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Chapter 25

Chapter 25

After classes ended, Yuuji, Aika, Tatsuya, and Miyuki met up and head to the student council office together once again to meet with Mayumi, Mari, and the rest of the student council to discuss what their jobs would entail as a member of the student council and the disciplinary committee. 

They won’t be starting their activities today, since it is already close to sun down, but just to introduce themselves to their rooms and chat a bit with their respective leaders. 

As they announced their arrival, they were let in by Mayumi’s voice. Upon entering, they were welcomed by Mayumi and Mari while Suzune and Azusa turned and nodded their heads towards them.

However, there was one more person who Yuuji, Aika, and Tatsuya had already expected, but not Miyuki. 

Standing before the window, looking out into the massive courtyard of their school, was the student council vice president, Hattori Gyobu. 

He turned and approached the group with a polite smile. 

“Welcome. Forgive me for not being able to join you this morning. I had other pressing matters to attend to.”

“Thank you very much for welcoming us, Hattori-senpai. It is very kind of you to stay this late in order to greet us new members of the student council and the disciplinary committee.”

Yuuji responded with an equally polite smile, though much more charming. However, just like Gyobu, his smile didn’t reach his eyes. 

Just like before, simply being near Yuuji caused Gyobu to feel this invisible pressure in his heart, making breathing slightly difficult as he found himself not breathing for a moment and taking large amounts of air at once the next moment. 

“Of course. It is simply my duty as the vice president.”

His gaze met with Yuuji, Aika, and Miyuki, but not Tatsuya, before he turned around and returned to Mayumi’s side. 

Needless to say, with their keen senses, the four of them noticed it. 

“Let’s get started then~ A-chan, if you’d please.”

“Y-Yes.”

Miyuki stepped forward and approached Azusa and Suzune who were sitting on the computer desks at the side of the room.

On the other hand, Mari also turned towards Yuuji, Aika, and Tatsuya with a smile and her hands on her hips. 

“Okay, then why don’t we go as well?”

“Hm? Where to, Watanabe-senpai?”

“To the Disciplinary Committee headquarters. It’d be easier to learn from watching first hand after all.”

“Watanabe-senpai, please wait a moment.”

“What is it, Vice President Hattori Gyobushoujo Hanzou-kun?”

“P-Please don’t call me by my full name!”

Gyobu blushed and approached Mari in a fluster..

“Then, Vice President Hattori Hanzou?”

“It’s Hattori Gyobu!”

“That’s not your name, but a government post of your family, right?”

“We no longer hold that office! At this school, I am registered as Hattori Gyobu- Not, that’s beside the point!”

“Then what is it?”

Gyobu glanced towards Tatsuya with disapproval in his eyes. Though surprisingly enough, Yuuji did not see disdain, just simple disapproval. 

“I am opposed to that first year being appointed to the Disciplinary Committee. No weed has ever been appointed to the Disciplinary Committee before.”

“It’s forbidden to refer to the Course 2 Students as weeds… You have some nerves uttering that term in front of me.”

Mari’s eyes narrowed sharply upon hearing that distasteful and degrading term coming out of his mouth. 

“Glossing over it won’t do any good. The disciplinary committee’s job is to maintain discipline and enact them when violation happens using practical skills. A weed wouldn’t be able to accomplish it.”

“It is true that the Disciplinary Committee is meritocracy-based, but there’s more than one kind of practical skills.”

Mari then pointed towards Tatsuya.

“Tatsuya has the eyesight and brains to read activation sequences directly and accurately predict which spell is about to be activated.”

“Impossible! Even an Essential Singularity-Type activation sequence is loaded with data as much as 30,000 letters of the alphabet! There’s no way that he could read that in an instant!”

“Common sense tells us that is impossible. That’s why his skills are so valuable. He’s sure to become a powerful deterrent towards all those would-be violators who keep getting off easy because we can never establish their crimes. Am I right, Yuuji-kun?”

Yuuji smiled softly as he stared right into Gyobu’s eyes. However, Yuuji did not exert any pressure on him this time. He realized that Gyobu was simply placing his judgment and decision to oppose Tatsuya into entering the Disciplinary Committee based on his knowledge of the average magical ability, skills, and talent of a course 2 student. 

Though, the fact that he still acted in such a manner and discriminated against course 2 students still didn’t change Yuuji’s perception of him that much. His smile, charming as it was, still didn’t reach his eyes. 

