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

The conversation with Sayaka, which Tatsuya had been waiting to resolve, turned out to be frustratingly vague. He brushed it off, stating that access to restricted archives and a diploma from Magic High School were all he needed, then walked away. It was, in effect, a breakdown in communication.

The next day, a group of Second Course students seized the broadcasting room. Thanks to Tatsuya having Sayaka's private number, the situation was resolved relatively peacefully. Miyuki, however, interrogated him in excruciating detail afterward. In a rare move for someone so indulgent of his sister, Tatsuya dumped the task of appeasing her on Yugen. The solution? Accompanying Miyuki to shop for Tatsuya's birthday gift, which she accepted with a smile.

The following day, an impromptu public debate was organized by the Student Council—specifically Mayumi alone—and the Volunteer Alliance. Naturally, Miyuki and Yugen, as council members, were involved. Their seats happened to be next to Honoka and Toya, and soon Shizuku joined, forming what some jokingly called the "Elite Five." Eimi occasionally dropped by, but other students kept their distance, muttering about the group's unapproachability. Am I the only one who thinks it's fine to just talk to them? Yugen wondered.

Regarding the recent attack, Yugen had warned Honoka, Shizuku, and Eimi to be more cautious. Shizuku's family, the Kitayama, a major corporate group, understood the risks and arranged escorts for her commute. The Kitayama had ties to the Mitsuya, which explained why Shizuku knew Yugen and why her family had visited the Uesugi.

Back to the debate, Miyuki and Yugen both seemed unenthusiastic. Toya noticed. "You two look like you'd rather be anywhere else. They're pushing for better treatment, but…"

Yugen shrugged. "They should take it up with the school, not the Student Council. If they had actual achievements outside magic and could prove unfair treatment, they might have a case. Otherwise, their argument's nonsense."

To be thorough, Yugen had combed through recent Student Council and club budgets. The numbers confirmed that funding was tied to tournament results. Magic-related clubs got more due to the cost of CADs and other equipment, but their achievements justified it. Demanding preferential treatment without results didn't hold up.

Miyuki nodded. "Yugen's right. Wanting recognition without earning it feels like leeching off those who've actually worked for it."

Honoka blinked. "Miyuki, you don't hold back, do you?"

Toya grinned. "Yuzen's blunt too, but Miyuki's got a ruthless streak."

Miyuki's lips curved into a teasing smile. "Oh, absolutely. I'm a cold-hearted woman."

Cold, huh? Yugen thought. She's joking, but it doesn't quite sound like one.

Miyuki caught his expression and playfully pinched his back.

"Ow, Miyuki!" Yuzen protested. "I wasn't thinking anything!"

"My intuition says otherwise," she replied, smirking.

Moments like these drew whispers from nearby boys—"That guy's way too cozy with Miyuki…"—unaware that Yugen and Tatsuya could hear every word. Lucky for them they don't know, Yugen thought. One wrong word, and they'd be frozen solid. There'd been a close call before, and Yugen had no desire to see a repeat.

The public debate began, but it quickly became less a discussion and more Mayumi's personal stage.

"Is this a debate or Mayumi's lecture?" Yugen muttered.

Tatsuya smirked. "You're not alone in thinking that."

It was practically a solo performance. Yugen hoped it would end uneventfully, but fate had other plans. A tremor, like an explosion, shook the room. They're attacking. Hattori neutralized gas grenades, while Mari used airflow manipulation to flood the attackers' gas masks with nitrogen, knocking them out. At the training building, Leo was fending off multiple enemies. Yugen stepped in, launching the attackers skyward with a compound acceleration-movement spell, Renge, spinning them midair before slamming them down.

Toya winced at the sight. "That's brutal. They're not dead, right?"

"They're fine," Yugen said. "I held back."

"Could've just knocked them out," Toya muttered.

Tatsuya had a point, but Yuzen's stress relief was a factor he'd never admit. Erika, clutching her CAD, joined them alongside Leo. Haruka arrived, revealing the attackers' target: the library, specifically the Magic University's restricted archives and technology. She also pleaded for Sayaka to be given a chance as a "counselor."

"Got it," Tatsuya said. "Let's move."

The group—Miyuki, Leo, and Erika—followed as Tatsuya and Yuzen sprinted toward the library. On the way, Yuzen spoke to Erika. "If we run into Mibu-senpai, I'm counting on you."

"Why me?" Erika asked, frowning.

"You're the only one who can handle it," Yugen said. "Think of it as cleaning up future family messes."

"Ugh, her?" Erika groaned. "Fine, but I'm not happy about it."

The library was a chaotic melee. Leo charged in, shouting "Panzer!"—his rare voice-activated, weapon-integrated CAD. Yugen joined him. "Leave the library to those three. Leo and I will handle this!"

"Got it!" Miyuki called.

"On it!" Honoka added.

"Do it!" Erika shouted.

As the trio left, Yugen drew Valkyrie from his holster and fired without hesitation. Leo later described the scene: "He took them all out in a flash. Launching every attacker into the air and dropping them in that chaos—without hitting anyone else? I couldn't pull that off."

The attackers were subdued, and the library's occupants were restrained. The restricted reading room's data was secure. Tsukasa was apprehended by the Disciplinary Committee, thanks to Honoka's real-time optical magic pinpointing his location. Erika took down Sayaka.

