Device checks before the match were routine—something Tatsuya had done countless times, as had the other eight schools. There was no need for heightened vigilance. Holding the CAD Miyuki would use for Mirage Bat, Tatsuya waited for his turn at the inspection.
He'd thought that if the match started without incident, he could ease his guard during the event. But that notion vanished the instant the CAD passed through the inspection machine.
Grabbing the inspector by the collar, Tatsuya slammed him to the ground. The man started to scream but was silenced as Tatsuya pinned his solar plexus with a knee.
"They must've underestimated me."
Security guards rushed in, likely alerted to Tatsuya's assault, but they froze, overwhelmed by the killing intent radiating from him, and could only watch the scene unfold.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice someone tampering with something Miyuki would wear?"
To anyone unaware of their family circumstances, Tatsuya's words were incomprehensible. Not that he cared to be understood—or intended to explain.
"What did you slip into Miyuki's CAD using the inspection machine? It's not just some virus, is it?"
The inspector's face twisted in shock, and the guards' gazes shifted from seeing him as a victim to a culprit. Apparently, Tatsuya's muttered words had carried to those around him.
"You're not the only one behind the incidents during this competition, are you?"
The inspector shook his head desperately, pleading for help. But Tatsuya had not a shred of mercy for him.
"Not talking, huh? Fine."
In full view of the onlookers, Tatsuya raised his right hand, forming a knife-edge aimed at the inspector's throat. As he slowly drew closer, the man's face contorted in near-tears, shaking his head frantically.
Everyone watching imagined the same scene: that hand would slice through the culprit's throat without resistance. He had touched something he should never have.
Just as they all envisioned the inspector's death, a figure arrived, enveloped in an aura of calm that swallowed the tense atmosphere whole.
"What's going on here?"
"Elder Kudou."
With Retsu Kudou's arrival, Tatsuya's killing intent vanished as if it had never been.
"You're Shiba Tatsuya from First High, correct? What happened?"
"Sir! Someone tampered with a CAD meant for our student. I was interrogating the culprit to uncover his accomplices."
Tatsuya answered Kudou's question in a formal stance. The onlookers doubted that was the full story but stayed silent, feeling they had no right to speak.
"Is this the CAD with the foreign object? …Indeed, something's been inserted. This is an electronic golden silkworm, used by the Guangdong Army in the East China Sea Islands theater back when I was active."
At Kudou's words, the culprit's expression went blank. He must have realized that with this much exposed, no excuse would save him.
"We went to great lengths to identify this thing back then. Did you know about the electronic golden silkworm, Shiba?"
"No, sir, I wasn't familiar with the term, but I immediately noticed a foreign object in the program I'd written."
"I see."
Kudou listened to Tatsuya's response with interest, but when he turned to the culprit, his face was that of a seasoned magician who'd survived countless battlefields.
"So, where did you get this electronic golden silkworm?"
The culprit, unsurprisingly, remained silent, head bowed. He was dragged away by the guards who'd come to restrain Tatsuya, and the commotion came to an end.
"Now, Shiba, you should head back to the venue. Use a spare CAD. Given the situation, no further checks are needed, right, Committee Chair?"
Kudou addressed an older magician behind him (though still younger than Kudou), who nodded vigorously.
"A saboteur infiltrating the committee is an unprecedented scandal. If you have excuses, we'll hear them in detail later."
At Kudou's words, the Committee Chair stood frozen, face pale.
"I'd like to have a long talk with you too, Shiba."
"If the opportunity arises, sir."
"I'll look forward to that."
Tatsuya watched intently as Kudou walked away.
Back at First High's tent, Tatsuya was met with several worried glances, but most had reverted to the wary or awestruck looks from before the competition began. He wasn't oblivious to all gazes—hostility, fear, or awe registered sharply with him.
"Onii-sama…"
"Sorry for worrying you."
"No! You got angry for my sake, didn't you?"
"That was quick. You already know the details?"
"It's not just me. Everyone here does."
Prompted by Miyuki's words, a girl approached Tatsuya.
"Shiba… Was Kobayakawa-san's CAD tampered with by that person too?"
"Most likely. We won't know the full details until the committee's investigation, but I checked Kobayakawa-senpai's CAD earlier, and it had the same foreign object as the one meant for Miyuki."
"Then…"
"The one who forced Kobayakawa-senpai to withdraw was probably him. He used the inspection machine to tamper with the CADs. Per competition regulations, CADs can't block access from the inspection machine."
Hearing Tatsuya's explanation, Koharu's face crumpled as she threw herself into his arms. Miyuki nearly let a displeased expression slip but held back, given the circumstances (though Tatsuya noticed, of course).
"If I'd noticed! Kobayakawa-san wouldn't have gone through that!"
"Don't blame yourself. I only caught it by chance, but if I hadn't, Miyuki might've faced the same fate. I'd be in your position then. Still, blaming yourself isn't good. Kobayakawa-senpai's life as a magician isn't over, and nothing's been decided yet."
At Tatsuya's comforting words, Koharu's held-back tears spilled over, and she sobbed. Just then, Mayumi and Azusa entered the tent, eyes wide with surprise.
"Tatsuya-kun, what's this situation?"
"Just comforting Hirakawa-senpai."
"Hmm… By the way, the reason you went off was because your sis-con self couldn't stand someone messing with your precious little sister, right?"
"I sense some malice in that phrasing…"
Mayumi's tone was her usual teasing, but her expression wasn't amused. Tatsuya figured she felt the same as Miyuki but kept that thought to himself, continuing to pat Koharu's head until she stopped crying.
A new flag has been fully raised, and maybe one for Kobayakawa later…
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