"I don't think geographical expansion is necessarily a guarantee of economic scale, but it's definitely a major factor."

  And even if you haven’t studied economics in depth, you can still draw this line of reasoning from watching how the world is run.

  Kouichi nodded at Tatsuya's remark and deliberately lowered the tone of his voice.

  "I don't believe that the reasons for wanting to confine magicians within the country are simply based on fear of the outflow of genetic data."

  "You think it's about making us more dependent on the government?"

  "I don't think it's an unjustified suspicion."

  Kouichi said so confidently. Perhaps he has access to undisclosed information by some means.

  "So you believe that by expanding into overseas markets, it will lead to the breakthrough we need for our economic independence?

  "Yes, I do believe so. There are markets outside the country, not just magic related ones, that we haven't been able to access before. That's why I think it's a good opportunity when you assigned my daughter to travel to the USNA, Shiba-san."

  "It certainly is an unexpected alignment of interests."

  "Indeed. We can work together if it's for our mutual benefit. Don't you agree?"

  "You have a point."

  Tatsuya nodded without hesitation to Kouichi's question.

  "Just so there's no misunderstanding, I don't have any feelings against Saegusa-dono."

  For example, Tatsuya was well aware of the time when Kouichi lent a hand to Zhou Gongjin. Nevertheless, it's true that he doesn't have any kind of ill feelings because of it.

  "Neither do I. I don't have anything against you, Shiba-san."

  Kouichi, for his part, was able to separate his emotional baggage with Maya and his evaluation of Tatsuya.

  26

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  The evening of June 17th. Inukai, the Deputy Director of the Army Intelligence Department, was visiting a hotel just outside the city center accompanied by retired Army General Saionji. Since the last century — this is the last year of the 21st century — this top-class hotel has been recognized as having received the highest of evaluations among prestigious first-class hotels worldwide.

  After being taken to the private room that had been reserved for them at the restaurant, Inukai breathed a sigh of relief to find that the room was still empty. Inukai — Saionji as well, the both of them refused the waiter's attempt to pull out a chair for them and they chose to instead stand alongside the wall.

  Just over ten minutes after Inukai and Saionji's arrival, the guest of honor appeared in the private room. Even though it was past the scheduled time, it was still earlier than they had expected. Saionji and Inukai greeted the old man with the most respectful bow, who was being led by a young woman who they surmised to be his secretary doubling as his escort.

  Saionji apologized to the old man — to one of the Four Great Elders of the Senate, Kashiwa Kazutaka, for having him travel all this way to meet them, and expressed his gratitude with the utmost reverence. To which Kashiwa replied in a friendly tone, and the four of them, including the woman who acted as his secretary and escort, took their places at the table.

  Kashiwa Kazutaka, one of the most powerful people behind the scenes in the country, is an elderly gentleman who's more than 175cm tall. He has pure white hair and good posture. Be it standing or sitting, neither his waist nor his back hunched over. He walks with a steady gait. He should be more than 70 years old, but his skin is free of old age spots and there are no pronounced wrinkles. He carries the air of a gentle, serene scholar.

  It was only the day before yesterday that Inukai asked to be "introduced" by Saionji. It may have been a coincidence that his schedule was open, but nevertheless Kashiwa seems to be a rather expeditious person in spite of his power. The fact that he preferred to dine at a restaurant instead of inviting them to his mansion shows that he’s a man who doesn't take things lightly.

  "So, Saionji-kun. What is it that you want to consult me about?"

  Kashiwa's tone of voice didn’t betray the image evoked by his outward appearance.

  27

  However, even after Saionji had respectfully bowed down to greet him, he hadn't relaxed a bit.

  "Yes, with all due respect…"

  With that as a preamble, Saionji asked Kashiwa about the Senate's stance on Mayumi's trip to the United States.

  "The Senate will neither allow nor forbid a magician from traveling abroad."

