Day two of the tournament, First High progressed smoothly.
In the Men's Pillars Break Solo qualifiers, Shoki and Yugen were split into different leagues, likely for viewership. Yugen's opponents, Fourth and Seventh High, posed no threat. Like last year, he used multi-cast hardening magic for perfect defense, piercing opponents' defenses with Meteorite Fall for a flawless victory, securing first in qualifiers for the finals.
In the Women's Pillars Break Solo qualifiers, Miyuki dominated both matches with Overd Inferno, passing as first to the finals. She planned to use her remaining two spells in the finals.
In the Women's Roar and Gunner Solo, Ceria's outrageous performance rattled others, leading to a chaotic second place and below. Third High took second, Seventh High third.
The most shocked in the Men's Roar and Gunner Solo was Third High's Shinkuro Kichijoji.
"No need to be so down, Kichijoji."
"Second place is impressive."
First High led with 200 points across three Roar events, outpacing Seventh High's 140 and Third High's 100. Shinkuro's dismay wasn't about stumbling but picking up a win by chance.
"First and Seventh High nearly tied… and they added versatile tweaks to my Invisible Bullet."
This was Yugen and Tatsuya's tactic: enhancing Shinkuro's Invisible Bullet to dominate Roar and Gunner. Toya, the first runner, stunned with incredible boat speed and precision shooting, unsettling others. Seventh High, focusing on shooting, lost speed, while Shinkuro's precision barely secured second.
Ironically, Shinkuro owed his second place to Toya, leaving even Shoki unsure how to console him.
Toya used Asami's Aqua Dolphin from last year, hitting all targets with Diffuse Invisible Bullet. Capturing heat-emitting targets in summer was effortless for Toya, a heat manipulation expert.
Another tea party was scheduled tonight, but Tatsuya was swamped. Tomorrow, Kirihara competed in Men's Shield Down Pairs, Shizuku in Women's Pillars Break Pairs finals, and the next day, Miyuki in Women's Pillars Break Solo and Sawaki in Men's Shield Down Solo— all under Tatsuya's purview.
Toya assisted with Women's Shield Down Pairs (Sayaka, Erika), Women's Solo (Yume), and Men's Pillars Break Pairs (Leo), easing Tatsuya's load.
Parasite Dolls were a concern, but overworking would exhaust even Tatsuya, as Yugen warned. Considering Miyuki, Tatsuya focused on technical staff duties while maintaining peak condition.
(Honestly, Yugen should rest more, Tatsuya thought.)
Tatsuya didn't know all of Yugen's actions, but as strategy leader, player liaison, technical assistant, and competitor, plus handling Parasite Dolls and other matters, Yugen was busier than Tatsuya. Watching over Miyuki, it wouldn't be surprising if he collapsed during the tournament. Fortunately, Yugen napped in the command tent or his room during the day, ensuring no impact on performance.
Yugen was in his hotel room when an internal call came as he prepared for the tea party. The front desk gave an unfamiliar name and room number.
It could be a trap, but few would approach him now. Sensing the presence, he knocked, and the door opened instantly. To avoid being seen, Yugen slipped inside, and Major Harunobu Kazama, in civilian clothes, greeted him.
"Major Kazama, off-duty or not, what's this about?"
"You've obviously noticed something about this Nine Schools."
From the Great Asian Alliance invasion during the Okinawa Defense, Yugen couldn't miss this situation. Kazama's words carried a hint of admiration.
But Yugen felt only anger. Even if it involved Parasites, he and Tatsuya, not the Defense Forces, had to handle it. As unofficial strategic mages and special officers, they owed no duty to clean up the military's mess.
Kazama had no response.
To avoid standing, they sat on sofas.
Assuming he understood the Nine Schools' context, Yugen addressed the background.
"Not involving the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion in the Parasite Incident was to avoid alerting Retsu Kudou via Lieutenant Fujibayashi, but Koichi Saegusa sought Kudou's ancient magic expertise, bringing them to Kanto."
"We're aware. But we don't know the Parasite Incident's full details."
"Most Parasites are sealed and managed by the Kagurazaka family, but the Kudou family took some during processing, bringing them to the Nine Schools as 'Parasite Dolls'—gynoids with Parasites."