“Yes. As Watanabe-senpai has surmised, Tatsuya has the ability to read activation sequences before they could even launch and deduce the spell with 100% accuracy. In fact, I, myself, am still learning to use such techniques myself from him. And in terms of combat, I can attest to his skill as well.”

“What…?”

Yuuji glanced at Tatsuya, and recalled all of the crazy things he does in the anime. And now, he also has an SSR that allowed him to, pretty much, be immortal in battle in addition to his ability to also instantly cast Self Restoration on himself. 

If he battled Tatsuya… He wouldn’t know who would come up on top. He would be able to resist Tatsuya’s greatest offensive weapon, his decomposition, with his magic as well as fight him equally in physical combat with his [Krav Maga Proficiency]. But even then, it would still be extremely difficult, given Tatsuya has much more actual combat experience than him and more knowledge when it comes to magic in this world.

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled wryly. 

“He’s a fearsome force in real combat, Hattori-senpai. What can I say.”

“...”

Upon hearing his words, Gyobu, Mari, and everyone in the student council couldn’t hide their surprise. Yuuji was ranked second amongst the freshmen, meaning he is one of the best first year students who entered First High School. That would mean… Tatsuya’s combat level was at least on par with him despite being a course 2 student.

In contrast to their shock, Miyuki was smiling proudly at her brother. She felt extremely happy that someone was able to recognize her brother’s greatness. It has always been unpleasant for her in this school since a lot of people looked down on her brother. But at least, those close to her and her brother do recognize his greatness. For that, she was thankful.

“A-Ahem… T-That is quite surprising… But, that isn’t the only reason why I want him in my committee.”

Mari cleared her throat, earning Gyobu’s attention back, and continued.

“Just as you say, there is an emotional chasm between Course 1 and Course 2 students in this school. The course 1 students police the course 2 students, but never the other way around. This system only served to deepen that rift. And I do not particularly like the notion of allowing the committee that I lead foster such a sense of discrimination.”

Unable to replace words against Mari, Gyobu turned towards Mayumi and asserted his point in frustration. .

“President. As vice-president, I am against appointing Tatsuya Shiba to the Disciplinary Committee. A course 2 student lacking magical power is not suitable as a member of the Disciplinary Committee.”

“Hah… It seems I have misjudged you more than I expected, Hattori-senpai…”

“!! Tsubakihara-kun…!”

Gyobu widened his eyes and turned towards Yuuji, blazing in anger. 

“I first thought of you as a magician worthy of respect and someone who thinks rationally and logically. In fact, when I didn’t see the disdain in your eyes before, I still thought that way. However, it seems like you are a hypocrite, contradicting yourself by letting your prejudice and pride cloud your judgment before even seeing his capabilities with your own eyes.”

Gyobu’s fist clenched tightly and pointed his finger towards Tatsuya. 

“If he does have the capabilities as you’ve said, then why is he a weed?! He should be able to enter as a course 1 student if he is as powerful as you suggest!”

“The method of assessment only lets us see their capability as a magician in general. However, there is still more to enacting discipline to violators than simply neutralizing threats in combat, am I right? As Watanabe-senpai has said herself, Tatsuya's ability to deduce spells simply from seeing a glance of the activation sequence would allow the disciplinary committee to enact discipline to violators who they couldn’t bring justice upon before. Why are you so against having such a talent?”

“Kuh…”

Mayumi, Suzune, Azusa, and Mari widened their eyes in shock as they watched Yuuji completely decimating Gyobu in a war of words and logic.

It was their first time ever seeing Gyobu reduced into such a state…

Yuuji looked at Gyobu, who was now looking down at the floor with his fists clenched tightly. 

By the looks of it, it seems like he’d still stubbornly cling to his own pride and opinion if he didn’t get wrecked by Tatsuya.

He glanced back towards his friends, and saw Aika smiling brightly in satisfaction while Tatsuya and Miyuki smiled gratefully at him.

He then lowered his head slightly with a helpless smile, directing it towards Tatsuya. 

I’m sorry, Tatsuya. But I don’t think he’ll change his mind if you don’t wreck him completely.

And seemingly understanding his intention, Tatsuya smiled helplessly and nodded at him as well.

