Chapter 47: You guys can't play, can you?
Under the eager anticipation of the audience, the "Ice Pillar Break" men's preliminary match began.
However—
"Hey, hey, hey, is this for real?!"
"Is that… a Magical Engineering Technician?"
"No way, what kind of joke is this?!"
....
The audience's shouts of doubt echoed throughout the arena, almost to the point of demanding refunds.
Even Erika and the others were speechless after seeing it.
"I say, why did Mahiro wear this outfit to the competition? Isn't that a bit too mocking?"
"Indeed, but it's very much Mahiru-niisan's style."
Yotsuba Mahiro appeared on stage wearing a technical team jacket.
"Ice Pillar Break" differed from other competitions in that participants could wear clothes that boosted morale, so most people wore their favorite attire, even turning it into a fashion show at one point.
But wearing an engineer's outfit was a first in the history of the Nine Schools Competition.
He couldn't help it; besides his school uniform, he hadn't brought any other clothes, and he was too lazy to change.
"George, it seems he's that temporary engineer from First High."
"Yes, I investigated. This person is named Yotsuba Mahiro, and it's said he's a discarded child of the Yotsuba Family. Masaki, he'll likely be your biggest opponent in the 'Ice Pillar Break' match."
"I know."
Ichijo Masaki's response was calm, but his gaze at the figure on the stage was very solemn.
A Yotsuba Family magician, the most mysterious lineage among the Ten Master Clans…
At the same time, the Ninth High School senior on stage also looked terrible, his face alternating between green and red.
To be competing on the same stage with a Magical Engineering Technician, someone who wasn't even considered a contestant…
"You're really looking down on me! I will definitely make you regret it and pay the price for underestimating me!!!"
"?"
What was this guy mumbling about!
Without further ado, the moment the match officially began, before the opponent could even react, Yotsuba Mahiro pulled out his Night Demon and aimed it at the opposite field.
Then he pulled the trigger.
— "Multiple Observation" —
— "Multiple Casting" —
— "Scattering Mist," activate!
Even the audience couldn't react. The twelve icicles on the opposite field were instantly decomposed into molecular dust.
The cold mist stimulated the Ninth High School contestant, but it was already too late.
The broadcast announcing the end of the match had already sounded.
"What happened?"
"I don't know…"
"It feels like that engineer is really strong…"
The audience in the seats were utterly bewildered; no one understood.
"…It's over, just like that?"
"Yes, it's over."
"…Mahiru-kun, so amazing…"
Erika, Kitayama Shizuku, Honoka, Sayaka, and Mizuki looked at each other.
No one expected the match to end less than ten seconds after it began.
They hadn't even clearly seen what happened, only that the icicles on the opponent's field disappeared in an instant.
It was just like the car accident they encountered on the way here, cleanly and decisively decomposed.
Even the subsequent matches were the same.
Instant kill!
Instant kill!
Still an instant kill!
No one could last more than ten seconds against Yotsuba Mahiro or destroy a single icicle. Even using "Information Reinforcement" to strengthen them had no effect whatsoever.
Miyuki already covered her mouth in surprise.
She hadn't expected Mahiru-niisan to use "Scattering Mist" in plain sight…
But only like this was he the Yotsuba Mahiro in her heart.
He never cared about others' opinions; as long as it was an opponent, he would eliminate them without mercy.
And after several preliminary matches ended, the committee, as expected, received complaints from other high schools.
They complained about First High for Yotsuba Mahiro's unauthorized use of large-scale destructive magic.
The committee couldn't help but break into a sweat upon hearing this.
The "Ice Pillar Break" event itself did not restrict magic; as long as you could do it, even using strategic-class magic was fine.
But they couldn't withstand complaints from eight high schools at once.
So, the committee notified First High of the discussion results.
"So, the result of the discussion is that I can no longer use 'Scattering Mist' in the upcoming matches?"
".... Alas, it's like this."
Even Mayumi felt a headache when she received this notification.
In response to the unfairness issues raised by various schools, the committee forcefully elevated the A-class destructive magic "Scattering Mist" to a tactical-level magic!
It clearly hadn't reached that scale!
"The committee really went too far."
"Indeed, it's the first time in the history of the Nine Schools Competition that Ice Pillar Break was banned due to its excessive magical power."
Mori, Ichihara Suzune, and the other Senior Watanabe all expressed their strong dissatisfaction with the Nine Schools Competition committee's decision.
This bias was a bit too blatant, wasn't it?
"What does it matter?"
Just as everyone was both angry and helpless, Mahiro's voice echoed faintly.
"It's nothing more than these few schools being sore losers. What can banning 'Scattering Mist' do? Do they really think I only know how to use this one spell?"
"Since the other schools choose to play like this, I hope they don't regret it in tomorrow's competition."
Mahiro maintained a smile while speaking.
But no one felt that he was truly smiling.
It was more like the calm before a storm.
"Masaru-senpai, what are you going to do? Please don't be impulsive..."
Mayumi was very worried at this moment. She was afraid that Mahiro would do something foolish, such as making a move against the Nine Schools Competition committee.
Based on her understanding of Mahiro, he was indeed capable of such a thing…
However, Mahiro smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, Senior Mayumi, nothing will happen. I'm not that foolish."
After the First High's temporary meeting concluded, Mahiro left the camp area and returned to the hotel.
However, just as he was about to take the elevator back to his room, he was stopped by two Third High School students.
They were both males.
One of them was very familiar, looking like Suzaku Kururugi had wandered onto the wrong set.
Mayumi had introduced him before; he was the Explosion Prince of the Ichijo Family.
The other was slightly shorter, but perhaps because the school upheld a philosophy of valuing practical combat skills, he didn't give a frail impression; instead, he seemed somewhat resolute?
The two didn't look like they were waiting for the elevator; rather, they seemed to be looking for him, walking directly towards him.
"Hello, I am Ichijo Masaki, a first-year student at Third High School."
The taller male spoke first, his tone carrying an air of inherent arrogance, not intentionally put on, but a temperament cultivated over many years.
His eyes were fixed directly on Mahiro.
"I am also a first-year student at Third High School, my name is Kichijoji Shinkurou."
The shorter male spoke his classical-style name with a polite tone but a challenging gaze.
Although there was no malice, let alone hostility, it wasn't particularly friendly either.
"Hello, I am Yotsuba Mahiro, from First High."
Adhering to his habitual politeness, Mahiro still responded calmly for the time being.
Then he asked:
"From your appearance, it seems you two are waiting for me? Do you have any instructions?"