03x06 - Steeplechase Part II

[bunniefuu]

JULY 10, A.D. 2096

Regarding what we discussed the
other day, what do you think?

After going over the materials you
provided us with, I've decided to accept.

Ah, thank you very much!

I'm only carrying out my duty as
a member of the Ten Master Clans.

As you just heard...

Master Makoto has promised to
shelter defecting magicians.

- For his part, Gongjin Zhou has sought
no compensation nor conditions.

- HEAD OF THE KUKI FAMILY MAMORU KUKI

- I believe that smuggling their tacticians
into the facility was his goal.

I see.

Good work, Mamoru.

Are you sure we should just
allow this to happen, sir?

It's fine.

Though a few modifications
to the plan are in order.

Those tacticians will undoubtedly
retool the parasite dolls.

Are you not worried about possible casualties
among the magic high school students?

Don't worry.

The parasite dolls have been fitted with
limiters to forbid any attacks on noncombatants.

None of the players in the
competition will come under attack.

And those limiters won't be
affected by the tacticians, either?

The parasites and the gynoids are
linked by a Loyalty Programming Spell.

If they disobey an order, their
Psion supply will be cut off,

and they'll be sealed
inside the gynoid's body.

It's impossible to make them go berserk.

But then, there wouldn't be anyone to make
the parasite dolls spin out of control, right?

If they identify someone as an enemy...

in other words, someone who's armed, that person
will be targeted by the parasite dolls for attack.

I thought I'd have Kazama's
subordinate take them on.

Do you think Kazama will go for that?

Yes, he will.

At least one person
under his command will.

If he finds out that the Nine Schools
Competition is being targeted,

Miya's son is sure to make a move.

Even if he knows he'll be
forced to play the fool,

he'll have no other
option but to intervene.

Lady Miya... You mean...

of the Yotsubas?

If he mobilizes, then Kazama will
have no choice but to follow suit.

At the very least, he'll have
to give his tacit approval.

Because no one is capable of...

stopping him.

JULY 13, A.D. 2096

Brother, thank you for your
hard work again today.

Why don't you take a little break now?

Thanks, Miyuki.

Oh, um...

You're welcome.

You must be tired out today, too.

Come over here.

Yes!

Still, the administrative committee
sure picked a crazy time...

to change the Nine Schools
Competition lineup.

Yes, since everything from player selection
to obtaining the equipment for each event...

now has to be done over from scratch.

Master Tatsuya, you've received an email.

Uh... And there's no sender.

None?

NEW MESSAGE

It shouldn't be possible to
keep the sender line blank...

under today's email system standards.

The only person who can
do something like that...

No, maybe it's too soon
to make assumptions.

- ROWER AND GUNNER SHIELD DOWN
STEEPLECHASE CROSS-COUNTRY

- BATTLE BOARD SPEED sh**ting CROWD BALL

This is...

Brother?

It's an internal document about
the Nine Schools Competition.

It states that the lineup change
was made due to pressure by the JDF.

The JDF?

And that's not all. The Kudou Family
has taken advantage of the JDF's move...

to attempt to conduct a
performance test of the weapon...

they've been secretly developing during
the Steeplechase Cross-country Event.

Brother, what will you do?

Let's see.

JULY 14, A.D. 2096

Master...

Forgive me for bringing such a
complicated issue to you today.

This is one risky idea that the
Kudous have come up with, huh?

The Steeplechase Cross-country
Event is dangerous enough as is...

but using it to test his new weapons?

It makes me wonder if he's sane.

Were you already aware of the fact that
the Kudous were planning this experiment?

All I know is the code name, P-Weapon.

I'm sure Kazama knows something, though.

Do you mean the major's
suppressing the info?

I wouldn't call it that.

He's not obligated to send
any information our way.

Anyway, until we know the nature of this
experiment the Kudous are going to try out,

we can't come up with
any concrete measures.

So, we'll have to dig
deeper into it, right?

That's right.

You'll need to head to Nara.

The former Ninth Institute, right?

That's a meaningful location
for us Ancient Magic users.

JULY 21, A.D. 2096

I'm heading to the former Ninth
Institute with the master to investigate.

I want you and Minami to stay home.

Please take me with you!

Since we don't know what the Kudous'
agenda is, I can't bring you along—

Please, Brother!

If Lady Miyuki is going, then of
course I'll be accompanying her.

They all look delicious!

I recommend the egg sandwich.

