"What… happened here?"
The voice echoed softly across the silent venue, breaking the oppressive stillness that had taken hold. All eyes turned toward Yotsuba Mahiro, who remained crouched on the ground, his fist dripping with the blood and dignity of the now-broken head of the operations committee.
That voice—steady, calm, and strangely gentle—carried no intimidation, yet it froze the hearts of everyone present. To Mahiro, it felt oddly familiar.
"Kudou… it's been a long time," Mahiro murmured, lifting his head slightly.
With a flick of disdain, he tossed the half-conscious official to the floor like a useless piece of trash. Then, as though remembering his manners, he rose smoothly to his feet, bowed lightly, and faced the man who had spoken—Kudou Retsu, the legendary magician once feared and respected as the Magician of Ten Thousand.
"Indeed, Mahiro-kun, it has been a long time," Retsu replied with a warm smile that never reached his eyes. "I've watched your performance in these past few matches. Truly brilliant—worthy of admiration. But tell me… what exactly happened here?"
Mahiro's lips curled faintly. "This scum tried to tamper with our school's CAD. I caught him in the act and dragged him out for… a short interrogation."
To emphasize his words, he nudged the unconscious man with the tip of his shoe, as if the pathetic figure on the floor was proof enough.
"I see," Retsu said calmly.
But everyone else present—students, staff, and committee members—were not so easily convinced. A few swallowed hard, exchanging uneasy glances. A short interrogation? They had seen it with their own eyes. Yotsuba Mahiro's fists had moved with merciless precision, each strike filled with killing intent. The man hadn't been interrogated—he'd been punished, shattered.
Retaliation. Everyone thought the same thing but none dared speak it aloud. After all, just yesterday the operations committee had ruled to restrict Mahiro's use of certain advanced spells, fearing his overwhelming magical capacity would overshadow the other competitors.
So this beating—was it really just coincidence?
No one dared voice their doubts. Not with Kudou Retsu present.
"The CAD that was tampered with…" Retsu's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "It's this one, correct?"
"Yes," Mahiro replied, stepping aside.
The elder magician picked up the CAD, turning it delicately in his wrinkled hands. He studied it closely, his sharp eyes glinting. After several long moments, he finally nodded.
"…Mm. Just as I thought. There's a foreign program embedded within. This technique… I remember it well. An electronic cicada."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"The electronic cicada?" one of the younger judges whispered.
Retsu's voice grew heavier, though it remained steady. "Yes. A forbidden technique used in the East China Sea conflict years ago. It hijacks machines by worming its way in through physical or wired connections—paralyzing high-tech weapons and making them useless. It's not the work of an amateur."
His sharp eyes flicked down toward the groveling wreck of a man on the floor. The coldness in his gaze was enough to make even those standing behind him shiver. Whoever had orchestrated this sabotage was not someone ordinary.
He took a step forward, clearly intending to press the broken official for more answers.
But Mahiro's voice stopped him.
"Kudou… if you're thinking of interrogating him, you'd best give up."
Retsu turned his head slightly, his brow lifting in interest.
"This man's mind has already been… read by me," Mahiro said without hesitation. "His memories are shattered, and what remains of him is just an empty shell. If you want to know the details, just ask me directly."
A collective gasp escaped several of the committee members. Their faces paled as they realized what that meant—Mahiro had ripped apart the man's consciousness as though it were nothing more than a fragile scroll.
Before anyone could raise an objection, Mahiro's voice flowed smoothly once more.
"However… the identity of the one pulling the strings here is a little special. I'd rather not speak of it in this place. After the Nine Schools Competition ends, I'll explain everything. Is that acceptable?"
As he said this, his sharp gaze swept casually over the group standing behind Kudou Retsu.
The effect was immediate. Several of them stiffened, their faces draining of color. The air around Mahiro seemed to twist, heavy with a primal aura, as if they were prey caught in the glare of a predator. Cold sweat rolled down their backs, and instinct forced them to stumble a few steps away.
Is this boy… really just a student?
Even Kudou Retsu, a man who had lived through battlefields, understood the hidden warning beneath Mahiro's words. Yet, instead of frowning, he chuckled warmly, his expression as serene as ever.
