After the storm had passed…
Mari had already left, leaving only Mayumi behind.
"Mahiro-kun, you're really bold to do something like this," Mayumi whispered softly.
She could tell at a glance that the mastermind behind this was undoubtedly Mahiro.
While Mahiro would help maintain order, he wouldn't hesitate to trample over minor rules when it suited him.
This was something Mayumi knew very well.
Mahiro made no attempt to hide it either, admitting everything openly.
"What's the big deal? The banquet venue is huge. One extra person won't make a difference, right?"
The participants of the Nine Schools Competition included 360 competitors and 72 technical staff, totaling over 450 people across all nine schools.
Though many would likely be absent for various reasons, there were still at least 300 people present.
Who could possibly remember every single name and face among them?
"Heh, that may be true, but how do you think the organizers will handle this?"
"Never thought about it, and it's not my place to worry about it."
"You're so willful, Mahiro-kun."
Nearby, Sayaka bit her lower lip upon hearing their conversation and asked hesitantly:
"Um... President, is this really serious? If so, I'll leave right now..."
"Wait."
"Hold on!"
Seeing Sayaka about to leave, Mayumi and Mahiro grabbed her almost simultaneously.
"It's not as serious as you think, Mibu-kouhai. At most, you'd just need to prove your school affiliation and get a mild scolding. It won't affect the competition results."
Mayumi chuckled lightly:
"The reason I helped cover for you earlier was mainly because I thought it might make this boring banquet a bit more interesting~"
Mayumi herself had many complaints about the Nine Schools Competition's opening banquet and didn't want to attend, yet had no choice.
Moreover, situations like Sayaka's had never occurred since the competition's inception.
This might very well be the first case.
At least, no one had been caught doing this before now.
"Besides, Mibu-kouhai, leaving now would actually expose your identity."
"Yeah, Mayumi-senpai's right. Just stay put, you dummy."
Mahiro agreed with Mayumi while flicking Sayaka's forehead lightly, making her whimper.
Though Sayaka appeared as the dignified kendo beauty senpai to others, around him she became as timid and easily teased as Nakajou Azusa.
This was but a minor incident in the grand scheme of the banquet.
As time passed, Mahiro found the event increasingly dull.
Students from all schools gathered together, yet clustered in school-based factions—what was the point of such a banquet?
He'd rather they just started the competition and fought properly.
Noticing his disinterest, Mayumi—who had remained by his side—began introducing competitors from various schools to him.
"Speaking of which, Mahiro-kun, did you know there's a male competitor in this year's 'Ice Pillar Break' event who might rival you?"
"Hmm? Who?"
Mahiro's interest was immediately piqued.
A worthy opponent to match him—that was certainly someone worth getting to know.
"That's him over there."
Mayumi subtly gestured with her eyes toward the group of students in Third High's red uniforms.
Among them stood a particularly striking young man.
His appearance bore a resemblance to Suzaku Kururugi from Code Geass, even sharing a similar aura.
Though many students had gathered around him, few dared to approach. Most hesitated at a distance, their expressions marked by clear reverence.
"He's your opponent for this project."
Mayumi introduced him in a hushed tone, as if reciting well-known facts: "His name is Ichijou Masaki, the next heir of the Ichijou family, one of the Ten Master Clans. His magical abilities are exceptional, specializing in the [Burst] magic. It's said he participated in actual combat as early as thirteen..."
"Oh, I know him. Isn't he the one they call the 'Blood-Playing Burst Prince'?"
Mayumi couldn't help but burst into laughter at his words, while Sayaka barely managed to suppress hers.
The Blood-Playing Burst Prince.
How on earth did someone come up with that name?
Yet, it was oddly fitting. The principle of Burst magic involved vaporizing liquids to rupture biological tissue or cause fuel explosions. When used on humans, it boiled down to evaporating the moisture in blood.
Stifling her amusement, Mayumi corrected him, "Not the 'Blood-Playing Burst Prince'—it's the 'Crimson Prince,' renowned for his Burst magic."
"Same difference," Mahiro dismissed casually. "Besides, Mayumi-senpai, why do you have the illusion that he could possibly match me?"
"Are you underestimating me... or rather, underestimating an adjusted magician from the Fourth Research Institute?"
His bold declaration left Mayumi momentarily speechless in astonishment.
She never expected this junior, Mahiro, to regard even the Ichijou family's Crimson Prince with such disregard...
But when she heard the latter part of his statement, she couldn't help but cover her mouth in a small gasp.
What had she just heard?
Mahiro claimed to be an adjusted magician from the Fourth Research Institute?!
This revelation struck her like a bolt from the blue.
As a member of the Ten Master Clans, she knew all too well what being an adjusted magician entailed.
Precision-calculated genetic modifications, mental and physical alterations—all aimed at enhancement, such as amplifying magical abilities.
Mayumi wanted to inquire further, but before she could, the opening remarks began.
The entire hall fell silent. Everyone stopped eating and chatting, adopting an overly formal demeanor to listen—or perhaps pretend to listen—to the speeches from the adults on stage.
Undoubtedly, each of those figures was someone rarely seen in ordinary circumstances.
However.
When the legendary Kudou Retsu—the man who had once established the hierarchy of the Ten Master Clans—finally appeared, something unexpected happened.
"A woman?"
Students exchanged bewildered glances at the sight of the woman standing under the soft spotlight.
By all accounts, Kudou Retsu should have been around ninety years old.
At the very least, he was supposed to be a man—so how could he possibly be a young woman with golden-dyed hair, dressed in an evening gown?
"Mental interference magic... What's that old man up to?"
Mahiro frowned in displeasure.
Though there was indeed a woman standing above, behind her lurked a white-haired old man.
The elder had cast a large-scale mental interference spell to conceal himself.
Though the intensity wasn't particularly high, and the range merely covered the entire venue, it was enough to distort everyone's vision and remain undetected.
And that old man—perhaps sensing his gaze—grinned at him while casting a meaningful glance his way.
"Tch, that old man is still the same as ever—still so 'playful.'" Mahiro muttered with disdain.
"Mahiro-kun, are you saying Kudou-sensei is on stage?"
"Mhm. The only reason you didn't notice is because of the magic he activated. Kudou Retsu has been on stage the whole time, just cleverly hiding behind that woman." Mahiro chuckled under his breath.
Mayumi and Sayaka were startled, focusing intently on the spot he indicated. Sure enough, they spotted another figure in the darkness!
Sayaka's magical aptitude was slightly weaker, so she could only make out a vague silhouette.
But Mayumi was different. With her multiple observation abilities, she could see clearly—a white-haired old man standing there.
It was none other than the legendary magician of the Kudou family—Kudou Retsu!
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