Chapitre 4: Exploring the Yotsuba Estate

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the Yotsuba Estate, its rays gently filtering through the windows of the nursery where Tatsuya lay. Today was different; there was an air of expectancy as one of the maids, a kind-faced woman named Harumi, entered the room.

"Little Tatsuya," she cooed, lifting him carefully into her arms. "Today, you'll see more of the world you belong to."

Tatsuya, cradled in Harumi's arms, felt a surge of excitement. This was his chance to see and learn more about the Yotsuba Estate, a place shrouded in magic and mystery. 'Every corridor, every room needs to be memorized' he thought, his eyes wide with curiosity.

As Harumi gently carried Tatsuya through the grand corridors of the Yotsuba Estate, their first significant stop was the grand library. The room was a haven of knowledge, with shelves lined with ancient tomes and modern texts. Tatsuya's eyes widened at the sight, his mind alight with curiosity and eagerness. 'So much knowledge, just within reach... yet so far,' he thought, a sense of longing mixed with resolve in his heart. 'One day, I'll delve into these books, learn everything they have to offer.'

He considered the challenge that lay ahead of him. 'Engineering, magic, history... I'm a century in the future. Things must have changed, evolved. It'll be hard, no doubt, but the rewards... the knowledge I'll gain will be worth every effort.' The thought of learning, of expanding his understanding of this new world, filled him with excitement.

They moved on to the estate's gardens, a labyrinth of flora where the air tingled with latent magical energy. Harumi explained how some of the plants were used in potions and spells. Tatsuya noticed a particular flower that seemed to shimmer with an inner light. 'Is that magic? Or just the play of sunlight?' he wondered, intrigued.

As Harumi carried Tatsuya through the ornate corridors of the Yotsuba Estate, their journey took them to a secluded courtyard, renowned for its tranquility and beauty. She explained in hushed tones that this was a place of significant gatherings, where decisions affecting the magical community were often made. Tatsuya, nestled in her arms, listened attentively, absorbing every detail. 'This courtyard is more than just a scenic spot; it's a stage for the dance of power and politics,' he thought, intrigued by its hidden significance.

As they lingered in the courtyard, Tatsuya's sharp ears caught the faint drift of voices from a nearby alcove. Harumi, busy admiring the flowers, didn't notice his attention shift. The voices were hushed but charged with urgency, discussing matters that were clearly meant to be confidential.

Tatsuya strained to listen, his infant mind racing to piece together the fragments of conversation. He could discern mention of alliances, some recent upheaval within the magical community, and a reference to a 'crucial plan' involving the Yotsuba family. 'What plan are they talking about? And how does it involve the family?' he wondered, a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension stirring within him.

The voices grew clearer for a moment, and Tatsuya caught a few key phrases: "...the upcoming conclave," "...balance of power," and, most intriguingly, "...the role of the new heir." His heart skipped a beat. 'The new heir? Are they talking about me?'

As quickly as they had started, the voices faded, the speakers moving away from the alcove. Tatsuya was left with more questions than answers, but he knew one thing for certain: there were layers to his existence in the Yotsuba family that he had only just begun to uncover.

The rest of the tour took a backseat in his mind as he pondered the overheard conversation. 'A conclave? A plan involving me? I need to find out more,' he thought, a determination settling in him. This was no ordinary family, and his role in it was evidently not going to be ordinary either.

Harumi, oblivious to the significant eavesdropping, continued to show Tatsuya around, but his thoughts were elsewhere, weaving theories and strategies. 'If I'm to have a role in this family's schemes, I need to be prepared. I need to understand the intricacies of their politics and their magic.'

As they continued their exploration of the estate, Harumi guided Tatsuya down a series of ornate hallways, each turn revealing more of the Yotsuba family's hidden world. They approached a securely locked room, its door heavy and imposing.

"This," Harumi whispered, leaning closer to Tatsuya as if sharing a great secret, "is where the family keeps specialized magical equipment. Among them are CADs – Casting Assistant Devices." Her eyes sparkled with a mix of reverence and curiosity.

Tatsuya's interest was immediately piqued. 'CADs? The devices used to amplify and control magic in Mahouka?' he thought, his mind racing with excitement. 'This is incredible! To think such technology actually exists here!'

He gazed at the locked door, imagining the wonders it held behind it. 'What kind of CADs are in there? Standard, specialized, or even something beyond what's shown in the anime?' His thoughts swirled with the possibilities of getting his hands on such devices, of feeling the rush of magic channeled through a CAD.

Harumi continued, her voice hushed but filled with enthusiasm. "The Yotsuba have always been at the forefront of magical development, especially when it comes to CADs. Some say the devices in this room are unique, crafted specifically for the family's needs."

Harumi sighed softly, a note of sadness in her tone. "It's a shame, though, for you, Tatsuya. Without the ability to use standard magic, you won't be able to utilize these CADs. It's such a waste, for a child of the Yotsuba to be... limited in such a way."

Tatsuya felt a sting at her words, a reminder of the perceived shortcomings of his magical abilities within the family. 'Limited, she says. But I won't let that define me,' he thought defiantly. 'I'll find my own way to excel, CAD or no CAD.'

As they continued the tour, Tatsuya's mind was ablaze with possibilities. 'Even if I can't use standard magic, there must be other ways, other paths to harnessing magical power. The CADs are just tools, after all. It's the magician who wields them that matters.'

