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

July 11, 2095

Tatsuya's selection for the Nine Schools Competition shifted the school into full event mode. External staff, past competitors, helped limit delays to uniform orders (Tatsuya's first-course and tech staff blazer) and engineer briefings. Player assignments were set. Tatsuya handled six first-year girls—Miyuki, Shizuku, Honoka, and others—subbed by other staff when needed. No issues with the lineup.

Yugen, as rookie match overseer, supported them. "First-year guys? Honestly, I'd ditch them. My sisters dealing with them? Impressive," he remarked.

The school's all-in, with clubs rotating to support practice. Yugen and Miyuki paused martial arts training to mediate as student council members, cutting practice time but without complaint.

Yugen delegated Monolith Code strategy to Rinne, leveraging flexible magic and positions. Bluntly, it's offloading.

Surprisingly, the school exempted competitors and staff from classes—a "penance" for the Blanche incident. With a three-peat at stake, the school prioritized focus.

Today's the kickoff ceremony. Tatsuya's uniform arrived, set for the fifth-period auditorium event. A week gained compared to the "original story." From tomorrow, competitors skip classes for practice. First High's new facilities, funded by Gozo as an apology for Mika's canceled expulsion, include near-competition-grade setups for Speed Shooting, Ice Pillars Break, Mirage Bat, and welfare amenities.

The former Blanche base was demolished under a "private magic explosion test," bought by First High, and turned into a Battle Board practice field with a commuter link. Costly. Yugen suspected Mitsuya and Juumonji involvement.

Class 1-E cheered Tatsuya, but engineering-focused first-course students in 1-A and 1-E seethed with jealousy over a second-course student's role.

"Annoying," Shizuku muttered.

"Don't be so blunt," Honoka chided.

"Annoying in a different way," Yugen added.

Toya sighed at their complaints, aimed at the same target but for different reasons. Shizuku and Yugen trusted Tatsuya, no grudges.

"Morning's outburst pissed me off. If Miyuki were there, they'd be ice statues," Yugen said.

Miyuki was called to the student council room (likely about Tatsuya's uniform). In 1-A, a classmate snapped, "Mitsuya, why's a second-course in the engineering team? Unfair!" Despite explaining that Mayumi, Katsuto, Hattori, Azusa, and Kirihara approved him, they demanded Yugen use Mitsuya influence to oust Tatsuya. A glare knocked them out.

"Knocking someone out with a look isn't normal," Toya said.

"If I could, I'd quit being human," Yugen replied.

"I'm human," Toya muttered.

Yugen ignored the shaken Sheldon classmates and sat roughly. No explanation needed.

"It's a problem they see Mitsuya's power as their own merit. I'll go big at the competition," Yugen said.

"Your sequences for Toya are 'low-key' then?" Toya teased.

[Arithmetic Chain], [Magic Bullet for Toya], [Improved Invisible Bullet], and [Frozen Arithmetic Pillar] for Cardinal George were plenty flashy. Tatsuya's sequence for Shizuku was just as bold, tested by Yugen due to Tatsuya's magic limitations.

"It'll shock the crowd. I'll make it epic," Yugen said.

"You just said something crazy!" Eimi gasped.

Yugen planned to integrate [Frozen Arithmetic Pillar] for Toya and use a new spatial convergence sequence for Ice Pillars Break, bypassing the Magic Index registration. Mitsuya's reputation demanded discretion.

Fourth Period

After class, Tatsuya donned the tech staff blazer with First High's eight-petal emblem in the auditorium. Miyuki beamed.

"Looks like an engineer," Yugen said.

"Is that a compliment?" Tatsuya asked.

"Definitely, Onii-sama," Miyuki replied.

Yugen and Miyuki wore tailored sports jackets, the competitor uniform. Tatsuya eyed their cameras. "What's with those?"

"Just capturing you!" Miyuki said.

"Rare sight, Tatsuya-kun!" Mayumi added.

They were dodging. Tatsuya overheard earlier:

"Yu-kun, let's take a two-shot!" Mayumi said.

"Why link arms?" Yugen replied. "Miyuki-san, want a photo too?"

"Sure," Yugen agreed.

Tatsuya sighed at the chaos. Mayumi, engaged, and Miyuki, clueless about love—complicated. He stepped in, easing Yugen's plight. Miyuki and Mayumi smiled, covering up, while Yugen looked exasperated.

The ceremony introduced 50 members (40 players, 4 tacticians, 8 engineers, minus presenters Mayumi and Miyuki). Yugen stood first among rookies, followed by Toya, Shizuku, Honoka, and Morisaki, central and prominent due to his top exam rank.

Kanami, a second-year, whispered, "Mika-senpai's brother, right? Looking forward to Ice Pillars Break."

"Likewise, Chiyoda-senpai," Yugen replied.

She was surprised he knew her name. Below, Class 1-E clustered—Leo, Erika, Mizuki, and Mikihiko, who looked away. Yugen's frequent visits to 1-E, mingling casually despite his Ten Master Clans status, built a no-inferiority vibe. Tatsuya's influence was key, though Yugen didn't realize his own impact.

Miyuki pinned an ID chip badge to Yugen's collar with a dreamy smile, different from others. Tatsuya later admitted she gave him the same look, adding, "Hers to you was stronger. Worrying." Yugen could only wryly smile.

The ceremony saw unexpected applause for Tatsuya, redirected to the team. Mika once declared, "No overall win, we all go bald—including me," fueling a two-peat. Hattori and Sawaki recalled the intense vibe, hoping to avoid it again. A similar push might come.

Engineer Meet

"Tech staff, Nakajo. Nice to meet you!" Azusa said.

"Tech staff, Shiba. Handling CAD adjustments, tactics, and training," Tatsuya added.

Post-ceremony, engineers met players. The first-year girls' group of ten gathered. Tatsuya was meant for the boys, but their resentment—voiced by Morisaki's "We don't need second-course support!"—shifted him to the girls, impacting other engineers and Yugen.

"Yugen, not joining the boys?" Tatsuya asked.

"Introduced myself. CAD, tactics, training—tech staff's job. I focus on rookie strategy and my own prep," Yugen said.

"Ruthless," Eimi muttered, sweating.

"The girls are solid. Boys are secondary. With Nakajo-senpai and Tatsuya, we aim for top spots in all girls' events," Yugen declared.

High bar, but necessary for the school's honor in this serious competition.