Mayumi's candid words, as the Saegusa representative, drew a wry smile from Katsuto, the Juumonji acting head. He responded frankly.
"So, I'm not seen that way?" Katsuto asked.
"It's not your fault, but we're rivals since entrance exams. And…" Mayumi trailed off.
The Ten Master Clans' pursuit of "supremacy" meant constant competition under constraints. Yet, both faced a higher wall—Yugen's sisters, Kana and Mika, who had humbled them as first-years.
"Kagurazaka's sisters, Kana-dono and Mika-dono," Katsuto said.
"The more I hear, the more absurd it sounds. Terrifying," Mayumi said, shifting to business. "As Saegusa head's proxy, I convey Koichi Saegusa's words: we seek to fight alongside Juumonji."
"'Fight together,' not 'cooperate'? Is it that urgent?" Katsuto asked.
The Juumonji, handling "public" roles in Kanto, relied heavily on Saegusa for intel due to clan oversight. Post-Juumonji incident, they coordinated loosely with Juumonji and Mitsuya for military info. Katsuto, focused on school and training, was out of the loop, as head Kazuki had resumed duties, leaving Katsuto to assist and negotiate.
"Your father didn't tell you?" Mayumi asked.
"He told me to focus on studies and training. This is just his request," Katsuto said.
Both were examinees, but Katsuto's recommendation freed him, unlike Mayumi, bound by student council rules. She smiled, sensing Kazuki's foresight, likely influenced by Yugen.
"What do you know about the Vampire case?" Mayumi asked.
"Media-level info. More requires asking Father," Katsuto said.
"Juumonji's motto is one against a thousand. Saegusa's numbers found victims at triple the reported count. No deaths, thankfully," Mayumi said.
Unlike fictional vampires draining blood to husks, victims were saved at the brink, Mayumi implied.
"Victims are mostly in central Tokyo," she added.
"Including Saegusa affiliates?" Katsuto asked.
"Half-right. Father said Yugen's sisters—Shizuru, Kana, Mika—were first. Then Magic University affiliates and our mages were hit. Shizuru's group is fine," Mayumi said.
Katsuto surmised the "Vampire" targeted their unique powers. Attacking them first was madness; if they'd died, Yugen would act decisively.
"I almost pity the Vampire targeting them. No sympathy, but it seems only mages are hit," Katsuto said.
"Correct. Solo or group unclear, but mages are targets," Mayumi confirmed.
"Harming Saegusa mages requires top-tier mages or enhanced soldiers. Not Juumonji or Kagurazaka. So…" Katsuto trailed off.
Guardians like Juumonji and Kagurazaka wouldn't disrupt national defense long-term, especially post-Yugen's military clash. Katsuto suspected foreigners, prompting Mayumi's hesitant response.
"Foreigners? USNA sent student mages and techs. You suspect them?" she asked.
"Just a possibility. The school's exchange students aren't culprits. Ignore them for now. But this situation warrants Kagurazaka and Yotsuba aid," Katsuto said.
Mayumi grimaced. After clashing with Yugen's former Mitsuya and Juumonji families, and his post-Yokohama Saegusa visit, both Kagurazaka and Yotsuba were wary of Saegusa. Her father's Yotsuba meddling fueled her resentment.
"I agree, but we broke unwritten rules. Father must bow for reconciliation," Mayumi said.
"No intent from Koichi-dono? Rare for Yotsuba recently," Katsuto noted.
Since the Okinawa defense, Yotsuba shifted from isolationist power-building to engaging Mitsuya, lacking oversight territory. Maya softened (except toward Saegusa). Mitsuya's four non-eldest siblings were top mages, drawing clan scrutiny, with Yugen as the catalyst. Katsuto questioned Saegusa's feud with a Chubu-Tokai clan.
"I don't know details, but Father meddled with a Yotsuba-linked Defense Force intel section. It got exposed," Mayumi said.
"I see," Katsuto replied briefly, sympathizing.
After calming, Mayumi asked, "Your reply on joint action?"
"Father entrusted Saegusa negotiations to me. Refusing would be dishonorable. Tell Koichi-dono I accept," Katsuto said.
Despite no deaths, victims persisted. At Tokyo Skytree's observation deck roof, Yugen scanned with detection magic. Sensing something from Shibuya, his communicator buzzed.
"Email from Leo… jackpot," Yugen muttered.
Leo's location-sharing email confirmed a hit. Yugen donned custom sunglasses and leaped from the roof. (Note: Normal humans shouldn't try this.)
Leo, after sending the email, ventured deeper into the park. Curiosity drove him, but goodwill trumped instinct. Spotting a slumped woman on a bench, he deduced she wasn't the "Vampire" based on instinct.
"Hey, you okay—!?" Leo called, checking her pulse—weak, needing an ambulance. Sensing a presence, he assumed a combat stance.
Trained in Shinkage-ryu by Moto and Gousan pre-Yokohama, Leo's detection surpassed the "original," hyper-sensitive to gazes. Yugen's psion control lessons gave him Course 1-level activation speed. With Yugen's CAD, Leo's reflex Panzer shattered a mysterious figure's baton, landing a gut punch, sending them flying meters.
The impact felt off—carbon armor likely absorbed it, Leo judged, drawing on Gousan, Moto, and Yokohama experience.
"Compared to them, there was some resistance… probably carbon armor. Trouble," Leo muttered.
The figure's attire—black hat, white mask with eyeholes, concealing coat—felt inhuman. A strange noise and "voice" echoed in Leo's mind.
(…He… does…?)
(Something else approaches… time…)
Magic's occult roots were clear, but Leo, tightened by training, braced. The "Vampire" assumed a Chinese martial arts stance, charging at super-speed without activation. Leo recalled Yugen's warning:
"Leo, these aren't old-school bloodsuckers. Don't let them grab you."
The Vampire's speed was fast, but Leo, recalling faster peers, channeled psions into his CAD for defense. As the Vampire's hand-chop shifted to a grab, Leo ducked, closing distance with self-acceleration.
"Take this!" Leo roared.
With Panzer active, he triggered Phase Burst on contact—a high-difficulty counter. Instinct-driven, it blew the Vampire back over ten meters.
As Leo exhaled, footsteps approached. Turning, he saw Yugen in sunglasses.
"Yugen!" Leo said.
"Nice blast, Leo… whatever," Yugen replied.
Yugen's Tenjin's Eye tracked the Vampire, damaged despite carbon armor, retreating forcibly. Pursuit was ideal, but with Leo's encounter and a rescuee, Yugen delegated to other trackers.
"No chase?" Leo asked.
"Not now. Others are moving, and saving her comes first. Bear with it," Yugen said.
"I get it—she's out of my league," Leo admitted.
Leo felt stronger but recognized his limits. Pursuit wasn't practical, even with Yugen. Yugen couldn't abandon the victim, and Leo risked re-targeting, heightened by his "original" growth.
"Man, that was a real monster. That 'voice'… what's up?" Leo asked.
"Your psion control's kicking in," Yugen said.
Tracking via Tenjin's Eye, Yugen noted the other trackers stopped, likely relying on psion detection. Angie Sirius likely lacked presence-sensing. Yugen could end it, but without full deserter intel, spooking them was risky. Hijacking their thought network was possible but needed anti-takeover measures. Leo's survival shifted the future, making "original" knowledge a reference. Yugen's Okinawa meddling made this moot, but he aimed to test correction forces.
Entrusting the woman to Leo, Yugen guarded. No further attacks came, but Yugen resolved to stay sharper about his actions.
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