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

In the former Gunma Prefecture stands the Kamizumi family's ancestral estate, the heart of Shin'eiryu swordsmanship. Though not a castle, its vast samurai residence embodies the family's strength—a physical testament to their power.

Nobutsuna Kamizumi, a swordmaster of the Sengoku era, founded the Shinkageryu school of swordsmanship. His disciples, with his approval, established their own styles. Declining Takeda Shingen's summons to serve, which sought former Nagano vassals, Nobutsuna wandered the land to spread Shinkageryu. Yet, a text attributed to Shingen described him as appearing mid-twenties despite being in his late forties. Born in 1508, Nobutsuna was a "superhuman," a first-generation mutant before magic's systematization. His death is unrecorded, but accounts claim he lived until the Osaka Summer Campaign—at least 107 years old, far exceeding the era's lifespan.

Through swordsmanship, the Kamizumi family forged countless ties. To pass down his power as a "guardian" force, Nobutsuna studied martial arts, ninjutsu, Onmyodo, Shinto, continental Taoist and Fangshu techniques, and even Western missionary religions dubbed "Nanban." His belief: to make the impossible possible, one must know the outside world. Over generations, his knowledge merged with his disciples' martial arts and modern magic techniques, culminating in Shin'eiryu swordsmanship.

But that's another story.

In a tatami room of the Kamizumi estate, two men sat cross-legged. One, the household head and Shin'eiryu grandmaster, was known as "Rokusou" in Japan, "Lightning Dragon" abroad, and "Honored Master" among magicians—Gouzou Kamizumi. The other, called "Great Teacher" in Japan's magic world, established the Ten Master Clans and was once among the world's strongest, known as "Trick Star" and former Kudou family head—Retsu Kudou. To an outsider, they'd appear as men in their forties and eighties, but they're the same age.

"Geez, Retsu, you're looking older again. Try staying young for your grandkids," Gouzou teased.

"I'm not dying anytime soon. You, looking half your age, are the real monster," Retsu retorted.

"Says you. Let's skip the pointless bickering," Gouzou said.

Gouzou usually spoke with age-appropriate dignity, but with Retsu, he matched his youthful look. Knowing Gouzou's nature, Retsu didn't push too far, lest they derail into grandkid bragging. Gouzou nudged him to the point.

"I'm here about your recent moves—or the Kamizumi family's. I know you rate those kids highly. Three years ago, after Okinawa, the Yotsuba became harder to read. They joined the Ten Master Clans while staying secretive. I don't mind—secrets are a magician's weapon," Retsu said.

Retsu had concerns about the Yotsuba's power. Even among the Ten Master Clans, they seemed elusive. After the Okinawa Defense Battle, the Yotsuba grew closer to the Mitsuya family, who were solidifying their status through their children's academic achievements. Retsu suspected Kamizumi involvement.

"Gouzou, what's your take on the Yotsuba? At this rate, they could eclipse the Ten Master Clans—become something greater," Retsu said.

"Retsu, the Kamizumi's core is 'protection'—safeguarding this nation's strength. While the Yotsuba's vengeance ghosts linger, clan infighting could undo us. Worst case, we use the Yotsuba's power as a blade, the other twenty-six clans as a shield, with my son-in-law's Mitsuya family as the cornerstone. Understand why this matters?" Gouzou replied.

The "enemy" includes the Great Asian Union, New Soviet Union, and USNA. For a nation short on scale and resources, survival means building external allies and raising internal quality. Gouzou criticized Retsu's narrow perspective. Clan disputes were unthinkable to him, though he admitted he'd planned to retire quietly, focusing on martial arts until recently.

His grandson reignited his resolve.

"I was coasting until just before Okinawa. I didn't stop the Ten Master Clans or Eighteen Assistant Houses' feuds, so I'll take responsibility. That 'foolish son' of mine is moving hard, but how many times must I say magicians aren't weapons?" Gouzou said.

"Only you could call him that," Retsu said.

"Damn right. I owe nothing to the guy who charmed my daughter," Gouzou snapped.

"Charmed" was harsh, but Gouzou knew the man's influence. Even Retsu couldn't defy him—a shadowy figure in Japan's political and financial depths. Only Gouzou could speak so boldly, Retsu thought.

"Retsu, during the Yotsuba's vengeance war, Genzou entrusted me with letters for Maya and Midnight. I feared backlash as the survivor, so I held back. But three years ago, before Okinawa, I got called out for hiding them. 'If entrusted, deliver,' I was told. Embarrassing," Gouzou admitted.

"So that's what changed you—and the Yotsuba… because of that kid?" Retsu said.

"You know him, right? Yugen Nagano, now Yugen Mitsuya. Likely the closest to 'Kusuha' in Shin'eiryu. He's mastered 'Konoha' at his age," Gouzou said.

Shin'eiryu ranks mastery by nine secret techniques. "Kusuha" denotes mastering all four swordsmanship techniques, four physical techniques, and all ninjutsu secrets. Even the gifted need half a century, yet Gouzou declared his grandson was nearing this peak. Retsu chuckled.

