The Nine Schools Competition proceeded largely as the original history dictated. Perhaps the only true deviation from the script was the specific lineup for the Rookie Monolith Code event.
While Tatsuya was in the middle of a meeting with the Student Council members, a notification chimed on his terminal. It was a message from Makoto.
Makoto: Hey, don't tell me you've actually forgotten about me?
Tatsuya Yotsuba: My apologies. It completely slipped my mind.
Makoto: …
Tatsuya Yotsuba: Ahem. I'll come to pick you up as soon as I've finished things here. Just bear with it for a little longer…
Makoto: …
"Tatsuya-kun?" Mayumi's voice suddenly broke his concentration.
"Ahem—yes, what is it?"
"You weren't listening to a word we said, were you?" Mayumi teased, her eyes narrowing as she saw right through him.
"Ugh..." Tatsuya offered a sheepish smile, unable to muster a defense against her sharp intuition.
"Hmph!" Mayumi let out a huff of annoyance, crossing her arms pointedly beneath her chest.
Tatsuya couldn't help but think it might be the wrong time to admire her, but Mayumi really was quite adorable when she pouted like that.
"Tatsuya, please focus. We are dealing with serious matters here," Katsuto Juumonji interjected, his tone as steady and immovable as a boulder.
"My apologies. I'm listening now."
Katsuto gave a firm nod and gestured for Suzune Ichihara to continue. Suzune nodded back, reading off the current point standings for Tatsuya's benefit. Just as expected, First High was utterly dominating the Rookie Division.
"If things continue at this rate, the Rookie Division victory is as good as ours."
Tatsuya nodded with a confident smirk, though a nagging question lingered in the back of his mind: 'Why haven't they shown themselves yet?'
'I'd prefer it if there were no interruptions, but this silence feels like the calm before a massive storm,' Tatsuya mused internally, his feelings a complex knot of relief and suspicion. On one hand, he wanted the competition to proceed peacefully; on the other, he feared this stillness was merely a shroud for an impending disaster.
The meeting concluded once the final strategies were set. As the team's trump card, Tatsuya's role in their plans was pivotal. No one in the room doubted his abilities; they were one hundred percent certain that Tatsuya would crush anyone in the Monolith Code event—including the "Crimson Prince," Masaki Ichijou from Third High.
While the students of the nine magic schools competed with honor and fairness, the evil Tatsuya had feared was already making its move in the shadows. Their movements were so subtle, so fluid, that they had managed to elude even Tatsuya's heightened senses. He might not even realize they were there until it was far too late.
In a room swallowed by absolute darkness, a shroud of Black Mist drifted through the air. Despite the lack of light, the mist pulsed with an eerie clarity, visible to the naked eye as if it generated its own gloom.
When the Black Mist opened its mouth, rows of sharp, horrifying fangs were revealed.
"Everything is going according to plan. We can move at any moment to achieve our objective."
A raspy, heavy voice echoed through the void. A momentary silence followed the statement.
"Not long ago, we lost a valuable comrade."
"...What are you trying to say?"
"Don't be reckless. Out there, there are existences capable of standing against us."
"Hmph! I'm well aware. But with our numbers, we have nothing to fear."
"...And what if there are more of them than we anticipate? I know of several locals who can fight us. If I recall correctly, they are referred to as Strategic Class Mages."
"Strategic Class Mages? They are certainly worth watching, but their numbers are far fewer than ours."
"Sigh... I am telling you to be cautious. Besides, we have no idea how many Strategic Class Mages are being kept hidden from the public."
"...Fine, I understand. Perhaps we should recalibrate our plan."
"It is better to be vigilant than to fail for the umpteenth time."
"Understood. By the way, there is a young mage who has caught my eye."
"Hoh? And who might that be?"
"His name is Tatsuya Yotsuba. There is a high probability that he was the one who eliminated our comrade and disrupted a portion of our previous operations."
"I've heard of him. They say he's the strongest mage in the world."
"So, he is a Strategic Class Mage then?"
"Exactly. Rumor has it he possesses magic that transcends human logic entirely."
"How do you know so much?"
"My host is a member of the Ten Master Clans. Even though they are only a lower-ranking member, I've managed to extract a wealth of information."
"Do you know where he is now?"
"Tatsuya Yotsuba?"
"Yes."
"I'm certain he's here as a representative of First High."
"Very well. Let's adjust the plan!"
"..."
Back at the venue, Mikihiko began to feel a mounting sense of dread even as the crowd cheered for the competition.
'They're here. I have to tell Tatsuya.'
Mikihiko bolted from the spectator stands, completely ignoring the confused shouts of Erika and Leo behind him.
Mizuki watched him go, her curiosity piqued. She slipped off her glasses, focusing her sight on the competition grounds.
'This dark aura...'
Mizuki's lips thinned into a tight line as a slight tremor ran through her body. Erika, noticing Mizuki's strange behavior, leaned in to check on her.
"Are you okay?"
Mizuki quickly put her glasses back on, nodding even as beads of sweat began to roll down her face.
"Mm... I'm just a little shaken."
"..." Erika remained silent, but her gut told her that something extraordinary—and likely dangerous—was unfolding right under their noses.
To be continued... Support 🙏 Anvanced Chapter patreon.com/AgamYupi02