In the infirmary, Tatsuya, Miyuki, Yugen, Leo, Erika, Mayumi, Katsuto, and Mari faced Sayaka, who was sitting up in bed. She explained that, as a first-year, she'd asked Mari to train her in swordsmanship but felt humiliated by the curt dismissal. Tsukasa had led her to a Blanche seminar, where she suspected her memories were manipulated.

Mari, reflecting, murmured, "I told her to train with someone at her level because her swordsmanship was better than mine. If I'd explained that properly, things might've been different." Sayaka, stunned, questioned what her last year had been for. Tatsuya reassured her that her swordsmanship had grown undistorted, a strength even Erika, a Senba-ryu master, acknowledged. Overwhelmed, Sayaka clung to Tatsuya, sobbing.

"Now, about Blanche," Yugen said. "What are they up to?"

Tatsuya's eyes narrowed. "You're not planning to crush them, are you?"

"Of course I am," Tatsuya said firmly. "They threatened Miyuki and me. Eliminating that threat is my priority."

Yugen sensed Tatsuya's resolve, driven by both his bond with Miyuki and his duty as a Yotsuba Guardian. Tatsuya seemed puzzled by Mayumi and Mari's lack of objection, but Katsuto clarified. "It's as the Mitsuya predicted. I'm in—as a Ten Master Clans member and a First High student, I can't let this slide. Mayumi, Mari, handle the school."

"Got it," Mayumi said.

"No objections," Mari added.

The plan came together swiftly, leaving Tatsuya no room to argue. Sayaka, too, knew better than to object. Miyuki raised a concern. "But we don't know their hideout's location."

Yugen glanced at the infirmary door. "We ask the one who knows best."

The door opened, revealing Haruka. She gave an embarrassed laugh. "Guess I couldn't fool Master Kuhoji's prized disciple or Master Uesugi's grandson."

Haruka revealed Blanche's hideout: an abandoned chemical factory, once a front for eco-terrorists, left derelict after they fled. It was close to First High, surprising the group.

Katsuto, Yugen, Tatsuya, Miyuki, Leo, and Erika formed the strike team. Katsuto and Yugen left to prepare a vehicle, and Katsuto raised a question. "Kirihara might volunteer. That okay?"

"That's for Tatsuya to decide," Yugen said. "But after his statement in the deposition, he's got a personal stake. He won't forgive the ones responsible. Bringing him makes sense—plus, the car only fits one more, and it's better than him acting on his own."

Hattori, the vice president, and the Disciplinary Committee had to stay to handle potential stragglers. Kirihara, tied to Sayaka and with a father in the Defense Navy, was a solid choice. He'd won the Kanto Swordsmanship Tournament's junior division two years prior.

"Because he's a swordsman like you?" Katsuto asked.

"He wants to cut down what twisted her sword," Yugen said. "He hopes Sayaka stays true to kendo, not the 'man-slaying' techniques I carry. It's a principled stand."

Katsuto nodded. "A manly reason. I'll decide on Kirihara, but I need to confirm his resolve hasn't wavered."

"Leave it to you," Yugen said.

As Katsuto prepped an off-roader—an armored, manually drivable vehicle—Kirihara appeared, as expected, with a sheathed, blunted tachi, compliant with weapons laws.

"President!" Kirihara called.

"Kirihara," Katsuto acknowledged.

"Take me with you! This lawlessness—I can't ignore it, as a First High student or for myself!"

Katsuto saw through the polished words. "You said before you couldn't forgive those who twisted Mibu's sword. You heard her just now, didn't you?"

Kirihara froze.

"Why are you volunteering?" Katsuto pressed.

Having heard Kirihara's true feelings before—"I chose swordsmanship, she chose kendo; I don't want her sword to be for killing"—Katsuto wanted his honesty.

"I wanted to crush whoever tarnished Mibu's shining sword," Kirihara admitted. "I overheard her talking to you all. I can't stand that they're still out there. It's not for her—it's my own selfish reason. Please, let me come!"

Katsuto nodded. "Good. Your resolve hasn't changed. I'm impressed by how boldly you spoke in the deposition. Do your part, Kirihara."

"Yes, sir!" Kirihara replied.

As they boarded the off-roader, Kirihara greeted Tatsuya. "Hey, Sibas. I'm in. Count on me."

Tatsuya nodded slightly, while Leo tilted his head, confused.

Katsuto, driving, turned to Yugen. "You planned this. Give the orders."

Yugen sighed, meeting expectant gazes. "It's a frontal assault. Leo, cast hardening magic on the vehicle just before we hit the gate. Tatsuya, time it—you two work best together."

"Got it," Leo said.

"Understood," Tatsuya replied. "What about infiltration?"

"Yugen, Tatsuya, and I hit the front," Miyuki said. "President, Kirihara, take the back. Leo, secure our exit. Erika, back him up and handle any stragglers."

Yugen had surveyed the enemy's forces but prepared for surprises. Tatsuya and Miyuki were inseparable, and Katsuto could handle Kirihara. Even if the enemy had Antiknight, Leo and Erika could manage.

"No need to capture them?" Erika asked.

"They're terrorists," Yugen said. "Taking risks with them is foolish. If it comes to it, stopping them permanently is better."

Erika, a Chiba, understood his meaning. As the gate loomed, Tatsuya called, "Leo, now!"

"Panzer!" Leo shouted, his CAD recognizing the vehicle as part of its system, casting hardening magic. The reinforced off-roader smashed through the steel gate unscathed.

"Ha, you're wiped out!" Erika teased.

"Shut it," Leo grumbled. "Just a bit tired."

Covering double the usual area had drained Leo, and Erika couldn't resist poking fun.