Chapter 49: A Mouse That Stepped on a Cat
"What happened?"
Just as the venue was completely silent, and everyone was looking in horror as Yotsuba Mahiro squatted on the ground, beating up the head of the operation committee, an old man's voice slowly rang out.
The voice was very calm, without pressure or authority, and it felt very familiar to Mahiro.
"Kudou, it's been a long time."
He tossed the man, who had already become an idiot, onto the ground like trash.
Upholding basic politeness, he stood up and bowed to Kudou Retsu.
"Indeed, it's been a long time. The past two days' matches were brilliant, and your performance was excellent. But can you tell me what happened here?"
"This scoundrel illegally installed a spell onto our school's competitor's CAD, and I discovered him, so I dragged him out for a brief interrogation."
As if to illustrate, he kicked the idiot at his feet.
"Is that so."
Everyone who had been frozen by Yotsuba Mahiro's violent aura and killing intent earlier believed this was a lie.
They didn't believe anyone could install a spell into a CAD just by scanning it.
And, this was hardly a brief interrogation.
They had personally witnessed how Yotsuba Mahiro had brutally beaten the person in charge.
It looked more like retaliation than interrogation.
Everyone present was well aware that yesterday, the operation committee had prohibited the use of the magic spell due to Yotsuba's overly powerful magical ability.
So, was this really not retaliation?
But with Kudou Retsu present, they dared not interject casually.
"The CAD that was tampered with illegally is this one, right?"
"Yes."
The old magician, once hailed by the world as the most exquisite and ingenious, took the CAD from the inspection machine, held it before his eyes, and after repeated examination, nodded.
"...Indeed, there's a foreign object mixed in. I have an impression of this thing. This is an electronic cicada that appeared in the East China Sea archipelago war zone when I was an active soldier."
After Kudou Retsu finished speaking, he cast a cold gaze at the man lying on the ground, drooling.
Electronic cicada was a special magic that invaded electronic machines via wired connections, paralyzing high-tech weapons.
However, it was not an ordinary magic spell.
The person behind it was quite intriguing.
Thinking of this, Kudou Retsu had already started walking towards the man.
But then, Yotsuba Mahiro's voice rang out.
"Kudou, if you want to interrogate anything from this person's mouth, you should give up."
He said, "This man's memory has been forcibly read by me, turning him into an idiot. If you want to know anything, just ask me directly."
These words made several committee members gasp.
Before they could speak, Mahiro continued:
"However, the identity of the person behind this is a bit special, so I'd like to talk to you about this after the Nine Schools Competition ends, how about that?"
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently swept over the few people following Kudou Retsu.
Those few immediately felt a chill down their spines, as if they were being stared at by a fierce beast, and cold sweat streamed down them, causing them to involuntarily take a few steps back.
Is this young man really a student?!
And Kudou Retsu also understood the unspoken meaning, immediately revealing a pleasant smile.
"Let's do that. After the competition ends, come find me. It's been so many years since we last met, and I also want to have a good chat with you, little fellow."
"As for the CAD, let's use the spare. Since something like this happened, there's no need for re-inspection—Chairman of the Competition, wouldn't you agree?"
Kudou Retsu's sudden address made those who were close behind him nod quickly, like mice who had stepped on a cat.
"To have an undercover agent infiltrate the operation committee and tamper with things, this is an unprecedented scandal. You all better explain yourselves properly."
The Chairman of the Competition looked like he might faint at any moment but still managed to give an affirmative response.
This matter, thanks to Kudou Retsu's intervention, was considered concluded for now.
...
Holding the CAD, when Mahiro returned to First High's main camp tent, he found it silent inside.
The gazes everyone cast towards him seemed very subtle; some were ashamed, some wavering, some fearful, and some grateful.
He didn't know how these Senior Watanabe and Senior Mayumi could have so many emotions.
Until Mayumi's appearance.
"Oh, Mahiru."
As the Student Council president and spokesperson for the students, Mayumi greeted him with a gaze warmer than anyone else's and a calm voice.
"When the competition headquarters suddenly announced that our school's student had rioted, I was worried if Mahiru, you went to cause trouble for the committee because of yesterday's incident, but I didn't expect you were protecting our Mori player instead."
Although what she said was nine parts inaccurate, and there was a hint of teasing in her tone, it was generally still the truth.
Even Senior Watanabe came over to express her gratitude to him.
"Thank you, Mahiru. Regarding the conflict, the competition has already made an announcement.
But what exactly happened during the CAD inspection?"
Not only Watanabe Mari but others were also very curious.
Because the competition's announcement was very ambiguous and didn't specify the details, perhaps they were afraid of losing face?
"I just happened to catch a petty thief who was adding illegal spells into the CAD during the scanning period, nothing major."
As he spoke, he handed the inspected CAD to Senior Watanabe.
"Although the competition allows us to use spares and doesn't require re-inspection, I've already cleaned out the illegal spells inside, so Senior Watanabe, you should continue using this one."
"?"
Mori paused, asking curiously, "Since we can use spares, why go to such trouble?"
To this, Mahiro shrugged helplessly and said, "There's too little time left; the match is about to begin. I couldn't write in a protective spell, so Senior Watanabe, you'll have to make do with the one you have.
Or... does Senior Watanabe not trust me, afraid that there are residual illegal spells inside that will affect the match?"
When he spoke the latter half of the sentence, his tone was joking.
But it also made Senior Watanabe's voice rise a few pitches.
"How could that be?! I just... felt it wasn't necessary to go to such trouble...."
"Oh, Mori! Mahiru-kun is also thinking about your safety."
Mayumi said, "It's always good to have a protective spell as insurance, Mori. You wouldn't want any accidents to happen during the match, would you?"
"That's true, but...."
"In that case, Mori, hurry up and prepare for the match!"
Mayumi urged her to go quickly, then pushed her back, forcibly leading Senior Watanabe out of First High's camp area.
And after turning back.
Mayumi pulled him into a more secluded room, her expression becoming serious.
"Mahiru, tell me honestly, is this matter very troublesome?"
"You specifically sent Senior Watanabe away just to ask me about this?"
Mayumi didn't speak, just stared at him intently.
Although she didn't know exactly what happened, as the eldest daughter of the Saegusa Family, she had already smelled danger in the air.
"Alright. Sorry, I can't tell you about this matter right now."
"Why?"
"Because it's Kudou's wish."