“... It seems you still couldn’t accept the facts and benefits of having Tatsuya enter the Disciplinary Committee Watanabe-senpai and I have laid out for you because of your own sense of discrimination huh, senpai?”

“...Tsubakihara-kun.”

Gyobu raised his head slightly, his eyes glaring at him.

“A magician should always recognize everything as it is, rationally and calmly. An aspiring magician can not allow his judgment to be clouded by nepotism and prejudice.”

Gyobu flinched upon hearing those words from Yuuji. Those words that he believed from the depth of his heart… they were now pointed right back at him. 

“If you are still opposed to Tatsuya entering the Disciplinary Committee, then how about I suggest you see and experience his capabilities first hand and see if he is indeed capable of executing his responsibilities as a member of the disciplinary committee.”

““Eh?!””

“Yuuji-kun, are you saying…”

Yuuji turned towards Mayumi with a smile and nodded.

“Yes. How about we let Hattori-senpai face Tatsuya in a duel?”

Mayumi, Mari, and the rest of the student council members all gasped in shock at Yuuji’s proposition. Even Gyobu, who was consumed in rage, widened his eyes in shock as he looked at Yuuji.

“What do you think, Miyuki? Do you believe that your brother has the ability and skills to join the disciplinary committee and enact discipline onto violators with force?”

Snapped out by his words, Miyuki nodded strongly.

“Yes. I believe that my brother would be able to perform exceptionally as a member of the disciplinary committee.”

“...”

Now shaking, Gyobu slowly raised his head towards Yuuji before shifting his gaze towards Tatsuya.

“Fine. I’m going to show you just how much you need to know your place!”

Faced by his intensity, Tatsuya didn’t flinch and simply nodded.”

“...Very well. I shall prove to you that my sister and my friends are not clouded in their judgment.”

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Heading to the Third Practice Room where the duel would be held, Yuuji, Tatsuya, and the others walked silently through the hallway that had been tinted orange-red from the light of the afternoon sun entering through the windows. 

Tatsuya seemed unperturbed in the least, walking silently with a briefcase in his hand, containing his Silver Horn CAD. 

Miyuki glanced towards her brother with worry in her eyes. She was confident in her brother’s power that he would best Gyobu in this duel. But she was worried if he got mad at her for making him show off his power in front of a member of the ten master clans, Mari, and the other remembers of the student council.

Yuuji, whose arm was hugged by Aika since there was nobody else in this hallway, also looked at him apologetically. He tried talking to Gyobu and reasoned with him so Tatsuya won’t have to duel him in order for him to enter the Disciplinary Committee. He even tried to intimidate him a little to curb his hostility. But he was more stubborn than he thought…

“I’m sorry, Tatsuya… I tried to reason with him but…”

“I-I apologize as well… I’ve caused trouble for you once again…”

They all stopped as Tatsuya, who was leading the group at the front, halted and turned around.

“There’s no reason for the two of you to apologize.”

Tatsuya’s lips curved up into a small smile and petted Miyuki’s head as tears began to accumulate in her eyes.

“I’ve told you on the day of the matriculation ceremony, right? I’m always saved because you’re always getting angry in my place, since I can’t get angry…”

He then turned towards Yuuji with the same smile.

“And I know how hard you’ve tried to prevent this, and I am very grateful. So don’t apologize.”

“Tatsuya…”

Tatsuya turned towards his sister and moved his hand from her head to her cheek, caressing it gently.

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry. Isn’t there a more fitting phrase for this moment?”

Miyuki wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.

“Yes… Good luck, and do your best.”

“Mm. Beat him up, Tatsuya.”

“That’s right! I can’t wait to see his stupid face of shock when you beat him~!”

“Ah. I’ll do my best.”

They all resumed making their way to the Third Practice Room. 

Upon entering, everyone was already present and waiting. Suzune, Mayumi, and Azusa were standing on the sides near the wall, while Mari stood at the center with Gyobu a few distance away to one side. 

Tatsuya quickly made his preparations, loading his Silver Horn Gun and stepped to the other side while Miyuki, Yuuji, and Aika joined Mayumi and the others at the side. 

Upon seeing Tatsuya putting one of the many storage devices he brought in his briefcase into his gun-shaped CAD, Mari couldn’t help but ask.

“Do you always carry around  multiple storage devices?”

“Yes. After all, I don’t have sufficient processing skills to master a general CAD.”