  There was a slight disappointment from not getting the answer he wanted, but then again, it wasn't the worst case scenario, so Inukai made eye contact with Saionji, who asked a more in-depth question.

  "…If you don't mind me asking, sir, what are your own thoughts on the matter?"

  Under Inukai's gaze, Saionji posed the question with trepidation.

  "Personally… I feel that Toudou-kun is a little too supportive of those youths."

  This answer greatly encouraged Inukai.

  "I am fully aware of the importance of that young man, but we cannot maintain order if he’s allowed to do as he pleases. May we borrow some of Sensei's profound wisdom on this?"

  Inukai addressed Kashiwa directly.

  The woman raised her eyebrows and expressed her displeasure, but Kashiwa showed no sign of being bothered.

  "Let me see… Harming that person who has now become the trump card in defense of the country and his fiancée is out of the question, but his fiancée isn't the only thing of importance to that person in the world. And even if he holds the power of a fierce god, as long as he’s a human being, the number of things he can do is limited."

  "Sensei, that…"

  As someone familiar with how things work behind the scenes, Inukai understood exactly what Kashiwa was suggesting.

  At the same time, he was once again reminded that the man before him not only doesn't have a gentle personality, but is one of the most powerful people who controls the country "behind the scenes."

  28

  "Besides, there is no such thing as an all-powerful being in the world. All technology has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the user. Even magic is no exception to this."

  However, even though he could understand what was being suggested, he couldn't see how exactly he was going to accomplish it. Under the guise of deciphering the meaning of Kashiwa's words, Inukai frantically searched for a meaning in his thoughts.

  Perhaps Kashiwa took pity on him.

  "I happen to know of some competent people who might be suitable to lend a hand with this matter. Let me write you a letter of introduction."

  Kashiwa readily added.

  "I am very grateful and fortunate for your help…!"

  Saionji and Inukai both bowed their heads and said in unison.

  "Now, since we're here, why don't we enjoy a meal?"

  At Kashiwa's words, Inukai stood up in a hurry.

  He rushed out of the private room to call out to the waiters who had been waiting outside.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  It was around the same time as when the Deputy Director of the Army Intelligence Department was desperately attempting to entertain one of the most powerful people from behind the scenes.

  Tatsuya had invited Lina to the living room of his home for an update on her preparations for her trip to the United States.

  Although it was mentioned as an invitation, Tatsuya and Miyuki's home as well as Lina's home are on the same floor of the same apartment building, and Lina comes to this apartment every night. The superficial reason for this was that Lina was now Miyuki's bodyguard, but in reality, she comes here for the food that Miyuki cooks.

  Nowadays with the development of home automation, it's not uncommon to see people like Lina who can't cook. She insists, "I'm great at survival cooking!" Although, every time she makes this excuse, it's as if she's admitting that she doesn't have the skills to cook on a daily basis.

  29

  In addition, as if forgetting to hold back, Miyuki cooks dinner for more than one person, so she doesn't mind Lina coming over every night. For Miyuki, Lina is the kind of friend that’s hard to come by with whom she can have a relationship on equal footing.

  It's the same for Lina — their "equal footing" hardly stands on the grounds that they are both daughters of prestigious bloodlines. Whereas they don't feel uncomfortable when people accept them as descendants of high-born families thanks to their graceful and exceptionally beautiful features, they also don't feel all that satisfied with being marked with only that label.

  It's not about their social position, social class, or even their physical appearance.

  Miyuki and Lina are both individuals who possess magical power unmatched by others.

  Honoka and Shizuku who've been their friends since high school, and even Ayako and Yuuka who have strongly inherited the bloodline of the Yotsuba Family ── Tsukuba Yuuka is the eldest daughter and the next head of the Tsukuba Family ── they are all clearly outmatched by these two. Even Yotsuba Maya, the head of the Yotsuba Family and currently regarded as one of the strongest magicians in the world, may not be a match for Miyuki and Lina, apart from her special magic that only she can use.

