I'm Masaki Ichijo, a first year at Third High School.
And I'm Shinkuro Kichijoji, also a first year at Third High School.
I'm Tatsuya Shiba, a first year at First High School.
So tell me, what do the Crimson Prince and Cardinal George want with me before their match?
Hey, if you know not only about me, but George, too, this should be quick and dirty.
Tatsuya Shiba... I've never heard that name before.
But I'll always remember it from now on.
You're most likely the most prodigious engineer in the history of the Nine Schools Competition.
We know it's probably rude to do this before the match,
but we came to see what you looked like.
I'm humbled to be called a prodigy by the boy genius
who discovered one of the Cardinal Codes at the tender age of thirteen...
But you're right, it's unorthodox.
Miyuki, go on ahead and get ready.
Very well.
Isn't it almost time for your match, Prince?
We'll be competing in Monolith Code tomorrow.
What about you?
I'm not in charge of that event.
I see... That's unfortunate.
We'd love to compete against your players one day.
Though needless to say, we'd be sure to win.
Sorry to take up your time.
We'll be looking forward to the next time.
8-8 / Sixth day of the competition
Is it just me...
Or is this like, totally freaky?
All the players wearing shades!
Well, why wouldn't they?
To counter Ms. Mitsui's Optical Magic, it's the most affordable sure-fire strategy.
What's your problem, anyway?
Well, because! They're just playing right into Tatsuya's hands, aren't they?
I can't believe they'd go cheap and use goggles...
Do you think she'll try to blind them with the spray this time?
I don't know about that...
I just don't see Tatsuya stooping to a simplistic strategy like that.
On your marks.
Late start?
No, she's keeping pace!
What the...
...heck was that?
It looked like a shadow dropped onto the course.
I see, so that's where she's going with this.
Huh? What is it?
Because they're wearing dark-colored goggles, her opponents' field of vision is dark.
So they're under the false impression that the water route ends at the border between the light and dark areas,
and they end up trying not to enter the dark areas.
Who knew that you could use Illusion Magic this way!
Thanks to everyone's outstanding efforts,
our own players have swept the Rookie Women's Pillars Break Final league.
Ms. Shiba, Ms. Kitayama, Ms. Akechi, congratulations on a job well done!
In recognition of this brilliant feat, the Tournament Committee has approached us with a proposal.
Regardless of the standings in the Final,
the total points awarded to our school will be the same,
so they want to know if we'd like to skip the Final,
and have all three of you share first place.
Um... Uh... Actually, I'm not feeling up to it.
I was thinking of withdrawing anyway, before you mentioned this proposal.
I see.
I'd like to compete.
This is my chance to go all out against Miyuki... and I...
...don't want to pass it up.
Is that right?
What do you want to do, Miyuki?
If Ms. Kitayama wishes to compete against me,
then I have no reason to refuse.
8-8 / Sixth day of the competition Women's Rookie Event Ice Pillars Break Finals
I can't make a dent... Just as I expected of you, Miyuki.
In that case...
Wielding two CADs at once?
Shizuku,
so you've mastered that technique?
Phonon Maser?
Who would've thought she'd unleash such a high-level spell?
Unfortunately for you, you're too naïve, Shizuku!
Niflheim? No way...
Wide-range Freezing Magic that can create even liquid nitrogen, of all things!
Congratulations on winning.
Thank you.
Too bad for you, huh, Shizuku?
Yeah... I'm bitter that I lost.
Shizuku...
From the start, I didn't think I had a chance of winning.
I see...
But I was way overmatched!
I feel so bitter, Honoka!
I'm so sorry.
Hey, want to go have some tea? I'm getting a little hungry.
Thank you.
Nine Schools Competition Part VII
Three years ago, when the New Soviet Union invaded Sado,
he joined the defense lines as a volunteer soldier at barely thirteen,
and, by using "Rupture" magic, massacred the enemy forces.
He is a magician with experience in live combat.
Due to this feat, he came to be known as the Ichijo's Crimson Prince.
A genius magician who identified one of the Cardinal Codes, thought to exist only in theory.