Tatsuya shifted his gaze from Mari towards Gyobu, who snorted quietly upon hearing his words and readied his right hand on the bracelet type CAD on his left wrist.

“Yuuji-kun.”

“Yes, Ichihara-senpai?”

“I’m aware that you are rooting for Shiba-kun. But objectively speaking, Vice President Hattori is one of the best students in this school when it comes to magic duels. Even a course 1 student would replace it extremely difficult to best him in one.”

“I understand what you are trying to say, Ichihara-senpai. And in truth, I know that a regular course 2 student won’t be able to best Hattori-senpai in a straight magic duel. However…”

Suzune glanced towards Yuuji and saw his face, filled with confidence.

“Hattori-senpai is currently not cautious enough. He’s completely confident in his victory, rightfully so. That is why Tatsuya will win.”

“Eh?”

“After all, combat prowess is not synonymous with magic power.”

“...”

Suzune looked at him silently, her eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

“Well, let’s just watch, Ichihara-senpai. I don’t want to spoil it, after all.”

“...I understand.”

Mari stepped forward and looked at the two participants. 

“I’m going to explain the rules now. Spells that proves fatal, as well as those that cause your opponent irreparable damage are forbidden. Direct attacks should never cause your opponents any more than a sprain. Weapons are prohibited. Bare-handed attacks are permitted. The winner will be declared either when one party acknowledges defeat, or when the referee determines that one party is unable to continue. I shall be using sheer force myself to deal with any infractions to the rules, so be prepared. That’s it.”

Silence fell upon the room as the tense atmosphere began to fill it to the brim. The spectators held their breath, bated in anticipation, except for Aika and Yuuji who already knew the result. 

“Are you ready? Begin!”

Gyobu raised his left hand towards Yuuji and activated his CAD. But in that instant,  Tatsuya’s figure suddenly blurred as he charged towards him. Then in the next, a sensation of immense nausea and headache hit him. 

He fell limp, but before he hit the ground, Yuuji suddenly appeared before the fallen vice president and caught him. 

Then with a charming smile, he turned towards the wide-eyed Mari.

“I believe the match has ended. May I bring Vice President Hattori to rest on the side?”

“A-Ahhh…”

Yuuji lifted Gyobu up like a sack of potatoes over his shoulders with ease and walked back to where he stood before and placed him down, letting his body lean back against the wall. 

Mari and the others all stared at the unconscious Gyobu, befuddled. Then, she turned towards Tatsuya, who was walking back to the desk a few distance away where he put his briefcase.

“Wait. That move you made… Did you deploy a self-acceleration spell in advance?”

“That wasn’t magic… It was purely a physical technique.”

“My brother practices ninjitsu. He is receiving training from Kokonoe Yakumo-sensei.”

Miyuki stepped forward and explained

“That Kokonoe-sensei… Then…”

Mari then turned towards Yuuji, who had just finished laying Gyobu down and making sure he’s okay.

“Does Tsubakihara-kun receive training from him as well?”

His movement from before when he caught the falling Gyobu before he hit the floor. They were extremely quick, just like Tatsuya’s movement. He must have also received training from the master ninjutsu user, Mari thought.

“Ah, no I’m not. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Kokonoe-sensei. I’ve only heard about him from Tatsuya and Miyuki.”

“Then… That movement… Did you cast a self-accelerating spell?”

“I did not. I’m practicing another type of martial arts that allows me to move in such a manner.”

In truth, Krav Maga, the martial art he’s proficient in, didn’t have any techniques that allowed him to move that quickly. Unlike Tatsuya, who was using a technique, Yuuji’s lightning speed originated purely from his physique. He found out he could move that quickly during the basketball match he had a few days ago.

“I see… May I ask what it is?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you would recognize it…”

Yuuji smiled apologetically. If he told her that it’s Krav Maga, then his bullshit about his speed originating from the martial arts he’s learning would be found out.

“...Fine.”

Mari nodded understandingly and turned her attention towards Tatsuya again. She knew it’d be rude to inquire further about someone’s source of strength.

“Was that spell you used in that attack also ninjutsu then, Tatsuya-kun? It only looked as if you released psion waves to me…”

Mayumi tilted her head confusedly. 

“That is correct. That was an Essential Singularity-type spell, and all I did was generate Psion waves.”

