The Untouchable of Magic High School – A New God Enters the Game

August 11, 2092

That night, Captain Harunobu Kazama, a Defense Forces officer and acquaintance, swings by our hotel for a debrief. To keep things secure, I cast an anti-eavesdropping barrier spell.

"Sorry for the late visit, Motoharu, Yugen. That was quite the mess," Kazama says.

"No kidding," Motoharu replies. "What about the Shibas?"

"I questioned them. No major intel, but they said you handled it, Yugen. Care to fill me in?"

I recount the incident: sonar picked up a large object, our radio call got jammed, the sub chased us, and it fired foam torpedoes. I leave out its "erasure." Calling it mere provocation could make the military complacent, especially with port intel hinting at bigger plans.

"So, Yugen, a Great Asian Alliance sub?" Kazama asks.

"Probably. The foam torpedoes match their design, confirmed by Motoharu. No other nation would use them so inefficiently."

Provocation by Alliance subs would benefit the New Soviet Union most. Before Kazama arrived, I passed signs of a New Soviet invasion near Sado to Gen, who thought data transmission was too risky and planned to inform the Kamiizumi. Gozo could easily relay it to the Ichijo Clan, whose head, Gouki Ichijo, was named after him.

"Not just provocation, then?" Kazama presses.

"No way. Jamming and torpedoes scream something bigger—like a kidnapping attempt. I'm just glad we didn't reveal ourselves to 'certain mages.'"

Motoharu and Kazama exchange smirks. This gives the Mitsuya leverage to condemn the Alliance, but going public risks exposure. The Yotsuba face the same dilemma.

"You know who they are, Yugen?" Kazama asks.

"I do, but unless you're ready to jump into the deep end, I'd let it go."

"My life's worth more than that. Forget I asked."

"Done."

Kazama catches my hint about their identities. If a Ten Master Clan heir like me hesitates, he knows the stakes and backs off.

"You're Army, Captain. Isn't Okinawa Navy and Air Force territory?" I ask.

"True, but with the Alliance so close, they need more mages here. My combat experience landed me as an instructor for the Onna Air Base paratrooper mage unit. Your little stunt inspired them."

Last year, with Gozo, I visited Onna Air Base. Some soldiers, annoyed by a "kid," picked a fight. Their insults about Gozo set me off, and I buried them with magic. Gozo just laughed, "That's my grandson!"

"They called me cocky and trashed Gramps, so I buried those 'Left Blood' clowns," I say.

"Buried?!" Motoharu gasps.

There were national-level martial artists among them, but I outlasted them all, thanks to Gozo's brutal training. Lost a bit of my humanity in the process, though.

"Gramps just watched, like it was nothing. By his standards, they're 'chicks,'" I add.

"I owe Gozo a lot, but I've never landed a hit on him," Kazama admits.

"Same," Motoharu says. "Yugen?"

"One point."

Their eyes go wide. Scoring even a single point against Gozo, even in his old age, is near impossible. That feat helped me become an assistant instructor at twelve—partly thanks to my reincarnation.

"About Sanada's email—those idiots picking fights with kids?" I ask.

"Handled. Joe got wrecked by the Shiba boy, your age. Impressive."

As expected, Tatsuya dominated. They're not weak, but he's just on another level.

Kazama stands to leave. "Thanks for your help. Come to the base tomorrow. Motoharu?"

"Too much for me," Motoharu says. "Yugen?"

"I'm in."

"Great. Pickup at 6 AM," Kazama says.

I plan to use my advisor role to push CAD development. No more Shiba ties until the Alliance invasion, I tell myself. Wrong. A tsunami of flags is about to hit me.

August 6, 2092

At Onna Air Base, I'm dressed light—shirt, summer jacket, cotton pants—with my special officer ID tucked away. Sanada greets me.

"Been a while, Yugen-kun."

"Hey, Sanada. Got the booster."

I hand him the attaché case, which only I can open. He doesn't bother trying.

"Here to train or assist?" Sanada asks.

"Train, if I'm not in the way."

"They'll step up with you around."

More like they hate losing to a kid, but I keep that to myself. Sanada leads me to the training facility, where Kazama's drilling his team. Spotting me, he hands off to a subordinate and walks over.

"Welcome, 'Lieutenant Kamijo.' Or just Yugen here."

"Call me whatever. Rope climbing next?"

"Yup. Probably a breeze for you."

Gozo's Shinei-ryu warm-ups make military drills look like a joke, but I'm itching to move. "Mind if I stretch first?"

"Take your time. Can't order you anyway."

After changing and stretching, I join the mages climbing a five-story rope, descending with acceleration and deceleration spells to soften the landing. I kick the ceiling for speed, landing with a mix of deceleration and air manipulation. Risky, but that's Shinei-ryu's mark.

Sanada disappears, then returns with—Tatsuya and Miyuki?! A vague memory of this scene hits me. Balancing magic control and this surprise keeps me on edge.

