at the implication.

"It is hard to believe, but their understanding of Elemental Sight might be beyond anyone else in the world. At the very least, they knew enough to develop countermeasure against such technique." Tatsuya explained gravely. "Not only could they shield an object from my sense, but they are also even capable of disrupting Elemental Sight over wide area, though not completely."

"But Onii-sama, Elemental Sight is such a rare technique. How can they?"

Tatsuya shook his head. That was exactly his thought. But there was nothing he could say against such damning evidence. Tatsuya still remembered the jumbled and distorted view he saw within the information dimension.

"Long story short…everyone who entered the facility was subdued, including me."

"They captured you…So, they knew."

Tatsuya felt her hands on his shoulders digging into his muscle. A pale glow accompanied the snowflakes dancing in the air. Layer of frost slowly built up around them. Tatsuya gently patted her back, placating her fury. He had a suspicion of the identities of the people she referred to but knew better than to bring to topic up.

"They merely incapacitated everyone and set them all free in the morning," Tatsuya winced as he finished the sentence," except me."

"Why, Onii-sama? What do they want with you?" Miyuki strained her voice. "What did they do to you? If they hurt even a strand of your hair, I will."

"Miyuki," Tatsuya was surprised at the sternness in his voice. "They did not do anything. In fact, they treated me very well."

"Onii-sama, please be honest with me." Miyuki muttered darkly. "You do not need to cover for them."

"I am not covering for them. They really did treat me like a guest."

"Then what is the purpose?"

"I do not know."

Tatsuya mustered every ounce of his skill to maintain an impeccable poker face as he answered and instantly regretted it. He lied to Miyuki. He knew that Lunaire wished to take him out of the equation in the case of conflict. However, he could not explain such without touching on the forbidden topic. Perhaps as a penance, he presented a fragment of his true thought.

"However, I suspect that they used me to draw out Oba-ue."

"Oba-ue? When? How does she factor into all of this?"

"In the morning, I was handed over to her. At that time, the CEO of the company was standing right beside her. It is not out of question that they might be discussing something beforehand. As to the content, I have no idea." Tatsuya tapped his chin in thought. "They seem to have struck an accord. From what I could gather, she seems to have no intention of pursuing a conflict with the company, for now."

Miyuki fell silent with a deep frown. Tatsuya could almost hear the gears churning in her head and could not help by wryly smile. At the very least, it went better than he expected. She appeared peeved, mostly from the fact that Lunaire had the audacity to lie to her and use her brother. But she was not up in arms and cried out for vengeance.

"Wait, Onii-sama, if they used you to draw out Oba-ue, then they knew."

"Unfortunately, yes…they know."

00000

And there is it.

I hope you will not flame me for what I did to Miyuki. That is the only way I see her reacting when it comes to her Onii-sama. Of course, that is never going to fly in the face of Lunaire and Alice. They are neither her friends or captured by her halo, so I do not see them tolerate her self-righteous act.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with this chapter as a conclusion to the incident. The Touhou turned an unexpected problem into an opportunity and managed to wrestle an absolute win from the Yotsuba, of all people. It might not sound impressive in the chapter. However, when put into perspective, their company just managed to forcibly turn Yotsuba into a shield they can use against the grubby hands of other TMCs and the government. At the same time, they also turned Tatsuya into the hidden agent and humiliates Maya a little bit as a dessert, delicious

Oh yes and the MVP of the day, please give your applause to the Kappa.

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Come over and say hi some time.