03x05 - Steeplechase Part I

[bunniefuu]

(June 25, AD 2096
Nara, the 9th Research Institute)

How is the progress?

The parasite culture is going well.

(The Head of the Kudou Family, Kudou Makoto
The stability rate for the Gynoid has also

(The Former Head of the Kudou Family, Kudou Retsu)
risen to 60%.

The number of Parasite Dolls prototypes is 16.

The cultured parasite is now

to obey us
due to the effect of the Loyalty Programming,

in a state of complete dormancy
among the Gynoids.

Whenever the order is given,

the practical test can be carried out.

It's too early for the practical test.

The number of tests is insufficient
to make autonomous actions.

So for that...

In this year's Nine Schools Competition,

there's going to be a Steeplechase Cross-Country,

do you know that?

Then the Parasite Dolls can be tested.

Right.

With the Loyalty Programming,

If we limit the intensity of the force,

we also don't worry about
the students being seriously injured.

This is the perfect opportunity
for the first operational test.

(Nara, Main Residence of the Kudou Family)

It's me.

Grandpa, come in, please.

Minoru,

how is your health?

I'm okay.

My fever has gone down.

Lie down.

Grandpa.

Okay.

Minoru,

There're a lot of absences,

so you don't need to worry.

Your magic is one
of the best in your generation.

Among the students
who attend the Nine Schools Competition,

no one can match you, right?

Thank you.

The Nine Schools Competition.

I want to join in it.

Don't look like that.

Grandpa.

The Nine Schools Competition
is not the only stage to test my strength.

You're right.

You're also smart.

You can be active in the future.

Well, have a good rest.

In that case, your fever will go down, right?

I see.

The use of magicians
as weapons must be stopped.

There'll never be another baby born like Minoru.

(The Irregular at Magic High School S3
Steeplechase Arc)

(July 2, AD 2096)

The Nine Schools Competition is in a month.

Is it that time already?

This year, the Senior Nakajou
is working harder than ever.

Is that so?

It's said that she has obtained information
on strong players from other schools,

and has finished selecting players
including strategies.

(I'll win this year)
and has finished selecting players
including strategies.

(I'll win this year)

Oh, that's reliable.

Ah, you two. You've worked hard.

Senior Isori, what the hell happened?

Well, that's...

The operating committee
of the Nine Schools Competition

sent over this year's highlights.

So, what's the problem?

The events
of the Nine Schools Competition have changed.

And they're three events!

It changes one month before starting

is so sudden. What has changed?

Speed sh**ting, cloud ball,

and battle-board have been removed,

new additions with Rower and Gunner,

Shield Down,
Steeplechase Cross-Country have been added!

Let alone Rower and Gunner, and Shield Down,

Steeplechase Cross-Country is

not a competition for high school students.

In addition,
Steeplechase Cross-Country is open to

all second-year and third-year boys and girls.

What is the operation thinking?

If we do not study the strategies very well,

I'm afraid that a large number of students

will end the path to becoming a magician.

Tatsuya, is it real that the events
of the Nine Schools Competition have changed?

Which events are added?

There're three new competitions.

The first is Rower and Gunner.

It's a competition in which
the rower and the gunner pair up

to sh**t at the target in a small boat.

The second is Shield Down.

In a battle with shields,

destroy or steal opponent's shield,

or knock opponent out of the arena to win.

And the third is

Steeplechase Cross-Country.

It's a type of military training

used by the army
in mountain and forest training,

and it is a cross-country obstacle race.

The obstacles can be

used with automated g*n emplacements or magic.

Oh, that sounds like fun.

Especially the Shield Down.

Eh, is that so.

It feels a little scary.

Yeah. Until last year,
the competition was one in which

there was no direct conflict between players.

But I think the really dangerous one is

the Steeplechase.

That's right.

When climbing a mountain,
even if there is a path,

an experienced leader is necessary.

It's too reckless to compete
for speed in an unfamiliar forest.

Hey, Tatsuya.

The adding events this time,

it seems like
there's a very strong military color.

I'm afraid
it's the effect of Yokohama Disturbance.

As a result of that incident,

the National Defense officials recognize

the military utility of magic again,

and try to enrich their education in this area.

The anti-magicism mass communication
has already tasted blood.

Ah...

Just bad timing.

Why make such a change
that's easy to understand...