It's quite delicious, Minami!

- Number 666 will be making
stops at Shin Osaka...

- NARA STATION

- Shin Kobe, Shin Okayama
and Shin Hiroshima.

- All right, I'll be heading
to the head temple in Kyoto.

I'm leaving the Ninth
Institute investigation to you.

Understood.

You can count on me.

So, Brother...

you're not going to change your
mind about leaving me behind?

Well, it's dangerous. I
can't take you with me.

I promise not to get in your way!

I want to be useful to you, Brother!

I'm glad to hear you feel that way, but
it's too late for a young girl to be out.

Miyuki...

Are you an immoral young lady?

Very well.

I will do as you say, Brother.

Minami...

Look after Miyuki for me.

Understood.

So, that's the former
Ninth Institute, huh?

Female robots...

with parasites inside them?

Yes, hello?

Yes.

Oh, please hold on for a moment.

Lady Miyuki...

Mr. Mitsugu Kuroba and Lady
Ayako are waiting in the lounge.

Please tell them I'll be right down.

Uncle, it's been a long time.

Right.

I'm glad to see you
looking so well, Miyuki.

It's getting late, so I'll
cut right to the chase.

I'm here to discuss the experiment that's going to
be held during this year's Nine Schools Competition.

The P-Weapon performance
test to be conducted...

during the Steeplechase
Cross-country Event?

So, you knew about the P-Weapons?

No, only their code name.

My brother is out right now, trying
to find out what they really are.

I see.

Is something the matter, Uncle?

Actually, we were just looking
into the P-Weapons ourselves.

Here's our report on the parasite
dolls, a.k.a. P-Weapon experiment.

Please make use of it, Big Sister Miyuki.

Parasite dolls?

You mean...

I think it's exactly what you think it is.

Parasite dolls are weapons
utilizing parasites.

I really had to work hard for this one.

I was up against another Ten Master Clan, and
their security system was extremely robust.

I don't think even Mr. Tatsuya himself
could find out everything in one night.

You gathered all this
information yourself, Ayako?

No, no.

It wasn't just Ayako.

But as you know, Ayako's magic is
geared toward intelligence-gathering.

As you're more suited for combat and
control, Miyuki, it's no surprise...

that her specialty differs from yours.

Sorry to summon you like this.

We'll be leaving now.

Please send my regards to Mr. Tatsuya.

Thank you so much for this
valuable information.

A conditional activation spell
has been applied to these gynoids.

Is this Mental Interference-Type
Magic, Luna Strike?

I can sense that it's not stable, like
it was added on as an afterthought.

Luna Strike forcefully weakens
the suppression of the will...

causing emotions to spiral out of control.

Is this...

a spell that can make the
parasite dolls go berserk?

GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW

A magic attack!

I don't have enough time to draw my CAD!

I guess that's it for
tonight's investigation.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL STEEPLECHASE PART II

JULY 22, A.D. 2096

Miyuki...

Did something happen?

Um, Master Tatsuya...

It's all right, Minami.

Last night...

Uncle Kuroba and Ayako
brought this to the hotel.

They came to the hotel?

Oh, right.

Because that hotel is run by the Yotsubas.

Did I mess up?

She said that it contains
data on the P-Weapons...

the parasite dolls and a report
on the experiment in question.

Parasite dolls...

So, that's what those P-Weapons are?

That's what Ayako told me.

Miyuki thinks that she's hiding it, but she
feels competitive when it comes to Ayako.

So, this is why she was depressed?

Tatsuya, would you mind
showing me the contents?

We're almost at the station, Master.

It's all right, Brother.

- LINGYI SHU

- Ah...

So, this was a trip worth taking, huh?

This is...

- ZICHEN CHEN

- The magicians from the Continent who were
smuggled into the country last week.

They're adept at spells
for stealing control...

of an independent information
body from another magician...

and for removing an independent information body from
the magician's control, causing it to go berserk.

The timing seems too good to be true.

It's probably not a coincidence.

They must've been invited by someone hoping
to use the experiment to their own advantage.

- PAUL LU

- Use the experiment?

- So, it wasn't the Kudous'
idea to invite them here?

Oh wait, I get it.

This is going to be another
tough one to resolve, huh?

- AUGUST 3, A.D. 2096 NINE SCHOOLS
COMPETITION PRE-EVENT PARTY HALL

- Yes!

- Thank you!

