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

The women's Battle Board third race kicked off. Immediately, a rival school's racer used magic to whip up a massive wave, a disruption tactic that backfired, tripping her up. Mari, unfazed, surged ahead, dual-casting hardening and movement magic.

"Hardening and movement magic combo?" Leo asked.

"She's fixing her board and herself as one unit," Tatsuya explained. "Yugen mentioned this during test prep."

Yugen elaborated. "Hardening magic gets hung up on names and uses, but it's akin to vibration systems. If you recognize the target, fixing it is simple. Most overcomplicate it, wasting energy."

"What's that mean?" Leo pressed.

"Remember asking Tatsuya about 'Dry Blizzard' on the way here?" Yugen said.

En route from Speed Shooting, Leo had marveled at Mayumi's rapid-fire prowess, questioning if Dry Ice bullets and perception magic drained stamina.

"The Saegusa, once called 'Mitsugusa,' excel at multi-magic control, like the Mitsuya," Yugen said. "Hardening magic involves energy shifts. It's solidifying a solid—pure subtraction. Add something elsewhere to balance."

Leo used convergence magic to offset negatives with density boosts, while Erika allocated self-acceleration to ease event alteration. Both did so instinctively.

"Leo's got room to grow," Yugen said. "Learn self-acceleration, and you're a fast, tough power-fighter."

"Scary thought," Erika scoffed.

"Says the speed demon," Leo shot back.

Back to Battle Board, Mari juggled three to four magic types—acceleration, vibration—widening her lead. Landing at a waterfall-like drop, her wake nearly toppled trailing racers. The race seemed decided.

"Tactician," Tatsuya noted.

"Just mean," Erika quipped.

"First place secured," Touya said, smirking.

Erika's jab went unchallenged; even Touya didn't fault Mari's ruthless strategy.

Halfway through lap one, Mari's semifinal spot was locked.

Battle Board qualifiers continued with races four to six in the afternoon, while Speed Shooting moved to quarterfinals through finals. Yugen and Tatsuya opted to watch Speed Shooting, parting from the group to meet Major Kazama at a high-ranking officer's hotel suite, fulfilling last night's promise.

Kazama, a major with colonel-level treatment due to his unit and record, lounged with battalion officers over tea.

"Sit," Kazama said casually.

"Not here as officers?" Yugen asked, noting Tatsuya's hesitation amid the brass.

As Special Lieutenants—non-regular officers with international military status—Yugen and Tatsuya weren't bound by strict hierarchy, following orders only during battalion operations. Tatsuya felt uneasy sitting with superiors, but Yugen, also a Special Technical Advisor and Joushima kin, held a unique stance. His prior "Special Major" rank, earned for averting civilian losses in Okinawa, made him Kazama's near-equal. Yugen traded rank for specific privileges, accepted due to the battalion's unconventional nature, agreeing to maximum cooperation.

"Sit, Yugen," Captain Sanada said. "You're friends today. Plus, a little 'punishment' for the battalion commander's rudeness."

Tatsuya, grateful, sat, followed by Yugen. Lieutenant Fujibayashi Kyoko, Kazama's aide, served them tea. In casual clothes, the officers made Yugen and Tatsuya, in uniforms, feel conspicuous.

"Tea cups aren't ideal, but cheers," Kyoko said.

"Thanks," Tatsuya replied.

"No hot water today?" Yugen teased, grinning at Kyoko's jest about scalding him. Kazama sweated; other officers chuckled. Tatsuya thought, Interesting bunch.

"Been a while, Lieutenant," Yugen said. "Sanada, Yanagi, good to see you."

"Your 'Third Eye' help was huge," Sanada said.

"Long time," Yanagi added.

Major Yamanaka, a medic and top-tier magical healer, chimed in calmly. "No worries, Yugen. A burn won't faze 'Great Tengu.' Your toughness at the Defense Academy stunt shocked me more."

"Without a sneak attack," Yugen quipped.

"You're unreal," Tatsuya said.

"Says the invincible one," Yugen retorted, drawing laughs. Tatsuya's expression screamed, How do you beat a guy who hides his presence like my master?

Yugen turned to Kazama. "Sorry for the trouble last night, Major. Personal reasons."

"No, my fault for making you miss your school's entrance ceremony," Kazama replied.

"And dragging you into a Defense Academy demo," Yanagi added. "Sorry."

Yugen shook his head. "About that demo—nothing like that before last year, right?"

"True," Kazama said. "The Joushima have a Defense Academy student, don't they?"

"Yet it was sudden," Yugen said. "The request came from Military Intelligence—the Toyama family—via General Saeki to the battalion, correct?"

Kazama nodded, surprised. The officers and Tatsuya learned a Master Clan was involved. Yugen had heard this from Gen's wife, Chisato, via "Yata no Kagami," a secret kept among Yugen, Gen, and Chisato. He asked Kazama, knowing the battalion commander would have insight.

Cutting personal contact with Kazama was partly to dodge Intelligence's surveillance, protecting Tatsuya and Miyuki while living with the Shiba.

"Did Gousan know?" Kazama asked.

"Not then," Yugen said. "After January, three months later? If he knew, his magic might've razed the capital. I had Father work with the Saegusa and Juumonji."

"What'd you do?" Sanada asked.

"Sanctioned the Toyama," Yugen said.

Gen, bitter from Toyama's past actions, agreed, as did the Saegusa and Juumonji, wary of Joushima scrutiny. The three Master Clans sanctioned the Toyama, with Gousan opting to observe, restraining himself.

The Toyama were barred from Master Clan ascension for 16 years starting 2097, a mild but final warning—next time, Gousan would erase them and Intelligence entirely.

"Gousan would do it," Kazama said. "Settling quietly was lucky."

They sipped tea, nodding. Tatsuya asked Kyoko, "Is Yugen's grandfather that fearsome? Sounds unreal."

"True," Kyoko said. "Didn't expect you to be unaware."

"Mother avoids it," Tatsuya said. "Aunt's issues too. I only know what Great-Uncle Yotsuba Eisaku shared."

Maya and Miya's father died protecting them, a topic too heavy to broach. Tatsuya knew little of Genzou beyond Eisaku.

On last night's intruders, confirmed as "No-Head Dragon" members, Kazama said, "They're being investigated. Targeting the competition?"

Yugen nodded. "Their lives are on the line."

"For a school event?" Yanagi asked.

"An underground casino betting on the winner," Yugen said. "Father heard at the Mitsuya estate five days ago."

The stakes reached billions in States Dollars—hundreds of billions in yen. A First High victory could cost No-Head Dragon's eastern branch a billion-dollar loss, based on Gen's intel and "Spirit Mirror" data on bettors.

"That's a literal 'head' on the line," Yugen said. "Underworld rules."

"You're a true Master Clan member," Kazama said.

"I'll take the compliment," Yugen replied. "Also, en route, an off-road vehicle jumped a guardrail—another No-Head Dragon suicide attack, no casualties."

He showed Kyoko a terminal clip of the magically reconstructed crash. She gasped. "News to me."

"Didn't mention it with Touya and Miyuki around," Yugen said. "Mayumi might've eavesdropped. Too heavy for most, except maybe Juumonji."

Tatsuya nodded, understanding the crash site omission, wary of Mayumi's perception magic.

"You were out that late?" Kyoko asked.

"As rookie event coordinator, I needed air after strategy planning," Yugen said. "Met Tatsuya from CAD adjustments."

"Just stayed late," Tatsuya added.

Kyoko, closest in age, was easy to talk to, her disciplined figure a distraction. Tatsuya suspected Miyuki's martial training with Yugen stemmed from admiring Kyoko's poise.