The Untouchable of Magic High School – A New God Enters the Game

The Nine Schools Competition's room assignments typically paired students in twos. This year, however, Tatsuya's presence left an odd number, and as technical staff, pairing him with athletes was impractical. To balance things, another first-year male had to take the short straw. That unlucky soul was Yugen.

"Thanks to that, it's easier to have private chats," Yugen said. "Your schedule good?"

"Yeah, there's still time," Mikihiko replied.

Yugen had sensed Mikihiko's earlier reaction, realizing he'd caught onto something. To cut the topic short, Yugen had steered the conversation forcefully. They'd exchanged private addresses after the lab incident, making it easy to summon Mikihiko.

"So, you probably figured out that thing's no ordinary object," Yugen said. "I made it."

"Seriously!?" Mikihiko gaped.

"Yeah. But I don't know how it works. I crafted it out of spite, so I can't explain why it turned out like that."

"Spite? You made a spirit beacon out of spite?" Mikihiko said, stunned.

Ordinary wood, not sacred, had been carved into something extraordinary—beyond Yugen's expectations. Fortunately, its full power only activated in his presence, a quirk that limited its potential.

Yugen confided in Mikihiko because of his spirit magic expertise and trustworthiness as a friend.

"It only works when I'm nearby," Yugen said. "Maybe I unconsciously used Onmyodo secrets."

"Onmyodo? Like the Joushima family's arts?" Mikihiko asked.

"My mother's from the Joushima family," Yugen said. "I'm a Shin'inryu master, after all… Mikihiko, you've been avoiding me and Erika for the past six months. Is it tied to your family?"

Ancient magic often involved rituals—displays of power akin to tribal rites of passage. The Yoshida family had such traditions, likely the "Starfall Ritual," which Yugen suspected had diminished Mikihiko's magic to Second Course levels.

"How'd you guess?" Mikihiko asked, guarded.

"We've known each other seven years, thanks to my dad's connections," Yugen said. "You were so confident—borderline arrogant. Now you're a shadow of that. The only explanation is your family's ritual."

Mikihiko's expression shifted, confirming Yugen's hunch. The ritual had disrupted his magical instincts, hindering his potential. Worse, Mikihiko seemed to measure himself against Tatsuya—a Second Course student, Discipline Committee member, and now a technical staff pick for the competition, endorsed by past champions. A natural benchmark, but misguided, Yugen thought.

"Look, Mikihiko, you're you, I'm me. Our magic and fighting styles differ. You can't measure us with the same ruler," Yugen said. "As someone trained in both, I'd say it's about application… but that's your issue. Don't let it mess with your 'side job.' And keep this between us, yeah?"

"You're not digging deeper?" Mikihiko asked.

"You'd get mad," Yugen grinned. "Besides, knowing Erika, she'd probably force you into waiter duty."

"That's too plausible," Mikihiko muttered, checking the time. "Gotta go for my 'side job.'"

Yugen saw him off, then froze as another figure approached.

"Well, this is a surprise," Yugen said. "It's been a while, Hayama-san."

"Four months, perhaps, Yugen-sama?" Hayama, the Yotsuba family's head butler, replied.

"Let's keep that quiet," Yugen said playfully.

Hayama's bold appearance in First High's lodging area was startling.

"Called by the head herself, I presume?" Yugen asked.

"Indeed," Hayama said. "With several Ten Master Clans' heads present, a personal visit seemed prudent."

Avoiding contact that might tip off the Saegusa family about Yotsuba-Mitsuya ties made sense. Hayama's presence could be mistaken for a hotel staffer or VIP liaison, known only to a few outside the Yotsuba.

"Lucky Tatsuya and Miyuki aren't here," Yugen said. "Planned that?"

"I'll leave that to your imagination," Hayama replied.

Yugen tidied himself and followed Hayama to a VIP room, reserved for high-ranking officers. There stood Maya Yotsuba, the clan's head. All was fine until Yugen sighed inwardly.

"It's been a while," he said. "You look as radiant as ever… but why am I being hugged?"

"It's been four months, Yugen-kun!" Maya said. "I need to recharge."