  They are friends who recognize that they are equal in power to one another. And despite that, they don't fall under the cliché of "love rivals," as is usually the case in fiction. This is one of the reasons why their relationship is at the point where they are comfortable with one another.

  That's why Lina spends most of her time chatting with Miyuki after dinner, but today's topic is work related. Lina’s scheduled to return to the USNA temporarily at Tatsuya's request.

  There’s a possibility that the Anti-Magic Movement or any other organization that's hostile to FEHR, may be planning to interfere by the time Mayumi and her colleague arrive in Vancouver to make contact with FEHR. In addition, there’s also the possibility that some of the USNA's federal and local government agencies may attempt to interfere.

  As a means of countering this, Lina, who maintains strong ties with the upper echelons of the USNA federal military, is being secretly dispatched.

  Lina had come to give an update on her preparations for this trip. She’s a naturalized citizen of Japan, so it's not as if she's legally returning to her home country, but on an emotional level she is "returning home."

  "Have you talked to the commander of Zama Base?"

  With the escalation of World War III, also known as the 20 years of repeated wars across the world, the United States Armed Forces (USA Military) withdrew to Hawaii, thus the 30

  United States military bases in Japan disappeared. However, Japan's geopolitical importance to the United States (USNA) in the Western Pacific remains unchanged, and thus the Japan-U.S. Alliance continues to exist with a different meaning.

  Japan, on the other hand, continues to face military threats from two major powers, the New Soviet Union to the north and the Great Asian Union to the west. In fact, the situation has deteriorated even more now than before the war.

  In the interest of both Japan and the United States, many of the former United States military bases in Japan were designated as U.S.-Japan Joint-Use Bases. In order to maintain formal equality, there are also Joint-Use Bases in USNA territory, but there are currently no Japanese military units permanently stationed in the United States, but the system is effectively designed for the United States Armed Forces to use bases in Japan.

  Zama Base is one of these Joint-Use Bases, where the USNA has permanently stationed supply units.

  "──Yeah. I was reluctant at first, but Ben got me through to Senator Curtis. It didn't take long after that."

  By "Ben," she’s referring to Benjamin Canopus, who is currently the STARS

  Commander-in-Chief and was Lina's right-hand man when she was the STARS

  Head-Captain. Even now with Lina having retired from the USNA Military ──however the USNA Military considers her retirement a mere "formality"── she and Canopus remain close friends. Not only that, but Canopus had secretly received orders from the Secretary of Defense of the USNA Federal Government to provide Lina with support from behind the scenes.

  "I don't believe this matter required the assistance of His Excellency Curtis"…

  Senator Curtis is a major figure in USNA politics, also known as the "Shadow CIA Director," who helped restore the honor of Lina and Canopus when they were framed as traitors by members of STARS who had become Parasites, and is also Canopus'

  great-uncle (his grandmother's younger brother).

  "I said the same thing to Ben, but he said, 'You don't owe me anything for this.'"

  "I see. Well, let's just accept it and be thankful for the time they saved us. So, are you leaving the country on a United States military transport plane?"

  "Yeah. STARS will be providing an ID card and passport, so I'll be picking those up at the base."

  Lina has been naturalized as a Japanese citizen, and naturally no longer holds USNA citizenship. However, in order for the USNA federal military to save face, for Lina ── the 31

  Japanese naturalization of [Angie Sirius], a nationally recognized Strategic-Class Magician, has been handled internally "as a means of deception in order to monitor Shiba Tatsuya, a Super-Strategic-Class Magician."

  With that, a new identity as a USNA citizen was created separately from her original identity as a USNA federal soldier. The ID that Lina will use on her trip to the United States was forged by the USNA Military. Since it was created by the USNA authorities, in a sense, it can be said to be genuine.

  "Well, since I'll be using a military transport plane to leave and come back, if all goes as planned, I won't even need a passport. In the unlikely event that something goes wrong on my way back over here, I may have to come to Japan as a regular American."