Looks like we're going to get busy.

Colonel Kazama,

(The National Defense Force 101st Brigade)
This year's Nine Schools Competition events

(Head: Saeki Major General)
have been completely revamped.

(Head: Saeki Major General)
I heard there's an official announcement yesterday.

This is the list for military training.

The Magic Association,
which hosts the Nine Schools Competition,

offered only formal resistance
to the National Defense's request.

Did he not resist?

Kudou was not opposed.

For the Nine Schools Competition, our brigade

received an inquiry to assist it.

Not an order, but an inquiry?

Yep.

But,

you have to consider the reason
why they brought the words to me first.

The Ten Master Clans and the current state
of Japanese magic community ruled by them,

the general of command also
knows that you're critical of them.

The upper echelons are finally beginning to

feel the danger of relying on
the Ten Master Clans, right?

I plan to accept this inquiry.

But, we don't use
the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion.

During the Nine Schools Competition,

Colonel, your battalion is to stand by.

I get it.

As I mentioned earlier,

Kudou not only did not oppose the event change,

but showed a positive attitude.

In particular, he showed a strong interest
in the Steeplechase Cross-Country,

and instructed to change from representative
participation to full participation.

I can't help but be surprised.

Yeah.

This thing seems to be a defection of Kudou,
who has always said

that the use of magicians as weapons
should be stopped.

But only if it's that person,

it can't be that simple.

There is something behind it.

One more thing.

In the case of Steeplechase, since the
younger sister of the head of the Kudou Family

and the head of the Fujibayashi Family
get married,

the two families are in step with each other
and seem to plan something.

Is that the reason for standing by?

Yes.

While preparing for action,

please keep an eye on Lieutenant Fujibayashi.

Okay.

Koukin, it's said that
in the Nine Schools Competition held in August,

the Japanese Military
will conduct a secret test of a new weapon.

A new weapon?

It's called Weapon-P.

Judging from the situation, it's probably
the thing that encapsulates the parasite

in the automatic doll and uses its power.

Reproduce the Yellow Turban Doll Warriors?

They're not a fairy,

do you think they can control such things?

And using high school students

to test performance is just stupid.

Do you need me to intervene in that test?

I've prepared a runaway technique
that will drive the parasite crazy.

Do a tactical training on the Weapon-P.

I see.

You don't have to leave them unharmed,

but you don't have to k*ll them either.

To cr*pple the Japanese army,

it is enough to get rid of their magic skills.

Living as an incompetent

is more painful than dying here.

I see.

Lord, Mr. Nakura is here.

Thank you for waiting.

Have a seat, please.

Nakura,

my lord wishes to establish
a friendship with your lord.

My Lord says we can accept Zhou your proposal.

Thank you for your trust.

The basic conditions here
have already been covered.

Of course I know.

We will not do anything against Saegusa,

and we do not share the same interests
as the Great Asian Union.

What about the mass communication?

I know that too.

To control the campaign
targeting all magicians,

it's already underway.

I see.

So let's get into the details.

(The Irregular at Magic High School S3
Steeplechase Arc I)

(July 8, AD 2096
Four Leaves Technology)

Brother, congratulations on your

complete thinking operation CAD.

Thank you. It's done earlier than I thought.

I was going to spend
the whole day with the test today,

but my schedule is free.

If you don't mind,
why don't we go somewhere together?

Is that OK?

Well then, I'll take your word for it.

Actually, there's somewhere I'd like to go.

(Shibuya Subcenter)

Then, brother, please wait a moment.

I'd better get away from here.

Ah!? Senior Shiba!?

Why are you here!?

This is the girls' locker room!

Kasumi, It's not a locker room
but a fitting room.

Ah! Could it be that!
You come with Senior Miyuki?

Where is she!?

These two are here, it means...

You two, what are you arguing about?

Calm down, Senior Saegusa.

I was wondering
what the hell was going on...

Sorry to bother you.

No, it's not your fault.

In turn, I should apologize.

Just because I took my brother
to a place like that.

- I'm sorry to you and my brother.
- Em! - Wow.

No, it's not Miyuki your fault.

I haven't been seen naked.

It's weird to be shy because it's a swimsuit.

Sorry, Tatsuya,

I screamed so loudly.

No, I think it's normal.

Senior Miyuki, do you have any plans for next?