Recharge what? Yugen wanted to ask but let her be. The sensation—of a woman his mother's age clinging to him—was uncanny, reminiscent of his mother Shiho's doting, likely influencing his sister Shina's brother complex.

He glanced at Hayama, who returned an "I'm just a butler" look. After a few minutes, Maya, satisfied, sat on a sofa, gesturing for Yugen to join her. Her tone shifted to that of a clan head, and Yugen chose not to comment.

"So, what's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing major," Maya said. "Your sister adores you, so it'd be rude not to see you."

"I feel a bit overrated," Yugen said. "Bold of you, with other clan heads around."

As a Mitsuya, Yugen's status was known. A mixer with other schools' students loomed, and he already had ties with clan heads like Ichijou, Itsuwa, Joushima, and the former Kudou. His father (Mitsuya's head) and the Saegusa head were due to arrive.

"That's why I chose now," Maya said. "The Saegusa know we're close, so no issue. I've spoken with His Excellency and Gousan-dono already."

"I see," Yugen said. "Engagements are up to my father and grandfather. I'm too busy for that."

"No matter," Maya said. "Students should focus on learning. I look forward to your performance."

Aside from the hug, she acted like a proper clan head. Yugen's calm response stemmed from prior experience, though he avoided mentioning it.

They chatted about Tatsuya and Miyuki's school life before Yugen left. Returning to his room for a nap, he found Mayumi Saegusa on the far bed, in uniform for the mixer.

"Why are you here?" Yugen asked. "And the key?"

"Master key," Mayumi said.

"I'll invoke privacy rights," Yugen said, sitting on the near bed. "What's really up?"

She wouldn't visit just to chat, not as team leader with duties. Yugen, a rookie team leader, had his own responsibilities.

"About the accident," Mayumi said. "Heard anything from Tomoya-kun?"

"I did," Yugen said. "You were asleep until just before, right?"

"Don't bring that up!" she snapped. "So?"

She'd likely pry from Tomoya, Tatsuya, or Miyuki, risking Saegusa suspicions. Yugen relented.

"It wasn't a normal accident," he said. "I saw the site. The guardrail damage was too minimal."

"Not an accident?" Mayumi said, paling.

"On a highway, hitting a guardrail at speed should wreck a car," Yugen said. "An off-road vehicle, nearly intact? That's odd."

A high-speed crash should spark fires or scatter debris, but the bus was barely damaged. Some interference had preserved the car's shape. Mayumi's face darkened, grasping a possibility.

"You don't think… it's tied to Blanche?" she asked.

"Different group, but details are unclear," Yugen said.

Who had tipped off the attackers about the delayed departure? It pointed to a mole in the competition's staff, likely tied to "No Head Dragon." An impulsive attack would've hit from the same lane, but this came from the opposite side, timed perfectly despite a 90-minute delay. Only someone with access to real-time updates could orchestrate it.

The precision required was staggering—high-speed vehicles, no magical traces, and a disposable car (worth millions) suggested a well-funded underworld group. Yugen's father's intel on a dark casino implicated No Head Dragon, likely planting agents or compromised staff in the competition.

"Canceling the competition would disgrace the Magic Association and Japan's mages," Yugen said. "As athletes, we should focus on winning."

Even Ten Master Clans couldn't act freely on a military base without justification. Yugen had mobilized Chiba family contacts for leverage, leaving only final steps.

"As rookie leader, a quick note," Yugen said. "Support Vice President Hattori before the events start."

"Hanzou-kun?" Mayumi said. "He seemed uneasy, but not that serious."

"Really?" Yugen pressed.

Mayumi, Katsuto, and Mari—third-years—often misjudged baselines. They fairly assessed challenges but overlooked mental vulnerabilities. Supporting Hattori was an engineer's duty, but with Tatsuya, Azusa, and Kei assigned, others might struggle. The accident's impact lingered, so Yugen planned to step in, urging Mayumi, Katsuto, and Mari to do the same.

His sister had prepped Hattori well—why waste that?

The casino's billion-yen bets dwarfed the car's cost, a mere "pocket change" for No Head Dragon, whether they sourced it or not.