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

Most competitors were resting up the day before the Nine Schools Competition, but for first-years in the rookie events starting on day four, excitement and anticipation trumped nerves. Many were caught up in the group-trip vibe with classmates.

Yugen, however, was an exception. Tasked with overseeing the rookie events, he had to coordinate with team representatives.

After finishing Ami's CAD adjustments, Yugen was summoned by Mayumi to a meeting room—originally an officers' conference space—in the hotel. Present were team leader Mayumi, main event coordinator Katsuto, plus Mori, Suzune, and Yugen, making five. His sisters had prepped him that this pre-competition meeting was for final confirmations, so he wasn't on edge. The absence of outsiders was a relief.

Once seated, Mayumi began discussing the schedule. "Tomorrow's the big day, but first, an update. The Magic University and Defense Academy are providing venue and tent security—fifty personnel each, totaling a hundred. This includes our schools' external support staff."

"News to me," Katsuto said. "Any reason given?"

"They're calling it 'part of intensive training and part-time work,'" Mayumi replied. "I only learned this from Kana."

Even Katsuto raised an eyebrow. For the Saegusa family's daughter, who handled Kanto's intelligence, to be unaware was surprising. A hundred personnel was significant; a leak should've surfaced. Perhaps the Saegusa patriarch knew but kept Mayumi in the dark, though the reason eluded her.

"Odd," Katsuto said. "Maybe Koichi was shielding you."

"Don't joke," Mayumi shot back. "My father's not that considerate."

Mori sighed. Even in a room of allies who knew Mayumi's true self, badmouthing her Ten Master Clans patriarch father was bold.

Mayumi relayed Kana's info: except for Monolith Code, where direct contact was banned, Battle Board and Mirage Bat—prone to contact accidents—would have security nearby for emergencies. Other events would have guards at tents and work vehicles. Monolith Code's venue, a military base, would be secured by Defense Academy students, while Magic University students covered Mirage Bat.

"Any info, Yugen?" Mayumi asked.

"First I'm hearing of it," Yugen said. "Can't help there."

The security arrangements were news to him. But four days ago, at a Mitsuya family gathering with all seven siblings, Gen, excluding Genji and Shina, shared intel about an underground casino. Kana had said, "They're targeting Mori in Battle Board. They wouldn't dare cross the Mitsuya family indirectly, though."

Among third-years, Mayumi competed in Speed Shooting and Cloud Ball, low-risk events. Katsuto, in Ice Pillars Break and Monolith Code, was a top-tier Ten Master Clans talent with the impregnable Phalanx. Beating him required exceptional skill, absent among main event competitors. That left Mori, in Battle Board, as a likely target. Attacking her risked riling the Mitsuya family, despite her adoption. Targeting Ami would provoke the Rokutsuka family. Keiko Kobayakawa, the other Battle Board competitor, had Mika's favor through her engineer, third-year Koharu Hirakawa. Even Hattori, mentored by Mika, was a risk—any move against key seniors would stir Ten Master Clans.

"If those underground types were rational," Yugen said. "I looked into No-Head Dragon. Their purges are brutal. They might not care about sacrificing competitors to save themselves."

"Western and Eastern Japan branch leaders aren't Japanese," Genji added. "You could be a target, Yugen."

Yugen pondered. Even without contact risks, magical interference from "insiders" was possible, given No-Head Dragon's sway over some committee members. He'd prepared countermeasures, though not entirely honorable. For the Mitsuya, it was a chance to gain "just cause." He'd kept defensive magic under wraps for this.

The "Giving House" couldn't create something from nothing. Sometimes, the Ten Master Clans had to "take."

"I taught Mori that running technique for Seventh High," Yugen said. "But aiming for a course record could lead to a mid-race dropout. I warned Shuji."

"Genji," Yugen continued, "with all magic possibilities in mind, have Kana and Mika oversee Battle Board and Mirage Bat. We can't rule out other schools getting caught up."

"Agreed," Genji said. "Monolith Code's my forte, and I have Defense Force ties, so I'll watch your matches, Yugen. Shizuku's my backup. I'll ask Senri too."

Kana's Spirit Eye and Mika's sharp magical perception ensured quick responses. Genji, a Monolith Code veteran, would cover Yugen's matches, with Shizuku and another Defense Academy student—unobtrusive in the venue—as support.

Shizuku, hearing Mika, agreed with Genji's plan to oversee Yugen's matches. Gen kept quiet, knowing his role as Ten Master Clans head was to back them, not meddle. He'd withheld excess info from Genji, the stay-behind patriarch.