The rest of the tour blurred into the background as Tatsuya's thoughts circled back to the CADs and his unique situation. 'This challenge... it's just another obstacle to overcome. one a small kid who

As the tour continued through the grand halls of the Yotsuba Estate, Tatsuya's attention waned, his thoughts spiraling inward. The mention of CADs and his supposed limitations had triggered a cascade of memories from his past life – memories of failure, of being cast out, and of abject loneliness.

He remembered the painful day he was thrown out of his home, the cold rejection in his parents' eyes. 'I was a failure to them... a disappointment,' he thought bitterly. The memory of losing his job at McDonald's, a job he had taken out of sheer desperation, followed. 'Couldn't even flip burgers right,' he chastised himself.

Tatsuya's mind then wandered to his friends, or rather, those he had once considered friends. One by one, they had drifted away, leaving him isolated in his hour of need. 'Fair-weather friends, that's all they were. I was alone... utterly alone.'

The weight of these memories pressed down on him, a suffocating blanket of regret and self-loathing. 'I wasted my life, squandered my potential. And for what? To end up freezing on a bench, abandoned by everyone?'

In a sudden surge of frustration, Tatsuya screamed internally, berating himself. 'Enough!' he thought fiercely. 'Stop wallowing in self-pity. This is a new life, a new chance. Don't waste it like you did the last one.'

Driven by a mix of anger and determination, he tried to lift his pudgy infant hands, wanting to physically shake himself out of this spiral of despair. His movements were clumsy, uncoordinated, but each attempt was a testament to his resolve. 'No more being a sissy, no more excuses. You've been given a rare gift – a second chance. Use it!'

His little hands flailed in the air, each movement a physical manifestation of his inner vow to change. 'This life will be different,' he promised himself. 'I'll face challenges head-on, no running away, no giving up. I'll be someone my past self could never even dream of becoming.'

As Tatsuya lay in his crib, staring at the ornate ceiling of his nursery, his mind wandered to the vast realm of possibilities that lay before him in this new century. 'Engineering, magic, history... I'm not just in a new life, but in a whole new era,' he mused. 'The advancements in technology alone would be staggering to comprehend.'

He pondered the scope of technological progress in this future world. 'Have they achieved feats in space exploration that were mere fantasies in my past life? Do colonies on other planets exist, or did the aftermath of World War III put a halt to such ambitions?' Tatsuya's curiosity about the state of the world outside the Yotsuba Estate grew with each passing moment.

His thoughts then veered towards the realm of science fiction. 'And what about extraterrestrial life? In the anime, Tatsuya was virtually invincible against human adversaries. Did the author of Mahouka envision an interstellar enemy, perhaps one that could match Tatsuya's overwhelming power?'

The idea of aliens and spacefaring civilizations filled Tatsuya with a mix of awe and apprehension. 'If such beings exist in this world, what would that mean for humanity? For magic? The implications are enormous.'

Tatsuya's mind then circled back to the more immediate and tangible aspect of his new life - the integration of magic and technology. 'CADs are just the beginning. I'm in an era where magic isn't just a mystical art; it's a scientific field, intertwined with cutting-edge technology. The potential applications are limitless.'

He envisioned the advancements that might have occurred in other fields as well. 'Medicine, communications, transportation... how have they evolved with the infusion of magic? What kind of world have I been reborn into?'

Despite the enormity of what lay ahead, Tatsuya felt a surge of excitement. 'To learn, to discover, to be at the forefront of this new age... It's an opportunity like no other. and I have an adult mind in kid's body so I can train most effectively so before sleep let's roll over 10 times'

...................................

n a dimly lit monitoring room lined with screens, two guardians kept a vigilant watch over the Yotsuba Manor. Their eyes flitted across the screens, observing the comings and goings within the estate with practiced detachment. One screen, in particular, held their attention more than others – the one displaying the nursery where the youngest member of the Yotsuba family, Tatsuya, resided.

"Have you noticed the little one?" one guardian asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern. "He's... different. Barely cries, eats like he's got all the time in the world. It's eerie."

The other guardian nodded, her eyes never leaving the screen. "I've seen it. It's unnatural, even for a Yotsuba. They say he lacks a magic calculation area, which is rare for this family. Makes you wonder what the elders have in store for him."

On the screen, Tatsuya could be seen attempting to roll over in his crib, a task he approached with unusual determination for an infant. His movements were clumsy and awkward, yet there was a sense of purpose in his actions.

The first guardian chuckled. "Look at him go. It's almost comical, like he thinks he's in some sort of training montage. He doesn't do things like a normal baby."

"Yeah, but you have to feel for the kid," the second guardian replied, her gaze softening slightly. "No magic in a family like this? It's like being a bird that can't fly. He's bound to be used as a pawn, poor thing."

As they watched, Tatsuya continued his peculiar exercise, rolling over repeatedly in his crib. The guardians exchanged a glance, a shared understanding of the oddity of the situation.

"Monstrous or not, he's still just a baby," the first guardian murmured. "But in this family, who knows what being 'just a baby' even means."

The second guardian sighed, her eyes still fixed on the screen. "In the Yotsuba, everything and everyone has a purpose. Let's just hope his path isn't as dark as some others in this place."