NOVEL WEB Chapter 50: Chapter 49: No Mercy in Competition
"So, Major Kazama asked you?" Tatsuya said.
While Tatsuya spoke with Kazama, Yugen stayed out of sight. They forced me to shelve my enrollment ceremony worries—use Captain Sanada or Kyoko for official military requests and block all personal contact. And here we are.
"I get that being stubborn's pointless. I'll see him at the Nine Schools Competition anyway, so I'll talk then," Yugen said.
"That helps. I told Major Kazama, 'Be ready for at least one punch,'" Tatsuya replied.
"Probably from Gramps before me, so I won't need to do anything. I'll call this a favor owed."
"That might hit Kazama harder," Tatsuya noted.
Yugen sipped Miyuki's tea, chuckling at his own childishness. Tatsuya and Miyuki shared a wry smile. Then Tatsuya asked, "Why's your sister so mad at the third-years?"
"You know Mayumi, Katsuto, and Mari have solid instincts, but their overwhelming skill as first-years caused issues," Yugen explained.
"Overwhelming?" Miyuki asked.
"They were top-tier among peers from the start—normal enough. But the gap with others was glaring. Mayumi and Katsuto, especially, were top Ten Master Clans material. No first-year could match them, so…" Yugen trailed off.
"No one to sharpen their skills against," Tatsuya finished.
"Exactly. Letting talent rot wasn't an option. Kana-neesan thrashed them to give them worthy opponents, though her methods were rough due to Mitsuya training."
Their character was fine, but magic skills needed pushing. Kana's harsh approach stemmed from Mitsuya's brutal training at their estate and Third Lab. "I sent follow-up emails, so it's fine," Yugen added.
"Why do you have their private addresses?" Miyuki asked, suspicious.
"Relax, Miyuki. I met Mayumi and Katsuto under their old names and swapped contacts for emergencies. Mari's was through my brother's introduction. I know her boyfriend too."
The Mitsuya sisters—Shizuru, Kana, and Mika—lost the Nine Schools overall title to Third High. Kana wanted Shizuru to end her final year with a win, pushing the third-years hard to achieve a three-peat. Her methods? Hard to defend.
"In competition, you go all out or die—Gramps' teaching," Yugen said.
"She was harsh. Surviving that shows grit," Tatsuya noted.
"They're covering practice support, so I'll leave it to them."
If they break, their names are mud. Kana respects Mayumi's skill, calling her a "fox, not a tanuki," and the others will support too. Main team's on them.
Nine Schools Lineup:
Speed Shooting:Men: Toya Rokutsuka, Shunya MorisakiWomen: Eimi Akechi, Shizuku Kitayama, Kazumi TakigawaCloud Ball:Men: Toya RokutsukaWomen: Subaru Satomi, Nanami KasugaBattle Board:Men: Takasuke IgarashiWomen: Honoka MitsuiIce Pillars Break:Men: Yugen MitsuyaWomen: Miyuki Shiba, Shizuku Kitayama, Eimi AkechiMonolith Code:Men: Yugen Mitsuya, Shunya Morisaki, Takasuke IgarashiMirage Bat:Women: Miyuki Shiba, Honoka Mitsui, Subaru Satomi
"No standout guys, huh?" Yugen sighed.
"Is that okay?" Tatsuya asked.
"Can't afford frostbite before the competition," Yugen quipped.
Miyuki tilted her head, confused.
Supporting teammates who bash second-course students? Impossible. Their first-course pride needs uprooting. Maybe train decent second-course students to outshine them post-competition. For now, focus on the event. Yugen pocketed his terminal.
"By that logic, you're slacking too," Miyuki teased.
"I'd rather train magic than rot. Busy with competition activation sequences," Yugen replied.
"What kind?" Tatsuya asked.
"Toya's request. He got inspired by a sequence I showed during test prep."
Yugen's optimized sequence maximized specific magic effects with minimal psion cost. Toya wanted it for his shooting magic. Yugen planned four sequences, including an adapted [Arithmetic Chain] for Toya, a Seven Grass secret [Magic Bullet], an upgraded [Invisible Bullet] against Third High's Cardinal George, and a counter for George's shooting magic. [Magic Bullet] was Yugen's own, needing Toya's tweaks.
Unlike Tatsuya's theoretical approach, Yugen built magic from imagination, converting it to activation sequences via [Kaleidoscope]—a reincarnation perk turning concepts into magic formulas. Its flaw? Brain capacity limits. Luckily, [Domain Enhancement] and [Kaleidoscope] solved this, making his magic calculation area infinite and conscious, allowing reverse-engineering and storing sequences without strain. This enabled [Reconstruction] and [Decomposition]. He once holed up in shock over this accidental power.
"Toya and I planned some surprises. Even 'Cardinal' is just a kid without perception magic," Yugen said.
"You're the only one who'd say that about George," Tatsuya noted. "But what about Crimson Prince's [Explosion]?"
"I've got counters. Could smash twelve pillars at once if needed."
Yugen prepped ten sequences for Ice Pillars Break, including defense, and finished Monolith Code sequences. Adjustments were on him.
"Mayumi asked me to assist tech staff. Thought she was crazy, but fine. I'll only manage women's Speed Shooting due to scheduling," Yugen said.
"So you gave Toya sequences early," Tatsuya deduced.
"Mainly for Cloud Ball. Checked rules with Mayumi and Toya—no issues."
Yugen had doubts from the original story. Last year, he tipped Mika, leading to a landslide victory after overtime. That inspired his test-prep sequences. No grudges against Third High, but no mercy in competition.
Tatsuya smirked mischievously. Yugen mirrored it.
"You're ruthless," Tatsuya said.
"Look who's talking," Yugen shot back.
Miyuki giggled at their banter, understanding their bond.
They didn't yet know the shocking events they'd spark.
Preempting story events like Third Eye's overhaul and flight magic gave Tatsuya and Miyuki leeway. Magic and Defense Universities sent staff. Gear and paperwork were set, earning Rinne's praise: "Saved us before Mayumi's complaints." Mayumi hugged Yugen, saying, "Thanks, Yu-kun!" Miyuki, with an icy smile, peeled her off, saying, "What are you doing, President? Your paperwork's piling up."
Hattori, the vice-president, muttered, "Jealous… no, stop!" battling envy.
Tech staff—Kana, Mika, and Senri (accompanying Mototsugu)—caught up the schedule. Kana said, "After pushing at the meeting, I had to follow through." Tatsuya's uniform order delayed things, though.
Surprisingly, Mototsugu, Mitsuya's second son and Senri's husband, joined as staff. Likely Senri's influence. He's perfect for facing Katsuto's [Phalanx] in Monolith Code—no student matches him. Mototsugu's bizarre "grab defense magic to win" philosophy stunned the family, and he actually won. He's been visiting Katsuto's Cross-Field Club, per Kana's request. Katsuto said, "Only he'd face [Phalanx] head-on." They bonded over sweets at a café. Do we need that detail?
Yugen wouldn't dare face [Phalanx] directly—his [Round Table Sword] in a mock battle was situational. He'd counter [Phalanx] with [Phalanx] if serious.
Aftercare is essential.