Book 1: Records of Magus Killer – Chapter 15 - The Year 2070 (Patreon)

The Year 2070, Yamanashi Prefecture, Yotsuba Village. The entire village started growing nicely and was already at least three times bigger

The Year 2070, Yamanashi Prefecture, Yotsuba Village.

The entire village started growing nicely and was already at least three times bigger than it was before. Of course, facilities weren't the only things that were new additions to the Yotsuba Village but also the population.

Right now, the entire village had a population of around 20,000 people, and it was continuously increasing as the Yotsuba Village was housing all of the highly prioritized people who were working on top-secret projects.

Most commonly, those working on the Project Exodus as the Yotsuba Village represented one of the safest places across the entire Japanese Imperial Hierarchy.

Right now, the Yotsuba Village was inhabited by people most loyal to the Yotsuba Clan and those who signed the Ancient Contract. Countless Magicians, Scientists, Martial Artists, or some other people and their families were slowly but steadily transported to the Yotsuba Village.

Practically everyone who would have some good use in the new world was immediately offered a place within the Yotsuba Village, which was predicted to become a city. The Yotsuba Clan predicted that they would need to save at least a few million people when the time came so they would be able to gain a stable foothold in the new world. 

Not only them but also the Dairenji Clan and Tsuchimikado Clan built their compounds here, as they planned to move their entire clans in later years from their current location.

Apparently, in the end, after the meeting of the three Clans, it was decided to reduce the number of people that would get ticked to the Project Exodus, as logistically speaking, it would be impossible to evacuate a huge number of people without revealing the existence of an entire project.

Thus, it was agreed that only people living in the Yotsuba Village would be evacuated to the new world after a suitable one was found. All people living in the Yotsuba Village were scrutinized and chosen mainly for their skills, abilities, and lineage.

Many of them were prominent scientists, martial artists, hermit ancient magic users, and similar, who were recruited into the Yotsuba under the pretense of having god knows what...

The Phase 1 of Project Exodus contained the creation of the specialized in the Gate Magic Spell which was concept that was proposed by the Magicians in the ancient past, so they could travel to the other worlds.

Worlds that were Magically richer than Earth was so they could find a better future and better opportunities there, because Earth was poor in the terms of Magical density, so they needed other options.

Right now, everyone rigorously worked on reverse-engineering various types of Ancient Magic and Ancient Spells, especially the summoning ones and spatial ones. Aside from that, there were countless people charged with the search for the Leylines and interconnection procedure.

This would be a very arduous part of the entire phase because such a large-scale Magic Ritual would require a tremendous amount of Magic to cast. The sheer amount of Psions required to pull out something like that was so astronomic that only the world itself could do it in their current situation.

When it came to the rest of the world, they would be left on their own, so most probably they would all perish or be enslaved by the invaders. Or they would be used for any other purpose or perhaps they would be lucky and survive.

The future was always pretty unpredictable.

Soon enough, his father-in-law would negotiate an official meeting with Kudou Retsu, as Yotsuba while didn't need exactly the help of the Kudou Clan; it would be easier to complete the project with their help and capabilities.

Not to mention, it already became a hassle as the old man Kudou was smelling something fishy that was going on in the nation since the day it was created.

In the last meeting of the Elders of the Clan, Kiritsugu was appointed as the Enforcement Elder of the Yotsuba Clan. He mainly dealt with things such as the Clan's security or training combat magicians and teaching them how to fight.

Of course, as Enforcement Elder, most clans dealt with offenders and clan criminals, but that was non-existent in the Yotsuba, as they were strictly disciplined and focused on getting stronger, and the Clan was pretty small.

Currently, only 10 people in the entire Clan who bore the name Yotsuba; the rest of the clansmen were Branch Clan Members. Those Branch Clans were Mishiba, Shiba, Shiiba, Kuroba, Shizuka, Shibata, Mugara and Tsukuba Clans.

Branch Clan Members had around 100 members together, but the event was a small number compared to other Ten Master Clans, which in Main Line had more than thirty people, while Branch Clans were even more numerous.

Of course, what the Yotsuba Clan lost in quantity, they made in quality.

Kiritsugu was currently doing a weekly check-up on the barriers surrounding the Yotsuba Village together with the clansmen of the Mashiba Clan and Kuroba Clan.

After he took over as an Enforcement Elder, security over all Yotsuba properties were strengthened several times, and even the number of guards patrolling the properties were now approximately five times more.

