03x04 - Double Seven Part IV

[bunniefuu]

I'm finished.

Good job, Tatsuya! How's
the abducted woman doing?

It seems she's safe.

Glad to hear it.

But even if they're not involved
in the anti-magician campaign,

kidnapping the daughter of the head
of a TV station is pretty aggressive.

First Lieutenant, please wait a moment.

I'm done.

What happened?

The culprits' detached force was
targeting us from an airship.

I've eliminated them airship and all, so
please delete the magic usage log later.

Understood.

Right, understood.

Eliminating my subordinates,
airship and all. So infuriating.

Was that man behind this yet again?

Mahesvara.

Looks like we're going to have
to figure out who he really is.

APRIL 25, A.D. 2096

- Regarding yesterday's
stellar furnace experiment...

- THE PRESIDENT OF ROSEN MAGICRAFT
JAPAN BRANCH ERNST ROSEN

- I never thought I'd see high school students
wielding such advanced magic skills.

- I was stunned to see how high Japan's
technological standards were...

- Dammit! Those Saegusas!

You sure did a good job, Saegusa.

What are you talking about?

Yesterday's demonstration.

Arranging for the media to blast it
all over the news is pretty impressive.

Shippou, I think you're
misunderstanding something.

Drop the clueless act!

You arranged it, knowing that a Diet member who's
got it in for magicians would be here, right?

You skillfully used Mr. Shiba
to make a name for yourself.

Keep your bizarre accusations to yourself!

I should've known better.

That guy was something of
a celebrity after all.

No way would you miss that, Saegusa.

Did you take after your big sister
and seduce him to do it for you?

I mean, in terms of looks only,
you sisters are first-rate.

How dare you...

We Saegusas would never even
think to use seduction as a tool.

I can see that your mind goes to
really vulgar places, Shippou.

Picking a fight with me, Saegusa?

Shippou, you're the one who started
picking a fight with me first.

And don't you remember what I said?

That I'd be happy to take up the gauntlet and make sure
you'd never want to pick another fight with me again?

You two over there!

Put down your hands!

I won!

That was Drawless!

An intermediate technique for
casting spells without drawing a CAD!

The upperclassmen are capable of
pulling off these kinds of moves.

I've still got a lot of work to do!

Kasumi...

Hattori, how do you think
we should handle this?

Shippou's one of us.

I'm not sure that I could rule fairly.

By the same token, Kasumi's a member
of the Disciplinary Committee!

As a neutral party, what does
the Student Council think?

I'm told that even though it was only an attempt,
Shippou had already started to use his CAD.

Worst case, he could be expelled.

Compared to him, Kasumi's
attempt was a lighter infraction.

So, Shippou's to be expelled?

No.

Their history tells me that merely punishing
them won't erase the grudge between them.

So, why not just let them
face off in a match?

Unauthorized use of magic
is a serious violation...

but there's no need to penalize students
who've only attempted it, as well.

It does happen often
among the new students.

If both of them have
their pride on the line,

using their skills to settle the score should
keep them from dwelling on their grudge.

If you're going to allow this match
with Saegusa, I have a request!

Let's hear it, then.

Please let me take on both Kasumi
Saegusa and Izumi Saegusa!

Hey you, are you mocking me?

What's your reason?

This is a match that'll put the pride of both
the Shippous and the Saegusas on the line.

And besides, everyone knows the Saegusa twins
display their true value when they're together.

So, unless you defeat both of them at the
same time, it wouldn't be a real victory?

That's right.

You heard Shippou. How do
you feel about it, Kasumi?

It's fine with me! I'm so going to
make him regret his arrogant attitude!

Then, let's do it this way.

FIRST HIGH SCHOOL SECOND SEMINAR ROOM

This match will be played
under the "no contact" rules.

You're forbidden to touch
your opponent's body.

You'll also be disqualified if
your weapon touches your opponent.

That said...

using long-range magic to control your
weapon won't count as a violation.

Finally, inflicting a fatal attack or irreparable
damage on your opponent is also forbidden.

Should I find the situation dangerous, I will
forcibly end the match, so keep that in mind.

Now then, both sides, get ready!

Begin!

What do you think?

Right now, they're on
equal footing, I guess.

In that case...

I'm never getting anywhere with this!

Oh, crap!

That's...

Now's my chance!

Are you all right, Kasumi?

So annoying! That was a close call!

Izumi, we're doing that thing!

Right, Kasumi. Like we always do!

I'm going to sh**t!

And I'm going to boost!

All right, let's go! Countdown!

Three...

Two...

One...

Cast! - Cast!

The ratio of nitrogen in the
air currents is being raised!

Is that the spell to neutralize one's opponent
by inducing a lack of oxygen, Nitrogen Storm?

That's right.

To think that they've mastered
such a high-level spell...

I suppose we should expect no
less of relatives of Ms. Saegusa.

They haven't exactly mastered
it, but it's still quite a feat.

So, this is the rumored
Multiplicative Cast.

No wonder they say...

"The Saegusa twins display their
true value when they're together."

Go, Million Edge!

Heat Storm! - Heat Storm!

End of match!

You're both disqualified from this match!

But why?

I told you before the match.

That if I sensed any
danger, I would stop it.

Unlike Million Edge...

Nitrogen Storm isn't fatal magic, and
it doesn't inflict irreparable damage.

True, with Nitrogen Storm, you can control the
force of the spell so it doesn't leave aftereffects.

But Izumi, neither of you were in
control enough to do that just now.

Wait a minute, please!

The Saegusas' magic failed
to stop Million Edge!

Are you saying that you won?

That's right!

Before Nitrogen Storm broke
through my airtight shield...

I'm sure my attack
would've hit the Saegusas!