A prodigy that there is no researcher of the fundamental Magic Sequences who doesn't know his name.
The fact that those two have enrolled in the same grade at the same school is a nearly criminal coincidence.
At the very least, they should be peerless at the Rookie level.
It's unfortunate for Morisaki and the others.
Well, if there is one saving grace,
it's the fact that Rupture is classified as a lethal Rank A spell - and can't be used in this tournament.
Well, we did win the first match as expected,
and our second match is against Fourth High, who are dead last so far.
Surely they won't let this win slip away...
First High School
What's the status?
Brother!
What happened? An accident?
Yes, if you can call it an accident...
Miyuki, that was no accident.
It was a deliberate Over-attack. A clear violation of the rules!
Shizuku, it's too soon to be making such rash statements.
After all, there's still no proof.
So how are Morisaki and the others?
They're critically injured.
The match was held in an urban arena,
and they were subjected to a Battering Ram attack inside a deserted building.
They got buried under the rubble.
If used indoors with people inside, Battering Ram is elevated to lethal Rank A status.
This goes far beyond the reckless surfing in that Battle Board race.
In my mind, it's a clear violation of the rules.
Yes... Although it didn't escalate into complete disaster...
All three of them are confined to bed for the next three days.
But the situation is rather murky, isn't it?
Were all three of them inside that same building?
They got blitzed right after the match started.
That's not possible unless you've studied the enemy before the start signal.
There's no question that their jumping the gun, never mind using Battering Ram, was a deliberate act.
I see... Then the tournament staff is sure to be in a panic.
Because they couldn't prevent them from making that false start?
That's not really much of an issue.
Because a case could be made that the direct cause of this accident was the fact
that they set the starting point of this event in a decrepit abandoned building.
My guess is that the tournament staff wants to call off the Rookie Division Monolith Code event itself.
True, there were some calls for cancellation.
But the prelims are going on without us and Fourth High, anyway.
Worst case scenario, we'll just have to forfeit our second preliminary match.
Worst case or not, I don't think we have any choice but to forfeit.
Well, about that, Jumonji's negotiating right now.
Listen, Tatsuya, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.
Would you mind coming with me for a moment?
So let me cut right to the chase.
Are you asking me if I think this was another act of sabotage?
Yes.
After Mari's incident, you did point out the possibility that the CAD had been tampered with, didn't you?
Yes.
The Fourth High staff swears that they didn't equip the CADs with Battering Ram,
but if you're right and our school's being sabotaged, what do you think their motive is?
Revenge, maybe?
Or retaliation for what happened last spring?
This is separate from that incident in the spring.
What makes you so sure?
The night before the tournament started, some intruders tried to break into the hotel.
There were three in all, and they were all armed with handguns.
That's the first I've ever heard of this.
Because I was sworn to secrecy.
But I do know just a little about their background.
I hear it's a criminal syndicate based in Hong Kong
that's making these moves on this year's Nine Schools Competition.
Please don't do anything too dangerous.
If anything, I'd say I was the one constantly getting dragged into these things.
How did it turn out?
Just as we'd planned.
First High has no choice but to withdraw from Monolith Code.
Out of all the events, Monolith Code commands the most points.
The points earned in the Rookie events may only be half that of the Official events, but they'll still feel the blow.
It's not as if your approach is going to change compared to the prelims.
At the end of the day, Mirage Bat is all about stamina.
Under no circumstances should you try to wear down your opponents.
All you need to do is to stay calm and pace yourselves.
Both of you - as long as you focus on playing to your own strengths, you'll be fine.
Don't worry. We've got a one-two finish in the bag.
- Right! Very well. - Yeah, I hear you!
8-9 / Seventh day of the competition Women's Rookie Event Mirage Bat Finals
Damn! How can he make such a tiny Activation Sequence function?
You'd think it was Taurus Silver himself!
"You'd think it was Taurus Silver himself?"
Utilizing cutting-edge research results
to connect the main system of a Generalized model to the sub-system of a Specialized model...
Inferno...
Phonon Maser...
Niflheim...