“Even so, that doesn’t explain why Hanzo-kun got knocked out.”

“He is wasted.”

“Wasted? On what exactly?”

“Magicians perceive Psions just as they do visible light and sound waves. Thus, when a magician is exposed to unexpected Psions, he will hallucinate that his body is shaken. It is this illusion that brought on something akin to a violent bout of seasickness.”

“Such a powerful surge as that… how on earth did you…?”

“Compound waves, right?”

Suzune suddenly said after thinking and trying to deduce what just happened. 

“You created three consecutive Psion waves of varying oscillation frequencies, calibrated them so that all three would converge where Hattori-kun was standing, which would then generate a powerful surge, like a triangular wave.”

“Very impressive, Ichihara-senpai.”

Suzune looked down to her tablet once again in contemplation.

“Still, how were you able to pull that off in such a short time? With that kind of processing speed, I don’t see how your technical scores could be so low.”

Yuuji simply smiled, not answering her question. And just then, Azusa suddenly appeared right beside him. Her eyes glimmered brightly as she focused on Tatsuya’s Silver Horn.

“Uhm… By any chance, could your CAD be a Silver Horn?”

“Silver Horn? As in Taurus Silver, the mysterious genius magic engineer?”

Mayumi asked wonderingly upon hearing the familiar name.

“That’s right! A specialist in Four Leaf Technology, the miraculous CAD engineer whose real name, appearance, and profile are all shrouded in mystery! The programming genius who was the first to implement the Loop Cast System!!!”

Azusa said in an excited manner Yuuji, Aika, Tatsuya, and Mayumi never seen before, except in the anime.

“Silver Horn is the name of the specialized CAD model fully customized by Taurus Silver himself, and it’s optimized for Loop Casting!”

“But Rin-chan, that doesn’t add up, does it?”

Mayumi turned towards Suzune.

“Yes, it doesn't add up. The purpose of Loop Cast is to launch consecutive invocations of the exact same spell. It is not possible for it to create multiple surges of varying oscillations. I suppose it is feasible if the oscillations are defined as variables, but to set the oscillations as one more variable along with the coordinate, intensity, and duration… Could it be, that’s exactly what you’ve pulled off here?”

Suzune looked at Tatsuya with eyes wide.

“At this school, multivariables aren’t subject to evaluations unlike processing speed, calculation scale, and interference intensity, after all…”

“In the practical exams, magic skill scores are determined by Spell Invocation speed, scale of magic sequence, and Target Data rewriting strength.”

Hanzo slowly got up, still a bit unstable, as he clutched his pounding head. 

“I see, so that’s what happens when tests don’t reflect your true abilities.”

Just then, Yuuji put Hanzou’s arm around his shoulder and helped him up.

“Please don’t rise too quickly. Take your time.”

Hanzo’s eyes widened in shock when Yuuji suddenly helped him up. Not to mention, his tone, which was normally cold and calculated whenever he spoke to him, had a kind and gentle tone unlike anything he had ever heard. Just from his voice alone, Hanzou could tell that Yuuji didn’t mean to rub his defeat on his face, but to truly help him up.

“...Thank you, Tsubakihara-kun.”

With the help of Yuuji, Hanzo slowly stood up on his feet and let go of him. 

Then, he turned towards Miyuki and slightly lowered his head.

“Shiba-san.”

“Yes?”

“What I said before… was truly rude of me. I was the one whose judgment was clouded. I hope you will forgive me.”

Miyuki smiled and similarly lowered her head and bowed gracefully.

“I am the one who was out of line. Please forgive me.”

“I would like to apologize as well for speaking out of line and in such a rude manner as well, Hattori-senpai. I hope that we will be able to reconcile and wash this matter under the bridge.”

Gyobu widened his eyes slightly as he watched Yuuji lowered his head and bowed towards him. 

But as the disagreement had been resolved, he lowered his head to him as well. 

“Likewise.”

Hanzou ten glanced towards Tatsuya, lowered his head slightly without a word, and walked away, exiting the third practice room.

Silence filled the room for a few moments as Mari and Mayumi smiled helplessly at the awkward boy and watched him slowly exit the third practice room.

“Alright, we did get waylaid unexpectedly, but how about we get back on track and head to the Disciplinary Committee Headquarters?

AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!

Also, if you'd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at /verglasx ~!!