03x08 - Steeplechase Part IV

[bunniefuu]

AUGUST 15, A.D. 2096 11th
DAY OF THE COMPETITION

Pixie, where are the parasite dolls?

Here.

The vanguard led by Miyuki will come into contact
with the parasite dolls in about ten minutes.

So, I'll bring down the first
parasite doll within eight minutes...

and eliminate the rest within 20.

SDF HEADQUARTERS BRANCH BUILDING

A magician of unknown affiliation
has infiltrated the premises!

Can you show us on the screen?

Yes, sir.

That's the new M.O.V.A.L. Suit being
developed by Major Saeki's people.

So, Major Saeki's covertly sending in
an agent to thwart the experiment!

The intel was true, then?

Send word to Kudou's technicians!

At odds or not, that agent is a
valuable asset who's protecting Japan.

Tell them that they're permitted to fire
back but not to end up k*lling him.

Yes, sir. I will order them not to
inflict any fatal wounds on him.

There it is.

It's fast!

That reaction speed...

Don't tell me it's a
female-type mechanical soldier!

So, they're still under development!

This speed and the information body's rough build
make me think it's a Singular Acceleration-Type.

No, this is telekinesis!

This is another Weight-Type Magic spell.

Just as I suspected, this primitive
magic sequence is telekinesis.

So, the parasite dolls are using
psychic abilities as their weapons, huh?

Now's my chance!

Activate, Regrowth.

Loyalty Programming Spell copied.

Now that it's losing Psions, the parasite will
be released from the Loyalty Programming Spell.

Activate, Regrowth!

Using the Loyalty Programming Spell I just
copied to relink the parasite to the gynoid!

Injecting a minute amount of Psions...

will seal the parasite inside the gynoid
and put it into hibernation mode.

The parasite is now in total hibernation.

I had to play that by ear, but it worked.

What the master told me
yesterday sure came in handy.

Apparently, no matter who the
magician is, he never forgets...

what he's defined as the object
of his protection or destruction.

And if the puppet breaks that rule,
he'll punish it and seal it away.

He said everything up to that Sealing
Spell was one single Controlling Spell.

Pixie...

Where's the nearest parasite doll?

Three parasite dolls are now
approaching from two and eleven o'clock.

No way! Is this guy really a human?

What the hell is his body made of?

It's not even a matter of being tough
or having a high tolerance for pain.

Mahesvara...

What?

Are you aware of the combat magician
called "Mahesvara" by the enemy forces...

during the Okinawa Defense Battle four years
ago as well as last year's Yokohama Disturbance?

I've heard about him.

He could annihilate a mobile
weapon with a single blow,

and no matter what kind
of attack he received,

he'd revive the next second
as if nothing had happened.

You don't think...

By all indications, Mahesvara is most likely
a magician with close ties to Major Kazama.

Why would a monster like that bother to
show up at some high school competition?

Subaru, what's wrong?

Look at that.

That's a combat gynoid, right?

Brother must've brought
that one down for us.

Looks like it's been deactivated.

You think they missed it when they were
retrieving the machines from their last test?

Either way, since it's not moving,
we shouldn't have to worry about it.

They might've left it to make
us suspicious and slow us down.

Well, then?

We're moving on before
we lose any more time!

It's taking longer than I'd planned.

I guess I've got a grace period of ten minutes
or so before Miyuki's the first to catch up.

That's the tenth one!

Eleventh!

And this is Number 12!

Master, they're coming.

Four to go.

Four parasite dolls remaining!

I don't believe this guy!

Still, the remaining dolls are the
maximum spec units, the Prime Four!

He may be Mahesvara...

but he's in for a rude awakening!

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL STEEPLECHASE PART IV

Over there, huh?

So fast!

In terms of raw speed, it's on par
with Erika's Self-Acceleration Spell!

But...

That's one for starters!

What?

They're good at teamwork!

Master, there's an attack
coming from the right.

Fifty seconds until
replenishment is complete.

Slashing attack from the left.
Please dodge one meter to the right.

Pixie, you can tell how the
enemy's going to attack?

Yes, Master.

I am able to hear what they're saying.

What they're saying?

Aren't they moving of their own accord?

Here comes a shell. It's
aimed at your head.

Those four units are constantly
exchanging thoughts while on the move.

So, that's what's going on?

Pixie...

Relay the enemy's conversation to me!

Understood.

I don't get it! All of a sudden, the Prime
Four's attacks are missing their marks!

That's ridiculous!

Slashing attack, right
hand, right leg, left leg.

Master, behind you.

Congratulations, Master.

Pixie, I owe you one.

My work is done now.

I'll leave the cleanup to someone else.

That's the goal!

I got a late start!

D-Did they have to make this
part like a military drill?

I'm sorry!

I'll be going on ahead!

You're so heartless!

FIRST HIGH SCHOOL

He made such short work of the Prime Four!