Their eyes lock onto me. I moved too fast for them to ID me, but Sanada says, "That's Yugen Nagano, training via connections." My enhanced hearing catches it. Sadistic move, Sanada.

Resting after the climb, Miyuki approaches. "Yugen-san."

"You and your brother here by Kazama's invite?"

"Yes, initially just him, but—"

Tatsuya's glare isn't hostile, just wary. Miya likely told him to avoid heir-related ties, so they stick to the sibling act. A kid training with military mages sets off his radar. His killing intent, tied to Miyuki's safety, is unsettling.

Next up is knockout sparring. Having crushed everyone here before, I sit it out—Kazama agrees, knowing another loss would tank their morale.

After a break, I'm up against Tatsuya. Kazama explains, "Sorry, Yugen. Joe mentioned your name, and Tatsuya's eyes lit up."

After I left, Kazama suggested Tatsuya spar. He one-shotted Sergeant Toguchi, a boxing champ, and outmaneuvered Corporal Haebaru, a Ryukyu karate expert. To save face after my prior thrashing, Kazama proposed another match. Joe, the "Left Blood" soldier Tatsuya beat, volunteered for "redemption." Miyuki wasn't thrilled about Joe's magic-enhanced tackle, but Tatsuya nullified it with [Gram Demolition] and knocked him out.

"Joe said you beat everyone here, and it got Tatsuya curious. A peer fight's rare. You in?" Kazama asks.

"Can't say no and risk his mood. But I'm going all out."

"Understood," Tatsuya says.

Joe's big mouth about my win flipped Tatsuya's switch. He asked for this spar. Joe's getting thrashed later.

Facing Tatsuya, his battle-hardened aura and killer intent scream Yotsuba Guardian. Kazama doesn't notice, probably because Miyuki's involved. I can't use Shinei-ryu secrets or drag this out—too risky for exposure.

No choice.

I exhale, ready. Tatsuya preps non-systematic magic. "Sorry," I mutter, vanishing with [Hidden Step], blending breath and footwork to slip into his blind spot. I knock him out with a hand chop before he reacts.

It won't work twice. I carry Tatsuya to the wall, setting him down. Miyuki rushes over as I apologize. "I don't know what to say. His killing intent threw me off. No idea why."

"No, he was probably just wary of you," she says.

Guardian instincts or brotherly concern? I smirk. "He's a good brother, looking out for you. Hope that's the end of his hostility."

"I'll make sure he knows."

I approach Joe, smiling but with cold eyes. "Joe, I can guess what you said. Time to cool off."

As he tries to escape with magic, I redirect his acceleration downward, slamming him into the floor. The crash stuns the mages. Miyuki gapes, Sanada grins, "Classic Yugen," and Kazama facepalms.

Leaving it to them, I head to the CAD lab. Done with flags, I settle at a workstation. Sanada brings Tatsuya and Miyuki in, their reflections on my monitor. Tatsuya doesn't use a CAD, so Sanada must've invited them.

Was this a scene? My memory's fuzzy.

Sanada shows Tatsuya a cartridge-type CAD with storage swapping. Miyuki peeks over my shoulder. "Yugen-san? Why're you here?"

Yeah, a kid at a military base is weird. With Sanada busy with Tatsuya, I pause my work. "I know the officers here, including Sanada. I help with weapons, like CADs. Surprised?"

"Yes. You're a mage, but… who are you? You know Mother, but…"

"I'd explain, but I'm under orders to keep quiet. One thing: I want to be equals with you and Tatsuya. Friends, basically."

My abilities will eventually expose me to my siblings and clans. Ties with the Yotsuba could be strategic, but I genuinely want friendship, not just leverage. Gen accepted my reincarnation, saying doubting me while trusting magic is illogical. He called me an "Ooparts," which I'm not thrilled about.

Gen told the family a secret mage healed my frail body with ancient magic, involving a "Yoshida." Sounds familiar—filed for later. He might use me for the Mitsuya's gain, a duty I've accepted.

The Yotsuba's power comes from family love, per Gozo and my knowledge. Facing them is inevitable, so I'll try. Avoiding them risks trouble. I want real bonds, not calculated ones. Using magic on the cruiser, despite scrutiny, was for that.

Miyuki stares, stunned. "What's up?"

"No one's said that before."

"Here, a token of friendship." I hand her homemade cookies. My sisters call it "cheating." Whatever.

Tatsuya, now nearby, takes a cookie—probably checking for poison. "Tasty," he says.

"Thanks."

Our first real talk. Sanada offers Tatsuya two cartridge CADs. I give him my latest prototype, safety ensured but pricey, tailored to his specs. I dump the details on Sanada.

Later, Tatsuya says, "I tested for poison, but the sweetness was perfect. Miyuki ate them at the villa, puffing her cheeks, teary, saying, 'It's unfair Yugen makes such delicious things! I'll outdo him!' I didn't get it. Am I wrong?"

Wait, a Miyuki route? Nobody warned me about this! I want to protest Tatsuya's half-joking suggestion to leave Miyuki to me. Don't dump your sister on me, Onii-sama.