  "If worse comes to worst, I'll have Minoru pick you up and you can just come back using the Takachiho."

  The Takachiho was a gigantic artificial satellite orbiting at an altitude of about 6,400

  km's. Tatsuya prepared this for Minoru and Minami to live in after they became Parasites, since they no longer had any place to return to on earth ── this is a satellite orbital residence facility, where it was confirmed the month before that it can be used as a relay station between Japan and the United States.

  "All right. I don't think that I'll really need it, though."

  Lina said this with a look of complete confidence.

  Tatsuya also doubted that such a situation would occur, so he chuckled and gave her a "I guess so."

  "Have you finished your conversation?"

  It was Miyuki who spoke to them as she walked over while holding a tray with coffee cups on it. She was probably timing it so that she wouldn't interrupt their conversation about work.

  Wearing a simple knee-length dress paired with an apron, the sight of Miyuki with her hair tied up with a scrunchie radiated the impression of a newlywed wife. The aura emanating from her came as a little too noxious to the single Lina. Whether in an unconscious or deliberate act, Lina lifted her head from her seated position on the sofa and narrowed her eyes as if dazzled.

  Miyuki let out a chuckle at the sight ── she was amused by how Lina would always react to something that she should be long used to ── before placing a cup before 32

  Tatsuya and Lina. Then, after placing her own cup next to Tatsuya's, Miyuki proceeded to sit in her usual spot. ──Needless to say, her usual spot was right beside Tatsuya.

  "When will you be leaving, Lina?"

  Miyuki asked Lina as she reached for her cup.

  "Mayumi and company are leaving on the 26th, right? So I was thinking of leaving on the 27th."

  "That's next Sunday."

  Today was Thursday. The 27th was the following Sunday.

  "Well, that leaves you with some leeway."

  "I'd rather just get this over with."

  Lina responded to Miyuki's smiling expression with a light shrug.

  "There must be a lot of people you haven't seen in a while, right? Won't you even buy souvenirs to bring back with you?"

  "I'm taking a military plane. I can't bring too much with me."

  "It's a transport plane, isn't it? I figured it would have more room than a commercial plane."

  "Yeah, I suppose so."

  "If you're going to buy some souvenirs, I'll go with you."

  Lina had a troubled face as she thought about it.

  Deciding that it was time to change topics, Miyuki turned to look at Tatsuya beside her.

  "By the way, Tatsuya-sama. It seems that there has been some interference by part of the government."

  "Are you talking about Saegusa-dono being called by the Minister of Defense yesterday?"

  "Yes."

  Miyuki nodded, looking to be slightly concerned.

  "Rather than coming from the government, I'm guessing it came from the National Defense Force. The source is probably the Army Intelligence Department."

  "Did they make a request to stop Senpai's trip to the United States?"

  33

  Needless to say, by Senpai, she was referring to Mayumi. On the job, Miyuki calls Mayumi

  "Saegusa-san," but in private, she tended to stick with the old way of calling her.

  "That's right. You got it pretty well."

  Tatsuya praised Miyuki's insightfulness. Yet this was probably out of favoritism. A high-level civilian magician was about to leave the country without their permission.

  There are a limited number of options open to the government officials in this regard.

  "Is there any chance that Saegusa-dono will change his mind?"

  While Miyuki's cheeks softened in a smile from Tatsuya's praise, she didn't indulge in the euphoria and pressed on with her concerns. It's a development that probably would never have happened until she became a university student.

  "Judging from what Saegusa-dono talked with me about yesterday, I think it'll be fine."

  "Is that really it? So, Saegusa-dono also doesn't intend to be at the mercy of the government then?"

  "Yeah. He, being who he is, seems to be looking for business opportunities outside of the country."

  Miyuki was convinced by Tatsuya's explanation. The fact that he chose to do this after calculating his own interests on the matter, was consistent with the image Miyuki had of Saegusa Kouichi in her head.