"You, feared as 'Lightning Dragon' by the Great Asian Union, saying that… He's at First High, right?" Retsu said.

"Thinking of using 'Parade' on him? Don't. Even you can't beat Yugen. You'd just aid my grandson. Talk to your own grandkids, you old fool," Gouzou teased.

"Doting as you are, you've taught him beyond that. He's in the Nine Schools Competition, right? The 'Untouchable' Mitsuya kid and others… this'll be fun," Retsu said.

"Listen!" Gouzou barked.

The mood shifted. Gouzou's shouting met Retsu's calm, but when Gouzou called him a "demon grandpa" who distances his grandkids, they nearly clashed—until they noticed a woman nearby smiling. They sat back down quietly, a secret among the three.

Golden Week passed, and school life resumed. The student council prepped for the general assembly and nominated Azusa as next president. She was hesitant but agreed after I promised the new general-purpose Silver Model this fall.

The Mitsuya family thanked me for handling things smoothly. For now, it's settled. They mentioned Retsu Kudou, the "Great Teacher," made a sudden visit to probe me. He didn't visit the Shiba house, showing some restraint.

Tatsuya asked to learn the "Renge" activation sequence, likely curious about its gravity control code. When I shared it, he was shocked—60% of his resident gravity control formula matched. That surprised me too. He asked for a flight magic device design. It's a test model, so I tweaked a switch-type device and sent the blueprint to FLT. Flight magic's reveal is set for early July, a month after the Nine Schools Competition. Very "Taurus Silver" of me.

I was tasked with competition CADs, based on commercial models within regulations. The "Silver Blossom" series will debut at the Nine Schools Competition, launching on day one. Some First High reps will use them. Unlike high-end "Taurus Silver" products, these are user-friendly, boosting general-purpose processing to specialized levels.

Competition CAD regulations cover OS versions, storage for activation sequences and psion wave data, processing device performance, and device size. Sensory stones, standardized for peak performance, aren't regulated.

"This rifle, though… who's it for?" Tatsuya asked, eyeing the blueprint on my terminal.

It's a rifle-type competition CAD, inspired by Dussendorf's general-purpose model with aiming assistance, using "Valkyrie" and "Odin" tech. It clears regulations, with software covering activation memory. "For Shizuku," I said. "Also, I'm overhauling Miyuki's CAD for the competition. Gotta prep now."

"There's more to tweak on hers?" Tatsuya asked.

"And your 'Trident' needs an overhaul. I pinpointed adjustments from that incident," I added.

Tatsuya's "Trident" will be customized to his magic, not competition specs, but I'm ordering four specialized Nine Schools CADs for Monolith Code. Competition CADs lack flair, so the "Silver Blossom" series adds style as advertising. No logo, but it's cleared with organizers.

"By the way, Tatsuya, check this out," I said, showing more CAD blueprints.

"You're nuts. You want me to code these?" he asked.

"Yup," I said.

He saw they were competition-compliant but wondered why I was pushing standard-grade CADs. "Flight magic's on track, but why this hard?" he asked.

"Nine Schools Competition. Miyuki and I are likely reps. But the other first-year guys are weak. Morisaki's decent, but Juumonji and Mitsuka aren't competition material. Entrance exam data shows most first-course students are girls," I said.

Three years ago, Third High won because our boys' team flopped. The girls—my sisters Shizuru, Kana, and Mika—held strong. After, Kana and Mika scouted engineer-talented kids to reclaim the title, but the plan failed, leaving us short on engineers.

Tatsuya's likely an engineer. Boosting other boys, except maybe Kirihara, is tough. Katsuto needs no help. I typed, mulling it over.

"The seniors don't see we're at risk of losing the three-peat. If a third-year slips, the title's shaky. Kana-neesan and Mika-neesan called, so it's serious," I said.

"What events did your sister do when she beat Juumonji?" Tatsuya asked.

"Girls' Speed Shooting and Ice Pillars Break. She didn't use that magic. Kana-neesan masters composite control of vibration, movement, weight, emission, and convergence, plus 'Lightning Order' for 'Nines Cast Chain.' Ask Miyuki—she watched," I said.

"Nines Cast Chain" manipulates multiple composite magics to disrupt information reinforcement, using psion wave synthesis like Tatsuya's fight with Hattori. It triggers nine identical magics with delays for explosive power—self-executed "Loop Cast" requiring "Lightning Order."

"Lightning Order" enables reading up to 36 activation sequences simultaneously, sequential magic deployment, and "Speed Loader" for instant casting while minimizing psion and processing strain through temporary formula memorization. It resembles Yotsuba's "Flash Cast" but differs—"Flash Cast" engraves activation sequences, while "Lightning Order" memorizes formulas temporarily. It requires high magic perception, usable only by Kana, Mika, and me in the Mitsuya family, though Shina might manage. The CAD uses a special sensory stone, a secret I keep.

"I'm busy, but Kana-neesan asked me to call once the team's set. She'll probably rip into us," I said.

"She sounds tough," Tatsuya said.

"Usually nice… Hope the president avoids a bloodbath," I joked.

Tatsuya wondered if that'd be fine but kept quiet.