I'm just gonna see
if I could buy more clothes and go home.

So, can I come along?

Oh, I see. If my brother's okay.

Izumi, don't bother them.

Well, yes. Senior Miyuki, I was rude.

Right, Izumi.

It's bad to bother Senior Shiba
and Senior Shiba's date.

Date!?

Kasumi, we're not on a date.

A high school boy
and a high school girl are shopping alone,

but you said it is not a date,
which is no persuasiveness.

If the high school boy is the brother,

the high school girl is the sister,
I don't think it's like what you said.

I think a date between brother and sister
is too unproductive!

Kasumi, whatever it's rude.

A good magician has an obligation
to leave the next generation!

Or Senior Shiba you target your sister!

- Oh!
- Kasumi.

If you say that,

isn't it unproductive
to spend the holidays with sisters?

- Em...
- Well.

- Em...
- Senior.

We gonna go now.

Here I'm...

No,

I did something childish to my juniors,

so I apologize.

Well. Brother.

I don't think Kasumi meant any harm.

I also think so.

In order to stop Kasumi from going on,

I used that argument.

That's a little too annoying.

Brother, you're not too gentle with other girls,

which I like.

You probably have some bad-girl qualities, too.

Hum!

Welcome.

I'm Kudou Makoto,
the head of the Kudou Family.

I'm sorry to disturb you.

I'm Zhou Koukin.

I have heard your fame for a long time.

Zhou, you're a famous person

in this area.

You flatter me.

To make it more convenient for you,

I came here today.

You mean?

About the behavior of our compatriots

who escaped the oppression of the Great Asian Union,

I would like to consult with you.

Please tell me more details.

In fact, next week, we are planning
to accept three magicians from the continent,

and they all have quite a lot of power.

Oh.

The governments of the continent
can't let them go silently,

and I cannot hide them alone.

Could you please welcome the Taoist masters?

When people from the continent were exiled,

it's customary
to stay with the traditional faction,

an association of ancient magicians.

The traditional people still have a grudge
against the 9th Research Institute,

and we Kudou Family do not
get along well with them,

is that okay?

The traditional people certainly
have a duty to cooperate with us so far.

However, what I have to do is

provide a safe haven
for those who've escaped oppression.

I have prepared a profile
of the Taoist masters here.

Please take a look.

To reach out to magicians
who've abandoned their homeland to seek freedom,

is also the duty of the Ten Master Clans.

I should be able to reply in a day or two.

I appreciate that.

Thank you very much for today.

(Reproducing of Yellow Turban Doll Warriors)

(Reproducing of Yellow Turban Doll Warriors)
Yellow Turban Doll Warriors

expert?

It is certainly a person I want
during the development of Parasite Dolls.

It's too convenient.

- Chief of security.
- Are you calling me?

Delete the visit record of a person named

Zhou Koukin who just visited this institute.

In addition, this matter
must be kept secret from all the staff.

And we can't let
the previous one know about this.

All right?

I see.

If the information is leaked,

that's a worrying development.

Well, that's fine.

If it's indeed a traitor,

all we have to do is to get rid of him.

(July 9, AD 2096)

What did Zhou Koukin say?

He asked the head of the Kudou Family

to accept the exiles of the Great Asian Union.

Well. The real reason to approach Kudou?

It is to interfere with the performance test

of the Parasite Possessed Combat Gynoid,
commonly known as Parasite Dolls,

which is held in the Nine Schools Competition,

and cause the Gynoid to be crazy

and harm the players
of the Nine Schools Competition.

He said they wouldn't k*ll them.

The method is?

Using a runaway technique for parasites.

Is it an Outer-Systematic Magic
that interferes with spiritual beings?

Thank you for your answers.

Is it okay to leave it alone?

It doesn't matter.

The performance test of Parasite Dolls

will take place during
the Steeplechase Cross-Country competition.

First-year students are excluded.

It's okay
as long as they don't hurt your family?

Why would I bother with someone else's kids?

Please forgive me for my rudeness.

The hardliners of the National Defense Force
will intervene first.

The test of Parasite Dolls is

designed to give the masters a chance to use it

and replace magicians with combat machines.

It'd not make a difference
if there're one or two tricks.

Even if Makoto falls into a trap,

Master can find it out.

(The Irregular at Magic High School S3
Steeplechase Arc II)