Summary of the Previous Volume
On a Sunday in late September, just before the 2096 National High School Magic Thesis Competition, the Kuroba Twins came to Tatsuya's home. They brought a letter from Yotsuba Maya, the head of the Yotsuba. It requested assistance in capturing Zhou Gongjin, who had fled Yokohama. Although surprised that it was a request rather than an order, Tatsuya went to the Kudou Family, whose base was in Nara, to trace Zhou, who had fled toward Kyoto and Nara. There, they met Kudou Minoru, a young magician whose beauty was of the same nature as Miyuki's.
Led by Minoru, Tatsuya and the others arrived at a stronghold of the Traditionalists, a group of ancient magic users who were hiding Zhou Gongjin. Standing in their way were the Traditionalists' ancient magic users and Taoists from the continent. Meanwhile, Saegusa Kouichi, head of the Saegusa Family, ordered his trusted subordinate Nagura to assassinate Zhou in order to erase the fact that he had colluded with Zhou Gongjin. Zhou and Nagura fought a fierce battle to the death on the banks of the Katsura River in Kyoto. In the end, it was Nagura who lost his life.
Upon hearing the sudden news of her bodyguard's death, Mayumi took action to uncover the truth.