In other words, if I hadn't intervened...

those millions of ignited paper fragments
would've gored through the twins.

Is that your argument?

In that case, Shippou, you've
lost this match on a foul.

What would've happened if you'd inflicted
Million Edge on them with full force?

Don't tell me that you don't know.

Then, was I always going to
lose if I used Million Edge?

So long as you're unable to control
your attack power, it's a violation.

And Shippou...

you weren't able to suppress its force.

That's a lie! I was controlling
the magic sequence just fine!

I'm the referee of this match.

I'm the one making the rulings.

So, using Million Edge
equals an excessive attack?

Then, you should've said
so in the first place!

If I'd known that, I could've
gone with something else!

Don't give me that, Shippou.

You couldn't control its force
because you're not ready.

You couldn't adhere to the conditions you were given
because of your insufficient skills, that's all.

What did you say?

I don't want to be told
that from a Weed like you!

Shippou, I've had enough of you!

Tomitsuka?

You've been nothing but
self-satisfied and beyond rude!

Do you think The Twenty-Eight
are that important?

I never meant to—

Shippou, fight me.

What?

The match will be held two days from now.

If you want to prove your own
skills, I'll be happy to take you on!

That's yours truly, the failure of
the Tomitsuka Family, Range Zero!

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL DOUBLE SEVEN PART IV

- APRIL 27, A.D. 2096

- Inflicting a fatal attack or irreparable
damage on your opponent is forbidden.

However, regarding Million Edge,
it can be used without restraint.

Begin!

Wha...

Gram Demolition?

Someone at this school
besides Tatsuya can use that?

"Contact-type Gram Demolition"
would be more accurate, I think.

He nullified Million Edge?

No, it's just that it doesn't work
on him if it's a frontal attack!

Now!

I got him!

End of match!

Winner, Tomitsuka!

Shippou...

Can you stand up?

Yes.

Rest up by the wall.

Right.

What is it?

Can I have a match with you, Shiba?

I want you to show Shippou
how strong you are!

I'm struggling a bit to
connect the dots here.

Uh, what I mean is...

Would you mind showing Shippou what a match
between two truly skilled opponents looks like?

Then, wouldn't it be better to hold
a match between you and Mr. Sawaki?

Shiba, showing him what you're
capable of would be meaningful here.

Brother, I think it would be fine.

If your goal is to present yourself
as a model to your underclassman,

then it'd be an appropriate task
for a member of the Student Council.

And besides, I was just thinking that I'd
like for you to put your skills on display.

If you say so.

Are you both ready?

Begin!

Mist Dispersion?

Just as I thought, it gets neutralized?

Tomitsuka's body is covered
with a thick Psion armor.

Did he just use the interrupted
phenomenon-rewriting spell...

as a stepping stone to activate a new
Acceleration Spell? Is that even possible?

Who knew that we had a classmate with
combat skills on par with Tatsuya?

I can't finish him off!

I already knew that, but I
didn't think it'd be this bad!

But I'm not going to lose!

At this distance, I can't
allow myself to lose!

Brother!

Wow, so he let himself get blasted away!

I can't believe he withstood
Tomitsuka's Self-Marionette.

Not bad, Shiba!

Tomitsuka's pretty ruthless, huh?

The guy was going after Shiba's eardrum.

Winner, Shiba!

Tomitsuka...

Thanks.

You're as powerful as I imagined, Shiba.

You, too, Tomitsuka!
That was a nasty blow!

Huh?

Hey, Shippou!

Dammit!

Dammit!

Dammit!

Dammit! Dammit!

Damm— - Knock it off, Shippou!

Look, you're bleeding.

Saegusa, are you—

Hey, don't get the wrong idea!

My being here is purely a coincidence.

What are you...

Oh boy, look what you've done to yourself.

This should do it.

Don't forget to stop by
the infirmary, okay?

It seems like you lost in
spectacular fashion, huh?

So, the upperclassmen are
on a different level, huh?

Why?

Huh? Why what?

Why are those guys so damn strong?

They're high school
students like us, right?

They're only one year older than us!

So, why is it that they're so strong?

There probably isn't a reason.

What?

They're strong because
they're strong, I bet.

Right.

If I had to come up with a reason, isn't
it because they worked hard to get strong?

So did I!

Yeah.

I'm sure you've worked
hard all this time, too.

I'm trying hard myself, too.

But the fact that they're stronger
means they worked harder than us, right?

I'm not denying your talent, okay?

In my case, too, I think I'm strong
mainly because of my talent.

But the strength that's
left you in shock...

It probably comes from a different
place than talent, don't you think?

Well, not that I have much interest
in what you call "strength."

If you want to become strong,
then that's your problem.

Your strength is your
strength, Shippou, I bet.

Dammit!

It seems as though Master Tatsuya's
reputation is a bit too glowing.

I do think I understand what it is
that you're wary of, Mr. Hayama.

That boy could betray the
Yotsubas at any moment.

Pardon me.

My Meteor Line doesn't match up well
with that boy's strange ability.

If we were to go all out in battle,
the odds are high that I'd lose.

But even if Tatsuya could
betray the Yotsubas...

he could never betray Miyuki.

And Miyuki, in turn, would never
turn hostile toward the Yotsubas.

Miyuki can never escape the responsibility
that she's tasked herself with.

Because that's how my
big sister raised her.

And Tatsuya could never do anything
to hurt Miyuki, no matter what.

But toward that end...

Yes. It's unfortunate for the other
candidates, but Miyuki will be our next head.

To ensure that we don't
antagonize Tatsuya. That monster.

We need Lady Miyuki to accept the
position of head, whatever it takes.

No need to worry, Mr. Hayama.

I already have a strategy
for that in place.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL STEEPLECHASE PART I