--- Shiba Tatsuya ---
"Onii-sama, do you think he could be a natural-born Magician with Anti-Perception magic?" Miyuki's voice was soft, but I caught the edge of tension in it, her gaze fixed on the arena below, still empty.
I let her question sink in, considering all the possibilities.
But, no matter how much I pondered over it, the answer was clear.
"It's not possible," I replied finally, keeping my voice low. "I didn't sense even the faintest disruption in the magic field. He hasn't used any magic at all."
Rewriting reality to impose one's will is an act that disrupts the natural balance.
If that wasn't the case, then it wouldn't be called Magic—it'd be more fitting to call it...
Divine Power.
To command 'reality' instead of modifying it.
It's absurd, really. Anyone wielding that much power would be nothing less than a god.
I was sure Miyuki would see it the same way, and a quick glance confirmed it.
Her expression, tense moments before, softened almost imperceptibly.
Most people wouldn't notice such a small change, but for me, it was unmistakable—
"If Onii-sama says so..." Miyuki murmured, though her brow creased with lingering uncertainty as she absently fidgeted with the hem of her uniform. "Still… it just brings up even more questions."
"I know," I agreed. "But as you pointed out, there's no reason for us to see him as a threat. He hasn't done anything suspicious."
If there had been even a hint of something off, I'd already be digging into his background.
But I won't do that.
I don't exactly enjoy prying into people's lives without cause—unless they give me one.
Our conversation ended there, interrupted as voices around us rose, the students buzzing with opinions on the so called duel which is about to start any minute now.
"Who do you think's gonna win, dude?"
"For me, it's gotta be Class 1-A's ace. Think about it, would our school really admit someone without thoroughly proving he had what it takes?"
"You don't know how strong Morisaki-sama is!? That Nakamura fellow got lucky. Don't you know? The examination this time was completely different from the usual..."
The crowd, I noticed, was rather split on the whole matter.
But few students openly voiced support for Morisaki Shun's claims.
After all, to say the top-ranked student didn't earn his spot is more than just a petty rumor—it's practically an insult to the school itself.
It's wiser to stay quiet and keep out of trouble than to be the one stirring up doubts about the institution's decisions.
The consequences for that kind of "bravery" here wouldn't end with a slap on the wrist; expulsion would be the least of their worries.
I can understand the hesitation.
"It seems we're not the only ones interested," I murmured, observing the crowd as it swelled with curious faces.
"Indeed, Onii-sama. The number of people present is remarkable." Miyuki nodded, glancing around.
Almost all first-year students from both Course 1 and Course 2 had shown up, along with a healthy gathering of upperclassmen. It wasn't every day that a duel drew in this level of attention.
As if on cue, a calm voice suddenly cut through the din.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
The crowd stilled, every gaze drawn to the sudden speaker like a magnet.
Saegusa Mayumi, the Student Council President, had stepped forward, a wide, collected smile illuminating her face.
Her presence alone had a way of quieting the crowd, an effect achieved without raising her voice.
Not bad.
She'd be a great general in the army.
"Onii-sama…" Miyuki's voice was soft beside me, carrying an unusual edge.
"Hm? Is something the matter, Miyuki?" I turned, catching a faint shadow of something in her expression—her gaze fixed, for a split second, on the President.
?
"Oh… it's nothing." Her lashes lowered, the slightest furrow creasing her brow as she glanced away, her fingers idly twisting the fabric of her sleeve.
For some reason, I felt like it was better not to pry.
"Alright." I gave a brief nod as I returned my attention to the arena...
---
"I will be acting as the mediator for today's duel," she announced, her voice calm yet with a note of authority that cut through the murmur of the crowd.
With that single statement, the chattering quieted, anticipation morphing into a focused silence as she continued.
"Nakamura Hikari and Morisaki Shun, both of Class 1-A," she addressed the two challengers directly, "by mutual agreement, the outcome of this duel will determine who remains enrolled at this school. The loser will be required to withdraw."
Her words seemed to echo through the crowd as the implications sank in, a ripple of surprise and murmurs spreading before silence returned. She turned toward the two participants. "Now... are you both absolutely certain you wish to proceed?"
Morisaki Shun responded instantly, his voice brimming with confidence. "This is exactly what I wanted."
Nakamura Hikari, however, only gave a casual shrug, not a word spoken, as if the matter didn't deserve any particular attention from him. He neither confirmed nor denied, his gaze calm.
The President nodded slightly, as if satisfied by their resolve and prepared for the next steps.
"I see..." Her voice echoed once more as she raised her hand. "With that settled—let the duel officially begin."
Morisaki Shun didn't let the President's words hang in the air. The moment they left her lips, he sprang into action—no hesitation, no taunts, and certainly no arrogance.
'Was all that bravado just a way to catch his opponent off guard, or was it a coincidence?'
He moved with the precision and focus of a soldier, not a boastful schoolboy.
It was clear that the Morisaki family took their training seriously.
Those countless hours of practice finally showed their worth.
In one fluid motion, Shun's fingers found his CAD, muscle memory taking over as he activated the firing sequence.
The first shot cracked through the air like thunder.
I pushed my senses to their limit, watching as the bullet streaked toward Nakamura's leg.
Most people would have been hit – but it was impossible for this to be so easy on Morisaki Shun.
Without even using magic, he shifted his weight ever so slightly, letting the bullet whistle past him with barely a millimeter to spare.
Contrary to expectations, there were no ripples of confusion or fear in Morisaki's eyes.
He probably expected his opponent to be capable of this much.
As I thought, he's not an idiot.
Even as the first bullet missed, he was already moving, his CAD dancing in his hands. Two shots. Three. Four.
'...Oh, it follows a precise pattern'
The bullets were fired in a precise arrangement that left little to no room for dodging.
'He's quite good.'
I was about to witness Nakamura's magic – or so I thought.
'Something' froze me on the spot.
My instincts screamed at me, though I couldn't say exactly why.
To my right, Miyuki remained transfixed by the fight, her eyes sharp and focused.
But that only intensified the creeping unease.
I pushed my Elemental Sight to its absolute limits with a single thought, no longer caring about the fight itself.
The enormous amount of information in the environment should have revealed whatever was causing this feeling.
Yet, I ended up with nothing.
Something in the area exceeded my understanding to the point it far outclassed me.
"...Miyuki." I kept my voice perfectly level, barely above a whisper.
She turned to me, a slight furrow appearing between her brows. Her eyes searched my face, catching the minute tension in my jaw that I couldn't quite hide. "Mh...? Onii-sama? Your expression..."
I didn't let her finish. Every second we spent here made the hair on the back of my neck stand straighter. My hand found her elbow – not gripping, just the lightest touch. A silent urgency.
"Let's get away from this place."
The word 'dangerous' never left my lips.
Yet, her expression grew serious.
"Alright, Onii-sama."
Without further ado, we left the scene...
---
Author's Note:
Bro might be cooked.
Anyway.
I'm sorry for the cliffhanger, and for the delay in the new chap
The chapter is too big to finish it all, so it's being split for now
We'll get the real part of the fight soon. This was just an appetiser of sorts.
Also, finally, the Trial Quest will be revealed!
After a few months of being idle, today I finally did an exam as well.
It finally feels like my life has restarted.