Every one of them is an Advanced Magic Program
whose Activation Sequence has only ever been made public to Rank A magicians...
You'd think it was Taurus Silver himself?
No, this is... It would be impossible unless Taurus Silver himself were behind it...
Let's see... He might actually be a Japanese youth like you or me.
No way!
No way, no way, no way!
No way...
First High Occupied
Tatsuya, good work today.
The results you produced exceeded our expectations, and we thank you for that.
It's thanks to the players and their efforts.
Of course it's their achievement for working so hard.
But every one of us here recognizes how significant your contribution was.
Thank you very much.
According to the current standings, First High is tops in points scored.
Third High is in second place, and in terms of just the Rookie events,
they're fifty points behind us.
Even if we were to withdraw from Monolith Code now,
we'd be assured of a second-place finish in the Rookie Division.
Before the Rookie events started, I would've been satisfied with that, but...
Now that we've come this far, I'd like to shoot for first place in the Rookie events, as well.
Did you know that Masaki Ichijo and Shinkuro Kichijoji will be competing for Third High in Monolith Code?
Yes.
With those two teamed up, there's little chance that they'd suffer an upset in this tournament.
And so, Tatsuya...
Can we ask you to compete in Monolith Code?
Would it be all right to ask you two questions?
Yes. What would they be?
The two remaining preliminary matches have been postponed till tomorrow, is that right?
That's right. In light of the situation, they've agreed to change tomorrow's schedule.
I was under the impression that players couldn't be replaced even in the case of debilitating injury.
They've made an exception for that as well.
Why was I chosen?
Well, because I felt that you would be the best possible substitute.
Forget about your scores on the actual skills test.
In terms of live combat skills, you're probably No. 1 among the first year guys.
Monolith Code isn't live combat.
It's a Magic Competition in which physical attacks are banned.
In terms of magic-only battle strength, too,
I do think that you're in a class of your own.
But I'm not a player.
If it's a replacement you need, I'm sure there are plenty of players entered in just a single event.
Even if the First Course students' pride was taken out of the equation,
selecting a substitute from among the staff, despite the availability of other players,
would surely leave lasting psychological damage.
Don't be such a child, Shiba!
You're already a member of this team.
Regardless of whether you're a player or a staff member,
you're one of twenty-one students chosen from among the two hundred first years.
And due to our current crisis, our team leader, Saegusa, has chosen you as a substitute.
As long as you're a member of this team, you'll fulfill your duty as a member.
But...
As long as you're a member, there'll be no defying our leader's decisions.
If you believe that one of those decisions is flawed,
then those of us who serve as the leader's assistants will be the ones to block it.
Aside from us, no other member has the right to raise any objections.
That's right...
No matter who they might be.
Don't use your status as a Second Course student as your way out.
Don't allow yourself to wallow in the ranks of the weak, Shiba.
Substitute or not,
as long as you've been chosen, then fulfill that mission.
Very well.
I'll carry out my duty.
So who are the other team members besides myself?
You decide yourself.
We'll leave the selection of the other two members to you.
If you need time, then come back here in an hour.
No, there's no need for that. But I'm not sure that they'll agree to do it.
We'll be present if you need to persuade them.
Can it be anybody? Even if I choose from outside the team?
I don't think that would be...
It's fine. We've already made enough exceptions for this.
One or two more won't matter.
Jumonji...
Then my picks are Mikihiko Yoshida of 1-E, and Leonhard Saijo, also of 1-E.
Hey, Shiba!
Fine.
Tatsuya, would you mind telling us the reason why you chose those two?
Of course not.
The biggest reason is that I've hardly watched any of the men's matches or practice sessions.
I know nothing about their specialties or characteristics.
The match is tomorrow.
If I were to research them from scratch, there wouldn't be enough time for strategizing or fine-tuning.
You mean that you're familiar with those particular two?
Yes. Not only are Yoshida and Saijo my classmates, but I also know them well.
That's a valid point.
After all, without knowing them well, teamwork will be tough. So...
What's the non-biggest reason?
Their ability.
Nine Schools Competition Part VIII
NEXT TIME