The Prince of Darkness: Mahouka SI Ch.4 (Patreon)

Chapter 4

SAEGUSA MAYUMI

Saegusa Mayumi was the eldest daughter of one of Japan’s most powerful and infamous numbered magical clans, and so the connections and the family name came with both perks and burdens.

As a burden she was to do her duty in carrying her family’s bloodline and make a useful match in the future, to dedicate and give her life to protect the family and the country. Yet for those and the hundreds of burdens she carried, there were perks to being a Saeguse that granted much power and say. Much more than would usually be given to a seventeen-year-old teenager.

And so, it was because of one of those perks that she had gotten access to the scores of the incoming class, using both her position as the President of the Student Council and the daughter of the Saegusa clan.

And it was for good reason. About six months ago, a certain rumor had begun to spread in the upper echelons of Japan’s magical society. A rumor that could have unimaginable consequences for all of the world, for the first time in recent history they had begun to sense movement from the Yotsuba family.

Even amongst the Ten Master Clans there were two clans considered above the rest, the Yotsuba and the Saegusa, yet the truth was that few understood the true might and power of the Yotsuba who had always preferred living in seclusion and secrecy.

And now, after staying quiet for nearly three decades, they were making a move. And given that their last public act had been the absolute destruction of a nation, everyone was on edge.

It was one reason that she sat opposite the acting head of the Jumonji clan, Katsuto Jumonji, who was her own classmate and head of the Club Management Society.

“So, what have you found out?” he asked, and she bit her lip as she nodded.

“The rumors were true. Among the new class, there was a student with that surname,” she began as she looked him in the eye.

“Inei Yotsuba, we cannot be sure whether he is truly a part of the Yotsuba clan or not, but if his scores are any indication I would bet my money that he is the real deal,” and it was not just his scores that had blown her away.

This new incoming class was one of the most promising one she had ever seen, especially in the female section.

“What was his rank?” Katusto asked.

“First,” she answered, and he raised a brow.

“He was tied with another girl named Shiba Miyuki. Although they had the same total score, the boy’s practical scores were higher than hers by a few marks. They had the highest marks in the entrance marks in the school’s history,” she added and saw Katsuto frown.

“Even higher than you,” and Mayumi would not boast, but she was a model student, considered by many a prodigy in her generation. Yet now she had just been outclassed by not just one, but two people.

“Perhaps we will learn more about them during the entrance exam. The student with the most marks gives a speech, don’t they,” and she nodded.

“They do, but Inei-kun has already declined the offer. Shiba Miyuki will give the speech alone,” she added. This was an honor, one that few would ever refuse, but for some reason, Inei Yotsuba had refused it nonetheless.

“It would not surprise me if he is indeed the real thing, but we still know very little about the Yotsuba. This all could be a simple coincidence,” Katsuto nodded.

“Yes, but many in the clan think otherwise. They think that this is real, that the Yotsuba are making a move. I am to report anything suspicious and peculiar at school back to the clan,” she added, and he nodded.

“I have been asked a similar thing, but we must be sure. I will see what I can find out, and you do the same yourself,” and she nodded.

“Yes, I will.”

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INEI YOTSUBA

In a small apartment in Tokyo Inei stood infront of a screen, face to face with none other than the Yotsuba clan head, Maya Yotsuba, yet unlike his usual darker clothes, he wore a uniform, white and teal in color wit the symbol of the First Mgical Highschool embroidered onto his pocket along with a petal showing his ‘Bloom’ status.

“Is it truly necessary for me to do this?” he asked again, and the woman had the audacity to simply smile.

“Of course, Highschool is very important for one’s future prospects,” she added with a smirk, her tone barely hiding her delight.

“You are joking, right? You are simply doing this for your own enjoyment and to mess with the rest of the clans,” he asked, and she smirked.

“Two things can be true at once,” she replied softly as she closed her fan, the smirk vanishing in an instant.

“But I want to make one thing clear. You are a Yotsuba now, and though I have not acknowledged it officially, you bear our name now and with that come certain responsibilities and expectations, I want you to take them into consideration,” she added and he shook his head.

“That was not part of our agreement. I was to attend Highschool for three years as a Yotsuba, all this other stuff was never discussed,” he pointed out.

“It was implied in the first clause. A Yotsuba must be par, of course, especially one who is my son,” she added with a smirk, and he sighed, his shoulders slumping in frustration.

“I never should have agreed to this offer,” he lamented his decision, and the woman had the audacity to chuckle.

“Cheer up, Inei-kun. After all, you will be meeting your precious little cousins for the first time as well,” she added like that was something to celebrate.

Shiba Tatsuya and Shiba Miyuki attended the same High School as him, yet they were doing so without disclosing their real identities. The two were monsters in their own right, each possessing magic that would make them strategic-class magicians.

He was aware of the baggage and the complex circumstances surrounding the both of them, and how the Lady Miyuki was dubbed to be the next clan head, hence making her his competition.

“Do say hi to them from me,” and with that the line was cut off as Inei sighed, a part of him was excited at the adventure he was about to take on, yet the major part of him thought it all a waste, and lamented all the hours he could have spent sleeping, or reading, or even doing nothing.

Yet now he must attend a magical high school, but a school nonetheless.

“What a drag?” he muttered as he glanced at the clock and realized that he might be late to the ceremony if he did not leave.

“Well, it seems I must be on my way.”

0000

In the same city, a few blocks away in the Kyuuchoji Temple, the Shiba siblings sat on the porch of the temple with a bald monk as the young Lady served breakfast to both her brother and the monk, named Kokonoe Yakumo, a proclaimed shinobi and one of Japan’s best-kept mysteries.

“Thank you for the breakfast, Miyuki-chan,” the monk said lecherously as his young protege narrowed his gaze at him, making the bald man back off.

“Maa Maa, is this any way to treat your teacher Tatsuya-kun,” he complained sheepishly as the girl in question spoke up, her voice soft and angelic.

“You are welcome, Kokonoe-sensei. Thank you for taking care of me an brother for all this time,” and the man had been taking care of them for some time, offering training and guidance to the two young magician siblings.

“Well, as an adult and an old man, I cannot let this generosity go unanswered,” the monk began as he began to rub his chin, and the brother, Shiba Tatsuya, immediately perked up at that.

Apart from being a shinobi, Kokonoe Yakumo was an information broker, into the habit of knowing everything. Shiba believed that despite the efforts of the military, the Yotsuba, and himself, the monk was aware of his own secrets and origins.

“Well, then, I believe I have just the gift for you,” he said as he clapped his head and turned toward Miyuki.

“Not to spoil the surprise or anything, but you two are going to find a rather familial surprise today.”

And that was all he said, and the elder brother would continue to contemplate on those words, trying to make sense of them, until he had stepped foot on the school to see the displayed rankings, while his sister stood beside him.

His eyes widened for a moment as he stared at the name written underneath Miyuki’s.

“Impossible,” Miyuki gasped, and he would have done the same if all his emotions had not been dulled and decimated except the one he held for his little sister.

Shiba Miyuki was a genius, a prodigy unlike any, and yet her scores for the entrance test, which was no joke had been matched by someone.

Let alone, someone had outscored her in the practical section of the exam, and this person bore the same name as their mother, which should be impossible.

And all he could think at that moment was just who was Inei-Yotsuba.

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