"Very well," Kudou Retsu chuckled, folding his hands behind his back. "When the competition ends, come find me. It has been many years since we last met, little one. I'd like to chat with you properly."
Then, without missing a beat, he turned to the officials. "As for the CAD, let's use the spare. Given what just happened, there's no need for another inspection, isn't that right, Chairman of the Competition?"
The sudden pressure in his voice made the people behind him jolt. They nodded frantically, bobbing their heads like mice scurrying before a cat.
"T—to have an undercover agent infiltrate the committee and tamper with CADs… such a scandal has never occurred in the Nine Schools Competition. You will all give me a proper explanation," Kudou Retsu said, his words sharp as blades.
The Competition Chairman looked ready to faint on the spot, but he still forced out a trembling affirmation. Thanks to Kudou Retsu's intervention, the matter was temporarily brought to a close.
....
When Yotsuba Mahiro returned to First High's main camp, CAD in hand, the tent was unnaturally silent. Everyone's eyes fell upon him.
Some were ashamed. Some looked uncertain. Some were clearly fearful. And some—though not many—were quietly grateful.
Mahiro tilted his head slightly, wondering how his senpai could show so many different emotions at once.
The silence finally broke when Saegusa Mayumi, Student Council President, stepped forward. She greeted him with her usual elegance, her voice calm and her gaze warmer than anyone else's.
"Mahiro-kun," she said softly. "When the headquarters suddenly announced that one of our students caused a commotion, I was afraid you might have gone to confront the committee because of yesterday's incident. But… I didn't expect you were protecting Mari-san instead."
Though her words weren't entirely accurate, and there was an unmistakable hint of teasing in her tone, the essence wasn't wrong either.
Even Watanabe Mari approached him with gratitude in her expression.
"Mahiro-kun, thank you. The competition officials have already made an announcement about the… conflict. But what exactly happened during the CAD inspection?"
Her question was on everyone's mind. The official announcement had been vague, almost evasive—clearly an attempt to avoid disgrace.
"I just happened to catch a small-time thief trying to sneak illegal spells into the CAD during the inspection process," Mahiro replied casually, as if it were nothing important.
He handed the CAD back to Mari. "The competition permits us to use spares without re-inspection. But I've already erased the illegal code, so it should be fine to continue with this one, Mari-senpai."
"Eh?" Mari blinked and asked curiously. "If we're allowed to use spares, why go through the trouble of fixing it?"
Mahiro shrugged helplessly. "There's hardly any time left before your match begins. I couldn't add a protective spell to the spare in time, so it's better you use this one. Unless…" He tilted his head, smirking. "Does Mari-senpai not trust me? Afraid there might still be traces of sabotage inside that could cost you the match?"
His words were playful, but they carried enough weight to make Mari's voice leap a few pitches.
"Wh-what?! That's not it at all! I just thought… maybe it wasn't necessary to make you go through all that trouble…"
"Oh, Mari-chan, you baka," Mayumi laughed lightly, stepping in to defuse the awkwardness. "Mahiro-kun was thinking about your safety. Having a protective layer is always better. You wouldn't want to risk an accident in the middle of your match, would you?"
"…That's true, but still…" Mari muttered.
"In that case," Mayumi said with a bright smile, giving her a little push toward the exit, "go and prepare properly. Don't keep your match waiting!"
Flustered, Mari allowed herself to be ushered out. Mayumi practically dragged her away, leaving the camp noticeably quieter.
When Mayumi returned, her demeanor had shifted. She pulled Mahiro into a side room, her expression sharpening into one of seriousness.
"Mahiro-kun," she said firmly, her eyes locking onto his. "Tell me honestly… is this situation going to cause a lot of trouble?"
"You went out of your way to send Mari-senpai off just to ask me that?" Mahiro raised an eyebrow.
Mayumi didn't reply. She only stared, her gaze unwavering. As the eldest daughter of the Saegusa family, she could sense danger even without knowing the full picture.
"…Alright," Mahiro said at last, sighing. "Sorry, but I can't tell you right now."
"Why not?"
"Because this is Kudou's wish."