We've got to retrieve them right away!

So long as we have the experiment
data, nothing else matters!

What's this?

Is it gas?

No, it's magic!

Colonel Sakai as well as your entourage...
I have come to extend an invitation to you.

Who are you?

I'm inviting you right
into the realm of dreams.

Everyone, good work again today.

Although on the surface, the parasite
doll experiment ended in failure...

look how much they made
Mahesvara struggle.

Surely, that left a strong impression on
those considering the military use of magic.

By tomorrow, those who've been scheming to
draft young magicians will be overthrown.

Along with the Traditionalists.

That, too, should be
considered a significant feat.

No, it won't be tomorrow.

Kazama...

As well as General Saeki...

It's been a long time,
hasn't it, General Kudou?

What's all this all of a sudden?

This is a private gathering.

Unfortunately, I can't
show you any hospitality.

We're well aware this
is an unexpected visit.

As soon as you accept our gift,
we'll be taking our leave.

Gift?

I'm Colonel Sakai of the
JDF General Headquarters.

I met with the current head of
the Kudou Family, Makoto Kudou...

and pushed for the autonomous magic weapons to be
field-tested during the Nine Schools Competition.

So, Sakai's fallen into your clutches?

Not that we were the
ones who captured him.

I wonder if you'd mind telling
me who did capture him.

I obtained this audio data
from the Yotsuba Family.

Maya, huh?

But of course, the Yotsubas would never
allow anyone to lay a hand on their family.

I wouldn't say that.

What do you mean by that?

Ms. Yotsuba provided me with this audio data
on condition that it never be made public.

Ms. Yotsuba's goal is to purge the Anti-Great
Asian Alliance hardliners led by Sakai.

So long as we agreed to deal with the aftermath
and to keep the data itself under wraps.

Those were Ms. Yotsuba's terms
for letting me have this data.

I see.

So, Sakai and his cohorts managed
to get on that person's wrong side.

So, now that you have that data,
what are you planning to do with it?

General Kudou, the JDF no longer intends
to force magicians to serve as weapons.

If you wish, I'm even willing to
stake this gray head on that.

No magician will ever be driven onto
a b*ttlefield against his or her will.

That also goes for your
grandson and for him.

You...

Are you telling me to retire?

It's true that the parasite dolls
are sure to become useful weapons.

As long as they're not mishandled.

Ten years ago...

you never would've misused them this way.

Please let us handle the rights
of the magicians in the military.

We won't allow what you
fear to ever happen.

I see.

AUGUST 16, A.D. 2096

The target is heading for the West Gate!

He has the geographical advantage.

Make sure there's more than
three of you when you corner him.

I have eyes on the target!

What happened?

There's something that looks like a dog—

He's more formidable than
we thought, isn't he, Boss?

He's a big shot who's been stirring
things up in this country all this time.

No way is his individual power paltry.

I believe you said you'd be
sending us Master Tatsuya Shiba.

Capture Gongjin Zhou before he gets here!

Shouldn't we wait for Master Fumiya
and Master Tatsuya to arrive?

What on earth is Ms. Maya thinking?

We should never use that here.

In fact...

it shouldn't even be let outside!

It's the embodiment of the Yotsubas' sins.

The only way we can atone for it...

is to lock it up within the Yotsuba Clan.

I'll go. Take over for me.

Yes, Boss!

It's all over, Gongjin Zhou.

Well, well...

To think that the head of the Kurobas,
the even darker branch of the Yotsubas...

would appear for a mere
bit player like myself...

You give me too much credit, I see.

I wouldn't call it that.

Founding Blanche...

No-Head Dragon's work behind the scenes...

training the Great Asian
Alliance's Special Ops unit...

smuggling the parasite dolls...

I'm impressed that you
did all that on your own.

All I did was extend a helping hand.

Those are all things that would've
happened eventually even without me.

It's a nuisance.

Turning "eventually" into "now."

At this distance, you couldn't escape
using your specialty, Ghost Walker.

Give it up, Gongjin Zhou.

You're right.

Not with you practically in my face.

So...

I'm going to inflict a little pain on you.

Ji!

Barking Celestial Hound!

What?

My, my...

It took me ten years to create this.

Well, I suppose getting Mitsugu Kuroba's
arm in return makes it a fair enough trade.

Dad!

Big Bro Tatsuya!

Stop!

I won't be beholden to you.

Dad, what are you talking about?

It may displease you...

but leaving you in that state would
only make Fumiya and Ayako sad.

Mr. Kuroba...

For you to sustain such a severe injury...

What kind of magic did Gongjin Zhou use?

I don't know.

Gongjin Zhou said "Barking
Celestial Hound"...

but there's no way that's its name.

So, it's a type of Compound-Form Magic?

It sounds like quite a
troublesome opponent.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH SCHOOL
ANCIENT CITY INSURRECTION PART I