The next day.
Yasuno arrived right on time. But… her face looked utterly exhausted. Despite it being morning, she looked as though she had run a full marathon after pulling an all-nighter. Perhaps something had happened because of what Inari had said yesterday… Even Inari felt a little guilty.
For now, she was shown into the living room, given tea by Eru, and promptly slumped into her seat.
“Mm, I feel most apologetic.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s just… the matter went up, and then up again, and then even higher up, and before I knew it, it had caused an uproar.”
“Mm, so grave a matter?”
“It really is… Even the Director, whom I’d only ever seen at entrance ceremonies, came out.”
Yes. The request Inari had made through Yasuno had passed up the chain—through her superiors, all the way to the Director, the head of the Awakener Association in Japan.
This was not solely because of Inari. It was the convergence of three names that could not be ignored: Inari, the Takemoto Samurai Corps, and the Echigo Trading Company. The judgment was made that the matter was too influential across too many domains to overlook.
“Well then, to begin with the results: our Japan Headquarters will act as intermediary with the Echigo Trading Company.”
“Oh, that is helpful indeed. But is that wise? I thought thou wert to hear details only today.”
“Well… we decided that with all the materials already at hand, we could grasp the situation clearly enough.”
In truth, it had been a difficult judgment. For the Awakener Association to exercise influence over a clan as large as Echigo risked setting a precedent with far-reaching consequences.
The Association was meant only as a coordinator for awakeners’ lives, never a ruler. Awakeners harbored deep aversion toward being ruled, or toward any attempt to rule them. To show even a hint of such behavior would invite other nations’ Associations, eager to poach Japan’s top awakeners. Indeed, there had been countries that weakened drastically by exposing such gaps. Thus, all were cautious.
That was why even the Director had appeared at the meeting. And the conclusion was this: given that Inari herself now outweighed Echigo in importance, and considering Echigo had already been rejected by the Nine Great Clans, then serving as mere intermediary posed no real problem.
In simpler terms, they judged they could still say: “We are not interfering.”
“We also confirmed details with the Takemoto Samurai Corps, and received detailed documents. As a result… well. If the Superhuman League is involved, the Association’s stance is that we absolutely must crush their plans.”
“Mm?”
“If evidence linking to the Superhuman League is found, then the Association will be able to intervene in full.”
They would not step into a family feud—but if the League was involved, it was a different matter. That group was a threat to the awakener community itself. To prepare for that possibility, the Association had already begun contacting top rankers.
“They say: strike while the iron is hot. Japan Headquarters has already contacted Echigo. The message was: ‘A candidate for clan master has appeared. The Association guarantees her identity.’”
“Oh, bold indeed. That is practically a backing.”
“They judged that nothing less would have any meaning for Echigo as it is now…”
Indeed, Echigo was in a wretched state. Already, two individuals had submitted “clan master registration applications” to Japan Headquarters, and those two were now clashing internally. They were the same people who had tried to pull down Echigo Yaeka, the former clan master, for being “too young.” Politics had become their addiction.
“Well, we aren’t too worried since Miss Kogami already crushed Black Blade. But Sunlight and Red Dragon are both deeply involved with the two candidates. So… it will probably get violent.”
Sunlight. Red Dragon.
Thug clans. They rarely hesitated to attack others. They knew just how far they could push without making the Association explode—but with Echigo as their cover, they might grow reckless.
“Well, all will be well. I shall protect her.”
“Then that puts me at ease.”
Seeing Inari and Yasuno nod to each other, Eru made a conflicted expression. For in truth, the weak point in all this was herself.
Yasuno suspected that even if a dump truck hit Inari at full speed, she would emerge unscathed—but not Eru. Still, if Inari vowed to protect her, then perhaps it truly would be fine. This faith was shaped largely by reports from the Shion rescue operation.
“Then, when shall we set out to them?”
“Anytime. A car is waiting. Shall we go now?”
“Aye. Then let us depart at once.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Eru could only blink at how quickly the discussion advanced, leaving her behind.
“They’re so used to dangerous talk… Are they actually battle-hardened types…?”
And judging by Inari’s history, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
Thus, Inari and her companions set off for the Echigo Trading Company headquarters.