Sorry to interrupt you.

Are you Mr. Tatsuya Shiba
of First High School?

Yes, that's me.

I'm Fumiya Kuroba, a first
year at Fourth High School.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Shiba.

Nice to meet you. My name is Ayako Kuroba.

Fumiya and I are twins. I'm the older
sister, and he's my younger brother.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Tatsuya Shiba.

Actually, we saw your skills on display at last year's
Nine Schools Competition, and we were blown away!

We were wondering if you wouldn't mind
teaching us how to use those skills of yours.

That's why, though we apologize to call out to
you so suddenly, we wanted to approach you.

It won't be possible during the Nine Schools
Competition, but I'd be glad to some other time.

You really mean that?

Thank you very much!

We'll look forward to that!

Who knew that they'd be the
ones to make contact first?

Shiba...

Got a minute?

I seem to be in demand today.

What?

Nothing.

What's up?

Isn't there something strange about
this year's Nine Schools Competition?

What do you mean, "strange"?

The lineup change. I can
kind of understand that.

It's a little more heavy
on combat-oriented events,

but considering the current situation,
I think it's probably appropriate.

But Steeplechase Cross-country
is the one exception.

That's right. That's the only one
that's excessive. It's like an anomaly.

There are other things about
it that don't make sense.

- All of the Nine Schools Competition events are
staged so that the audience can view them...

- ROOKIE EVENT MONOLITH CODE QUALIFYING [PRELIMINARY
CONTEST] EIGHTH HIGH SCHOOL VS. FIRST HIGH SCHOOL

yet no one can see anything
going on during Steeplechase.

The only explanation is that it's
not meant to be seen by the audience.

There's another goal.

Is that the result of the
Ichijo Family's research?

No, I wouldn't call it that.

If something doesn't sit right with you,
and you have the means to look into it,

then you should look into it.

Yeah.

All right.

JGDF TSUCHIURA STATION

Who's calling at this hour?

It's been a long time, Major Saeki.

Ms. Yotsuba, long time no see.

I'm sure you're quite busy, so
I'll keep this as brief as I can.

Regarding the plot that your
brigade is about to fall victim to.

During the Steeplechase Cross-country Event
at this year's Nine Schools Competition,

an act of terrorism will be staged.

Do you know who's behind it?

A group led by Colonel Sakai of
the JDF General Headquarters...

meaning that the masterminds behind this plot are
the so-called Anti-Great Asian Alliance hardliners.

And your own brigade has been
assigned to actually pull it off.

We have no intention of
playing such a farcical role.

I don't believe you do, either.

Then, what exactly are
you trying to tell me?

They're planning to involve a
member of my family, as well.

You mean Special Officer Oguro?

Very perceptive of you. I am impressed.

Well, considering his nature,
it would be unavoidable.

That said, we don't intend to play
the role we've been assigned, either.

You want us to stop him?

No. Since they're setting
the stage for us like this,

I thought I'd have the hardliners...

become the actual masterminds.

Toward that end, I'd appreciate
your cooperation, Your Excellency.

Are you telling me to send out troops?

No, just to clean up afterward.

After all, it wouldn't do for us
to emerge from behind the scenes.

So, how will that benefit me?

You will be able to blunt the Ten Master
Clans' interference toward the JDF.

Fine, then.

Are you sure about this, Madam?

About what?

Master Kudou's involvement is still
no more than speculation on our part.

And I never brought his name up, did I?

And besides...

by the same token, it's not as if we have proof of
the hardliners' staged t*rror1st attack, either.

So, it's a trumped-up charge.

Well, but that, too, can't be helped.

Since they're the ones ordering
the purge of the hardliners.

I agree.

We cannot go against our sponsors' wishes.

Were it not for this development...

we might have had to resort
to violent tactics ourselves.

In that sense, this Gongjin Zhou fellow's
secret maneuvers are convenient for us.

Though it does give me a headache to
think of how Master Tatsuya will respond.

We don't want him to pull another
gaudy stunt like last year.

I would hope that he'd sit tight
until at least New Year's next year.

Still, if it ends up affecting Miyuki,
I can't very well tell him to hold back.

Madam, do you believe that Major
Saeki will assist Master Tatsuya?

It should be fine.

Since she surely can't stop him,
her only option will be to help him.

As if the JDF has the
spine to be so careless...

with that most abominable magical weapon.

After all, neither do I.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL STEEPLECHASE PART III