Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Vol.17 - Master Clans Conference (I)

Chapter 1

January 2nd, 2097 A.D., the news that had spread from the Magic

Association early into the New Year had produced a big shock among

related parties.

The person who made such an announcement was one of the Family

Heads of the Ten Master Clans, Yotsuba Maya, from the Yotsuba

Family.

The included contents were the chosen heiress of the Yotsuba Family, as

well as the engagement of the next Family Head.

It meant that the Yotsuba Family was moving forward to the next

generation. Shiba Miyuki was named as the next Family Head of the

Yotsuba, and unexpectedly, Shiba Tatsuya was also chosen as her

fiancé. Both pieces of news became a major announcement for the next

era of Japan's Magic Community.

However, this news didn't just place expectations on the 'New Era'.

Anxiety and shock rippled through those who knew about Tatsuya and

Miyuki. Leaving out the fact they were both related to the Yotsuba

Family (in some way) which they had hidden up until now, it was

revealed they were also not real siblings. The emotional rivalry among

the girls and boys had, perhaps, seen this as a 'bolt from the blue', which

was a natural outcome with the events as they were.

Among those to be jarred from this was the Ichijou Family's eldest son

from the Ten Master Clans, Ichijou Masaki.

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January 2nd, 4 P.M., Masaki came back from the New Year's Ritual and

went to his father's parlor after being summoned.

It was rare for Masaki's father to be around the house at this time. He

was usually moving around the seabed looking for resources for his

mining company, as that was the official family business. Otherwise he

would be overseeing the training of Magicians under the Ichijou Family,

hence he wouldn't return home before dinner. However, during the first

three days of the New Year, he had to receive greetings as the Head of

the Ichijou Family of the Ten Master Clans. For better or worse, his

obligation as a Family Head required him to stay put in the house.

The Ichijou Family's Mansion has a Western-style partitioned structure,

and the room to greet the guests was located at the end of a long hallway

attached to a parlor which was designed according to Japanese-style

architecture, like a Samurai-styled mansion.

Masaki arrived in front of his father's parlor, and knelt down in the

hallway before knocking on the door rather than suddenly barging into

the room.

"It's me, Masaki."