Kazama's reaction suggested that, despite Kudou connections, he lacked this intel, or Kyoko was verifying it, not yet reporting to him.
"Plainly, Major, regardless of the 101st Brigade or Battalion's actions, what do you want from me?"
Yugen sensed no lies in Kazama's words, reflecting personal conviction despite military duty. Yugen had no intention of cutting ties with him.
Kazama was likely here to monitor Kyoko, and the 101st Brigade couldn't eliminate Parasite Dolls without risking Defense Forces or Ten Master Clans conflict, damaging cooperation.
Using military gear was unwise. Tatsuya's equipment was disguised in a work vehicle, and Yugen had explained the situation. If Miyuki's safety was at stake, Yugen couldn't stop him.
"I'm ashamed to ask, but please lend your strength to stop the Defense Forces' recklessness."
Kazama bowed deeply, unable to act himself. Tatsuya likely knew some details via Kyoko's monitoring as a strategic mage.
"Is this a request as a Defense Forces soldier or as Harunobu Kazama?"
"The latter. You know my dislike for the Ten Master Clans, but I have no desire to neglect national defense."
His guerrilla actions in the Great Yue War and duty without complaint showed his commitment to the nation over ambition. His clan disdain was known, but he separated personal and professional matters, or he wouldn't have accepted Yugen or Tatsuya as special officers.
"Understood. The Kagurazaka, Ueyama, and Yotsuba families are already moving. Master Kuzuo is cooperating, deeming this unforgivable."
"Even Master…"
Yugen warned Kazama that Kyoko might approach during Steeplechase Cross-Country, but no equipment was needed. To Kazama's question on handling it, Yugen replied:
"An old saying goes, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' For Parasites, we'll use fitting gear. Tatsuya will use the Strike Suit and Bahamut I prototyped in the Army Weapons Development Department, plus new gear from after the Parasite Incident."
"Tatsuya moving… highly likely."
The Strike Suit handled extreme conditions, absorbing CAD activation sequences via a virtual deployment field, sending them to the wearer's psyche, and storing/releasing psions to mimic Gram Demolition. Its high psion demand made it usable only by Yugen, Tatsuya, or Miyuki. Abandoned by the Weapons Department, the Mitsuya family secretly completed it.
How Parasite Dolls would be deployed in Steeplechase was unclear, but if Miyuki was in danger, Tatsuya would act. His CAD, embedded with a Guardian Spirit magic crystal, allowed Cross Exerion if needed.
If Parasite Dolls appeared in Men's Steeplechase, Yugen considered Sunrise Overdrive or Spirit Dispersion as last resorts. He hoped Retsu Kudou wouldn't place them early in the course, but caution was warranted.
"Ideally, the Defense Forces would handle their own issues. Excuse me."
Yugen's words were heartfelt.
Leaving the room, he sighed deeply. Kyoko might move Tatsuya, but would Retsu Kudou think it fine as long as his family was unharmed?
No, like Koichi Saegusa in the original, Kudou might think so. But endangering the Kudou family would only fuel Kosen's anger.
(If Kosen recovers fully… that'd bring its own pile of problems.)
Kosen, like Yugen, had siblings and a similar environment. Yugen's memories confirmed aiding a parasitized Kosen, partly due to the Kudou family's demotion from the Ten Master Clans, a bitter trade for the Saegusa.
Even if Kosen recovered without harming Yugen's side, it could spark a succession dispute. If Kosen were chosen, the eldest son might lose his place, potentially leading to violence.
Having faced a similar situation, Yugen revealed his reincarnator status to his father, Hajime, and refused the Mitsuya succession.
"Being overly kind might be a problem."
With domestic and international issues piling up, Yugen mocked himself for overthinking and returned to his room.
Note: This is shorter, aligning with day three of the tournament for a natural break.
There's an issue to consider: Kosen. I plan to save him, but that requires a 'necessary evil' to stir trouble. Strengthening the Yotsuba made Saegusa's harassment ineffective, altering the Ten Master Clans Conference arc significantly.
Forcing mages into military service while pushing strategic mage oversight is understandable, but Bezobrazov and MacLeod should be the first targets. For the protagonist and Tatsuya, the government and military take responsibility for strategic magic use for self-defense, so collateral damage isn't an issue.
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