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

—Taurus Silver.

In the magician community, especially among magical engineers, ignorance of this name is practically a disgrace. Taurus Silver is a genius magical engineer (a specialist in magic-related technology) whose achievements are so monumental that even global giants like North America's Maximilian Devices and Europe's Rozen Magicraft closely track his work.

Here are some of Taurus Silver's notable accomplishments:

—Realization of the "Loop Cast System."

—20% improvement in activation sequence deployment speed for specialized CADs.

—Reduction in error recognition rates for non-contact switches.

In modern magic's push for speed, Taurus Silver not only enabled rapid-fire casting of the same spell but also boosted specialized CAD activation speeds by 20% and reduced high-speed operation errors. Any one of these feats could secure a lifetime of wealth, yet Taurus Silver achieved them all in a single year. As a magic-related technician—and beyond—his talent is undeniably coveted.

Despite these feats, Taurus Silver shuns the spotlight, rejecting interviews and maintaining an air of mystery. His identity—origin, age, gender, appearance, background—remains unknown. The only confirmed detail is his role as an exclusive engineer for FLT (Four Leaves Technology), Japan's premier magical engineering firm, specifically in their CAD Development Division Three.

"It's been a while, Young Master. I mean, Chief!"

"No, you're the chief here, Ushiyama-san."

…This exchange was practically a ritual for the two.

While preparing the "Silver Blossom" series for the Nine Schools Competition, Yugen was also advancing flight magic development. With final exams looming and a study session planned at Shizuku's house, Yugen visited FLT with Tatsuya and Miyuki the next day.

Truth be told, Yugen had acquired FLT stock two years ago—pushed by Midnight, as he was still a minor, with his father Gen holding the shares. The funds came from Gen's profits, supposedly "thanks to Yugen" (he didn't ask the amount). This made Yugen FLT's second-largest shareholder after Midnight. His official reason for visiting was "inspection on behalf of his father, a shareholder."

Hardware design and improvement proposals could be handled remotely, but the "Silver Blossom" series was a new frontier for the Silver line, warranting an in-person visit. Plus, there was the flight magic device to discuss.

Two days earlier, at the Shiba household's basement, Tatsuya called out, "Yugen, got a minute?"

"What? That's for flight magic?"

"Yeah. It's finally taking shape."

The resident gravity control formula—one of the three great challenges of weight-type magic, the "general-purpose flight magic"—had taken form. Tatsuya wanted Yugen to test it. The device's hardware wasn't heavily modified yet, just a preliminary software assembly.

"I want Miyuki to try it too, but since you use nearly identical gravity control code, I'd like you to test it first," Tatsuya said.

"Makes sense. Let's do it," Yugen replied.

Pressing the switch, psions were absorbed, the activation sequence loaded, and the magic formula deployed. The control magic felt complete in 0.5 seconds, with a termination condition and a time-recorder function to track the formula's position. No nausea or mental strain, and minimal load from continuous processing.

"So, you eliminate interference by setting a quick termination condition. Intermittent formula deployment keeps the load low. It's down to psion reserves now," Yugen said.

"Impressive you figured it out, but why are you spinning sideways cross-legged?" Tatsuya asked.

"Vibes, I guess. Felt no discomfort. I could fly with this tomorrow," Yugen said.

"You'd probably reach space," Tatsuya quipped.

Yugen wanted to say, "Tatsuya, I'm human," but swallowed it and returned the device. The door opened, and Miyuki appeared, carrying a tray of coffee, dressed in her Nine Schools Competition Mirage Bat costume (she'd been recruited in early June, with the outfit already prepared).

"Here's coffee for you both," she said.

"Perfect timing… Mirage Bat costume, huh?" Yugen noted.

Honestly, Tatsuya barely knew about the Nine Schools Competition. His time was consumed by FLT, Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion training, and tutoring Miyuki, eating up long breaks. Yugen, exempt from battalion training due to his Shin'eiryu ties and role as a special technical advisor, was swamped with FLT work, social appearances as Yugen Nagano, and tutoring Shina, crushing his summer. Knowing the competition came from his "reincarnation perk." Ultimately, Miyuki, the expert, lectured Tatsuya with recorded footage.

