The Honor at Magic High School (魔法科高校の優等生)

2095-08-09 / Monolith Code - Rookie Event

Morisaki-kun!

What is this?

What happened here?

Battering Ram, a Rank A Lethal Spell.

On top of that, they jumped the gun.

That's totally against the rules!

No way are we going to stand for this!

This is...

Don't tell me...

Onii-sama!

First High contestants victimized by another accident?

Those folks are certainly disaster-prone, yes?

Shall I take it upon myself to exorcise them?

Just as we planned, First High will now have no choice but to forfeit.

But that's not in the bag just yet.

This doesn't change the fact that First High is still the frontrunner.

The Nine Schools Competition is not just a mere tournament.

It's a major event that captures the whole world's attention.

That's why the wagers have skyrocketed.

If the favorite, First High, were to win,

our losses would exceed a hundred million dollars.

If that happens, it'll be game over for the No-Head Dragon East Japan Branch.

Not one of us here will die an easy death.

We have to stop First High School from winning, no matter what.

・

O

nii

sama,

U-Um...

Honoka... Satomi...

Yes?

Just because it's the final doesn't mean it'll be a whole different battle.

If nothing else, Mirage Bat is a test of stamina.

Right!

Onii-sama is acting like he always does so they won't get even more nervous.

I suppose I have a long way to go.

Onii-sama is absolutely right.

What you need more than anything is to stay calm and pace yourselves.

Am I right?

Yes. All you two have to think about is how to maximize your natural abilities.

You'll be fine. That one-two finish is ours for the taking.

Right!

Mirage Bat Rookie Event Final! The match is on!

As expected of Honoka!

I'm getting the next one!

Both Honoka and Subaru are in fine form!

Of course it's true that they're in the groove,

but don't forget that since Shiba-kun adjusted their CADs,

they can process magic sequences superfast!

So, either one of them has a chance to win it all!

"Maximize your natural abilities."

I heard Tatsuya-san say that.

And true to his word, he's been supporting us so that we can draw out our natural abilities.

He did it for Honoka and Subaru.

And for me, as well.

Right! If it weren't for Shiba-kun, I never could've come this far, either.

And we're all grateful to Shiba-kun, aren't we?

Yes.

I'd like you to tell that to Onii-sama directly.

I'm sure he'll be thrilled!

Match over!

Mirage Bat

1. Mitsui Honoka (First High School)

2. Satomi Subaru (First High School)

Winner, Contestant Mitsui Honoka of First High School!

Runner-up, Contestant Satomi Subaru, also of First High School!

We did it!

Congrats, Honoka!

Shiba-kun's prediction came true, huh?

Tatsuya-san!

We did it!

What? Shiba-kun's competing in Monolith Code?

Well, after Morisaki's team's accident,

we thought we'd be withdrawing from Monolith Code...

but the Student Council president seems intent on winning the Rookie Event, as well.

And that's why she's sending Tatsuya-san in as a substitute?

It's true that you'd be more than competent as a contestant, too, Onii-sama...

but why does it have to be you?

I argued that point myself.

Why would they pick me, an engineer, when there are other contestants to choose from?

And wouldn't there be long-lasting resentment afterwards?

But...

Don't give me that, Shiba!

You're already a member of the team.

And our leader, Saegusa, has already chosen you.

As a team member, you shouldn't think twice about following our leader's decisions.

Don't run away, Shiba.

Reserve or not, as long as you've been chosen, do your job!

They really made it hard for me to turn them down, so I didn't.

Does that worry you?

If it were just a matter of you competing in Monolith Code, I wouldn't be worried at all.

The problem is...

The acts of sabotage against First High, right?

Who on earth is behind all that?

I'm sure you must know something, Onii-sama!

A Hong Kong-based crime syndicate, No-Head Dragon.

They're the ones who inflicted all of the sabotage we've seen.

Morisaki-kun and his team's injuries... Was that just an accident?

What do you mean?

Are you saying it wasn't an accident but a malicious act of sabotage?

I-I wouldn't go that far.

But it's all too crazy to be a coincidence.

On top of that false start,

use of Battering Ram, a Rank A Lethal Spell indoors...

That was no accident. There's no question that it was deliberate.

But Fourth High was disqualified for using it.

So it did them no good, right?

You do have a point.

Maybe Fourth High was only being used.

And the real culprit is someone else?

Someone who has no qualms about maliciously sabotaging First High?

Yeah.

Shiba-kun's taking part in Monolith Code tomorrow, right?

If something like today were to happen again―

Don't!

Now that it's come to this...

Why would No-Head Dragon only come after First High?

What would their purpose be?

I don't know yet, but one thing is clear.

They don't want First High to win.

Doesn't this mean there's a chance that they'll go after you again, since you're going to compete in Monolith Code?

Probably. That's why if we defaulted, we'd be playing right into their hands.

If I'm their new target, then I'll just have to thwart them myself.

Still...

If it's Onii-sama, he'll be fine.

I believe that, yet I'm still worried.

If only I could help you somehow.

Miyuki!

So, long story short...

let's all protect Shiba-kun together!

Yeah!

Uh, what's going on?

Miyuki, we're sure that today's Monolith Code accident

was deliberate sabotage by someone targeting First High.

So, we're thinking that Tatsuya-san and the team will be targeted in tomorrow's match.

Since Tatsuya-san went above and beyond for us in our Rookie Events...

we've been thinking about what we could do to thank him.

And that's how this strategy was born!

Operation Repay Tatsuya-kun for His Kindness!

After always supporting us from behind the scenes, Shiba-kun will be taking center stage as a contestant!

Now it's our turn to support him!

Operation Repay Tatsuya-kun for His Kindness!

So, these are the three possible scenarios for sabotage that we can think of!

Anticipated Acts of Sabotage

* Direct external attack during the match.

* A trap set on the stage.

* Tampering with CADs.

The Tournament Committee is strict about checking the CADs,

which we can't do anything about,

so we came up with countermeasures for the other two.

Security's supposed to be tight during the match,

but that still didn't stop what happened today.

They check the five stages in advance,

but if their aim is sabotage, of course they'd make sure it would go undetected.

So, before the match starts, we're going to do safety checks on the stages.

And then, we'll be patrolling the venue during the match!

That will be our mission for the day!

What do you think, Miyuki?

Thank you, everyone. For Onii-sama's sake.

I'd be happy to take part, as well.

But I do have two favors to ask of you.

Huh?

First, I'd like to keep this a secret from Onii-sama.

If he found out that we were doing something behind his back,

I'm sure he'd be concerned.

One more thing.

Just don't do anything dangerous.