"Father, what about the Generator?" Yugen asked.

"Left to the Chiba family," Gen replied. "Officially, it's internal affairs and police 'short-term training.'"

The Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion and Shin'nyu upper ranks would attend as "spectators." Other Ten Master Clans had been briefed.

Gen privately marveled at his children's growth, relieved that all but the eldest supported his succession, avoiding issues.

Back to business.

"I checked, but got no details," Mayumi said, frowning at her father's silence but shifting to strategy. "Let's review our goals."

The opening ceremony was tomorrow, followed by main event Speed Shooting (men's and women's) qualifiers to finals and Battle Board qualifiers. Mayumi and Mori were the only competitors present.

Tournament brackets weren't announced until event start for "fairness," but tampering by No-Head Dragon's committee allies was a concern. Yugen left that to veterans.

"No optimism, or Shizuku will drag you to yoga punishment," Mayumi warned. "Mori, Katsuto, be ready."

"Anyone caught?" Katsuto asked.

"Likely Hattori and Kirihara," Mori said. "It eased their accident concerns and lit a fire under them."

"Exactly," Mayumi added. (Though I heard it from Yugen.)

Despite the sporting vibe, slacking wasn't tolerated. To avenge three years ago, total victory was a must. Mori and Katsuto noted Mayumi's ruthless Saegusa streak—using every advantage.

Suzune, stepping in, praised Mayumi. "As expected of the Saegusa daughter. You shine as team leader."

"What's that mean, Rin-chan?" Mayumi teased.

"Just praising your leadership," Suzune said. "As strategy lead, I've no issues with the main event."

FLT's Silver Blossom series, used for finals, doubled as a promotional tool. Feedback from leaders was positive, though only some main event members and all rookie women used it, due to First Course pride. Switching CADs mid-event required full manual tuning, a skill only first- and second-years like Yugen possessed.

"Yugen, how's the rookie event?" Mayumi asked.

"Three men's and three women's events are winnable," Yugen said. "I left strategies to the tech staff, but men's First Course pride is a hurdle."

"So, men might lag behind women?" Katsuto asked.

"Yeah."

Morisaki was solid, but Shinkuro, in Speed Shooting, had a type disadvantage. Only Toya could counter him effectively. Takasuke was improving, but Yugen planned to have Toya and Ami push him if needed.

Yugen had strategies for his two events. If the committee complained, he had ten more spells ready, though it'd draw attention—annoying but necessary. The women were nearly set, with Yugen's sequences, Tatsuya's strategies, and Azusa's improved CAD tuning. When Yugen showed Miyuki's Ice Pillars Break sequence to Tatsuya, his face twitched—unsaid but telling.

"At the selection meeting, I noticed most First Course students lack effort to maximize their power," Yugen said. "Worse, they undervalue magic engineering knowledge."

"Are you including yourself?" Katsuto asked.

"As a Ten Master Clans heir, I'm not that arrogant," Yugen replied.

His view that CADs were life-or-death tools drove his self-taught engineering. Others might not treat their lives lightly, but magic's rarity bred superiority, treating others' lives like a game—a reincarnator's "power drunk" flaw.

"Geniuses can do anything" was half-true. Taurus Silver might raise questions, but Yugen's point was: don't dismiss engineers crafting essential CADs. The Silver Blossom series was his retort.

Tatsuya's dismissal as a Second Course student, despite endorsement by Katsuto, Mayumi, Hattori, Kirihara, and alumni, drew complaints. First-year First Course men rejected the same-sex player-engineer norm, burdening Tatsuya. Yugen wouldn't push Toya or Takasuke to convince them, as their pride-fueled rejection was petty. Tatsuya's tuning for first-year women eased his load, so Yugen didn't interfere.

Ultimately, First Course pride needed breaking. It sounded defeatist, but Yugen's advice as a peer was: "Pride alone won't win the Nine Schools Competition." Others' efforts matched or surpassed theirs, a fact to respect.

His siblings, refusing to coast on Ten Master Clans status, honed their skills to win events and the overall title. Yugen hadn't attended the competition (post-Okinawa Defense), but sparring in their training gave him experience in all events.

"There's no turning back," Yugen said. "Support's tricky. Toya and I will give our all, but if we underestimate, men and women will fare differently."

"Sounds like experience talking," Mori noted.

"From training with my siblings," Yugen said. "Sorry if I offended."

"No need to apologize," Suzune said. "I'm impressed you built such a precise rookie strategy from that."

Beyond having skilled siblings, Yugen's training with them informed his tactics. No major changes were needed; the focus was on winning.