"What do you think?" Miyuki asked.

"Looks cute. Suits you perfectly," Tatsuya said.

"Like a fairy from a storybook," Yugen added.

"Yugen-san, really…?" Miyuki blushed.

Tatsuya praised directly, Yuzan with a metaphor, making Miyuki flush. But she sensed something off—Tatsuya, seated, was looking up. Widening her view, she saw him floating above his chair.

"Flight magic… resident gravity control magic is complete! Onii-sama, you've made the impossible possible again. I'm proud to be your sister!" Miyuki exclaimed.

"Thanks, Miyuki. But it's not just me. Yugen's gravity control sequence sped this up," Tatsuya said.

"When I shared it, you were already 60% done. Margin of error," Yuzan shrugged.

"40% isn't a margin, but… impressive, Yugen-san," Miyuki said.

Miyuki's flight test succeeded that weekend, leading to the FLT visit. Yugen thought the siblings could use some alone time, but Miyuki's pleading (those upturned eyes!) made him join. No winning that one—resisting might've sparked worse rumors, so he gave in.

"First time going to FLT with you two," Yugen said.

"You usually handle things by email," Tatsuya replied.

"Post-Okinawa was brutal. Just being Grandpa's relative's kid meant a national tour… no competition spectating, just tutoring Shina. Middle school breaks, gone," Yugen said.

"Sounds like a famous artist's national tour," Miyuki said.

She wasn't wrong. Yugen's Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion duties involved greetings in Hokkaido and Okinawa, plus meetings with all Ten Master Clans (except Yotsuba, met in Izu) as Yugen Nagano. From Tohoku's Mutsumuka, Hokuriku's Ichijo, Kanto's Nanakusa and Juumonji, Kinki's Kudou, Hanshin-Chugoku's Futatsugi, Shikoku's Itsuwa, to Kyushu's Yatsushiro—a grueling schedule. Even for a clan heir, meeting one or two heads was rare; meeting all made Yugen exceptional among peers.

Reflecting, Yugen thought his life strayed far from a normal middle schooler's.

"Grandpa's ruthless. He used my school grades to justify a mock exam for magic high school, but it was actually for the National Magic University. Still got 70%," Yugen said.

"Wait, 70% on a university exam in middle school? That's beyond high school level," Tatsuya said.

"Says you. That's a boomerang," Yugen shot back.

"You're both guilty," Miyuki teased.

"Harsh, Miyuki," Yugen said.

Continuing would've turned into an ice-throwing argument, so they headed to FLT's CAD Development Division Three. A staff member noticed them, and others, including engineers, called out. Tatsuya, dubbed "Young Heir," and Yugen, "Young Master," made Miyuki smile.

"Excuse us. Is Chief Ushiyama here?" Yugen asked.

"You called, Mr. Silver? Long time, Young Master—no, Chief!"

"You're the chief, Ushiyama-san," Yugen replied.

Ushiyama Kinji, head of Division Three, a true craftsman, was handpicked by Tatsuya for his skill. The Silver series owed much to him. Yugen casually countered being called "Chief."

"Sorry for summoning you, Chief," Yugen said.

"No way. We're your underlings. The great Taurus Silver being too humble doesn't sit right. We're honored to work under you," Ushiyama said.

The division knew Yugen was a Mitsuya before high school. Officially, he's "Kojyo Koto," a remote-working engineer, but Ushiyama saw his hardware design as world-class, regardless of lineage. Miyuki, as usual, was touched by the praise.

"Fair point. Without Mr. Taurus's exceptional hardware design, the Loop Cast System wouldn't exist," Miyuki said.