"I always wonder how you can do these troublesome chores yourself every time."

Sounded an elderly female voice as Kiritsugu saw his grandmother-in-law, Yotsuba Ayame was, coming over. She was the wife of the previous Clan Head, Higashiama Motohide, and the daughter of the Founders of the Yotsuba Clan, Shiba Kuuya and Shinonome Maaya.

She was an older woman in her seventies. However, her appearance was well kept with Magic, and now, after the Yotsuba Clan obtained research of Jiego Heigu and treasure troves from the Toudou Clan, they were able to devise some magic rituals that prolonged her lifespan by a few decades.

This meant that some Elders that were already ready to kick a bucket, such as Yotsuba Kazuma and Yotsuba Hyouma, could now prolong their lifespan long enough until they could advance further on their path of Magician and see a prosperous future.

"Good security is base for everything. We can't let even fly enter here unnoticed, and aside from that, I am pretty bored."

Stated Kiritsugu as Yotsuba Ayame nodded and slowly sat on the nearby chair that her attendants brought with them.

"That is indeed truth; in other large Clans, Enforcement Elders are usually tasked with disciplining unruly clansmen or similar things, which is not really a problem with the militaristic and strict nature of the Yotsubas... father's ideals really rubbed on everyone else. And my deceased husband only made it more in-depth."

She waved her fan, as it was getting a bit hot, as the sun was already rising.

"Do you need anything, madam?"

Emyia Kiritsugu saw that it was becoming pretty hot; this summer was already in the full flay and temperatures were very high... especially in certain parts of the countryside.

"Actually, yes; when are you planning to hold a wedding?"

Questioned Yotsuba Ayame with a grin.

"..."

Originally he wanted to say something, but he couldn't really. Now, he was already 23 years old, and Maya was 20 years old.

Both of them have initially decided to postpone their wedding due to many things that needed to be done around the development of the Clan. Kiritsugu had a ton of responsibilities as one of the Divine Generals of the Imperial Military.

And Maya had a lot of work as a member of the Council and Clan Head of the Yotsuba.

Maya's mother died before the entire thing with Dahan, and now the responsibility to nag everyone about the wedding came to her grandmother's hands, and Kiritsugu could clearly see that the woman was especially enjoying that.

All of her sons were already married and had children, so she could at least annoy her grandchildren about marriage.

Especially when all of her grandchildren were still unmarried, which was a big no, as Clan numbers needed to be increased.

Her other two grandsons, Shizuka Haruto and Shiiba Hidetsugu, would soon reach 18 years old, and it would be important to marry them so they could continue the bloodline.

Fortunately for them, Shiiba Hidetsugu mainly took after his father, Yotsuba Eisaku, and became Magic Researcher and spent most of his time in a lab, not leaving very often, while Shizuka Haruto wasn't even currently living at the Yotsuba Village.

Of course, the most important people to have a progeny were Maya and Kiritsugu, as one of them was one of the youngest Strategic-Order Magicians with fearsome Innate Magic and specialized magician killer, while another had the powerful potential to reach Strategic-Order within a few years.

"What, do you fear the marriage? It must be the universal thing for men..."

He nearly grimaced before deciding on his next answer.

"Our courtship period has already been completed so that we can get married anytime. It would be most appropriate to ask Maya for further details about this."

He said as he could swear he saw sparkles in her eyes.

After he said his piece, Yotsuba Ayame gave him an excited hug before she went to search for Maya, as he suddenly felt a wave of dread.

Yotsuba was a very traditional Clan, and Genzous stated that the courtship period between him and Maya must be at least 3 years, and only the wedding can commence with one year after the end of the courtship period.

Maybe it was time for the wedding; at least then they could sleep together and not pretend that nothing was happening, and Genzou didn't need to close his eyes every morning to see nothing.

Around half an hour later, at the other side of the Yotsuba Village, Maya was enjoying her leisure time as she was tracking a break from the paperwork, only to see her grandmother coming here with an excited face.

'Now that these Elders got their hands on a few decades of extra lifespan, they are becoming increasingly annoying. Though their presence is ensuring the Clan is developing much faster, and everything is smoother... not to mention, as remnants of the previous generation, their presence and experience humble the rest of the Clan, as people often easily tend to forget their roots.'

Thought Maya, as her grandmother was already before her.