Tatsuya smirked, noting that while Taurus Silver's software feats shone, their hardware contributions were unmatched: 30% improved sensory stone conversion efficiency, 20% faster activation storage, and new psion-permeable materials. These were in high-end "Force Silver" models, each a lifetime achievement. The "Silver Blossom" series incorporated these upgrades. Tatsuya believed no one rivaled Yugen's ability to make advanced tech user-friendly.

"Exceptional? I just design hardware to match Tatsuya's programs. Maximilian and Rozen have guys like that. You too, Chief Ushiyama," Yugen said.

"Sure, but crafting hardware to fully handle Mr. Silver's programs and making program demands from a hardware perspective? Not anyone can do that. Spotting flaws and fixes in pro-built devices? If we treated Mr. Taurus as an amateur, top engineers would be out of jobs. Let's get to work," Ushiyama said.

Taurus Silver's name came from twisting "Shiba" (Tatsuya) and "Ushiyama," excluding Yuzan for several reasons:

First, the Mitsuya-Yotsuba meeting enabling Yugen's FLT involvement was "unofficial." The Nanakusa likely investigated, but revealing Tatsuya or Miyuki's ties was risky, so Yugen proposed anonymity, accepted by Maya and Midnight.

Second, Yugen's Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion role as "Tatsumi Kojyo," a special technical advisor, used a similar surname to suggest a familial link, masking his identity. Engineers in civilian firms often work militarily, with clean personal data. Different names distinguished his battalion "magician-engineer" role from his FLT "engineer" role.

Third, reincarnation knowledge tightened Taurus Silver's secrecy. Military ties were framed as "FLT tech transfers" to prevent leaks. Both being sidelined would let rival nations run rampant, so Yugen joined as an "external collaborator." Despite being in Division Three, he's listed as Kojyo Koto in the "ESCAPES Project," separate from the Taurus Silver Project, which includes Tatsuya. The ESCAPES Project's framework is set, awaiting substance.

As minors, Yugen and Tatsuya have Ushiyama as the Taurus Silver Project's team leader and guardian. Ushiyama is the public "Mr. Taurus," Yugen the hidden one, though Ushiyama avoids the title, using "Chief" for Yugen due to these nuances.

But that's beside the point.

"Is this the flight device? Tetsu, how many spares?" Ushiyama asked.

"Ten," Tetsu replied.

"Idiot! Why didn't you restock? Gather what we have! Contact the testers! This is a flight magic device—it'll change the world!" Ushiyama barked.

Fair point. Tatsuya showed Ushiyama the flight device tested at the Shiba house. Asking a colleague about spares, Ushiyama's shout led to rushed preparations. The test succeeded, but the ten testers, thrilled, played tag in the air until their psions ran dry. Ushiyama sighed.

"You idiots. Resident magic can't last that long," he said.

"The continuous activation processing is a burden," Tatsuya noted.

"Compared to the Young Heir, Miss, and Young Master's psion reserves, regular magicians' are tiny," Ushiyama said.

True enough. Yugen, Tatsuya, and Miyuki's exceptional psion reserves masked the strain, unlike average magicians. Meanwhile, Yugen tweaked the flight device's hardware design on a terminal, a speed Tatsuya saw as Taurus Silver's essence.

"Revising the psion auto-absorption scheme is one thing, but a dedicated circuit for resident gravity control and time-recorder processing might help. Here's what I came up with," Yugen said.

"While I think of one idea, Mr. Taurus churns out ten. I'll take it from here," Ushiyama said.

"Please do," Yugen replied.

After discussing the "Silver Blossom" series, Tatsuya and Miyuki left first. Yugen, lingering to talk, said goodbye to Ushiyama and followed. Delayed, he planned to apologize but spotted Tatsuya and Miyuki near the exit, not waiting for him but held up by two figures.

"—Aoki-san, my brother is here too," Miyuki said.

"With respect, Miss, as a Yotsuba butler, I prioritize order over courtesy to a mere bodyguard," Aoki replied.

Aoki, fourth-ranking Yotsuba butler, and Tatsurou Shiba, Tatsuya and Miyuki's biological father, stood before them. Tatsurou, FLT's development director—a nominal post—was linked to Taurus Silver's achievements through his mistress, with whom he lived.

Tatsurou was their father on paper, but Miyuki resented his treatment of Tatsuya, nearly turning the Shiba house into a freezer last spring. Tatsurou lacked self-awareness, and Tatsuya had half-given up on him.

"My brother," Miyuki insisted.

"With respect, Miss Miyuki is the favored next Yotsuba head. A bodyguard's status differs," Aoki said.

Yugen knew Tatsurou from FLT but not Aoki. Tatsurou's mistress tied him to Taurus Silver's success, while his neglect of Tatsuya fueled Miyuki's anger. Yugen, aware of the Yotsuba head and her sister's role in Tatsuya's state via reincarnation knowledge, stayed silent.

"Aoki-san, pardon my interruption, but your words seem improper. Suggesting anything but Miyuki as the next head is reckless. Has Aunt Maya already named her?" Yugen asked.

"Maya-sama hasn't spoken," Aoki replied.

Aoki spoke as a Yotsuba butler, but his treatment of Tatsuya provoked Miyuki's wrath. As her anger surfaced, Tatsuya intervened to defuse. Being a Yotsuba matter, Yugen, from another clan, held back.

"Surprising. A fourth-ranking Yotsuba butler sowing speculation about the next head. Who's disrupting order?" Tatsuya said.

"Not speculation. Like-minded hearts align. A fake magician without a heart wouldn't understand—!" Aoki snapped.

Aoki's words only enraged Miyuki further, freezing her feet. Before it could damage FLT's building, Yugen suppressed her magic with his interference and approached. As her feet thawed, Tatsuya, realizing who acted, glanced back.

"Yugen, sorry for the trouble," Tatsuya said.

"No big deal. I heard family talk, watched, then stepped in when Miyuki's magic leaked," Yugen said.

Miyuki calmed, smiling at Yuzan, while Aoki and Tatsurou looked stunned.

"Long time, Tatsurou-san," Yugen said.

"Oh, yeah. Been a while, Yugen-kun. Why're you here?" Tatsurou asked.

"Tatsuya and Miyuki invited me. And this gentleman, from our talk, is a Yotsuba butler?" Yugen said.

"First meeting, Yugen Mitsuya. I'm Aoki, Yotsuba butler," Aoki said.

Miyuki didn't hate Tatsurou—she knew it was futile. But Aoki, ignoring her feelings, insulted Tatsuya despite knowing the Yotsuba head and her sister's role in his state. Yuzan, thanks to reincarnation knowledge, understood this.

Placing a hand on Miyuki's shoulder, Yugen spoke firmly. "I'm from another Ten Master Clan, so this may sound intrusive, but ignoring that the current head's sister acknowledges Tatsuya as her son, and saying nothing, is unacceptable."

"How does a Mitsuya know—?" Aoki gasped.

"You know? I heard it directly from Maya Yotsuba, the current head, and Midnight Shiba, their mother. If you doubt, confirm it. Just talking to myself," Yuzan said.

Pulling Miyuki closer, he passed them. Tatsuya gave a light bow and passed on the other side, vanishing through the door. As it closed, Yugen tried to release Miyuki, but she clung to his clothes, near tears.

"Yugen-san… thank you, but…" she said.

"Getting tangled with the Yotsuba was inevitable. Unlike Hayama-san, Aoki seemed clueless. If I weren't a Ten Master Clan, it could've been worse," Yugen said.

"Thanks to you, we avoided worse. I owe you," Tatsuya said.

"Don't sweat it," Yugen replied.

Sticking his neck out like this was a bad habit, he thought. Regarding pulling Miyuki close, she blushed, saying, "I-I don't mind! It's… nothing!" Tatsuya teased, "You're a natural gigolo." Yugen could only say, "Truly regrettable." He wasn't belittling Miyuki—she just seemed dissatisfied. Why?