Opening Day

Saegusa Mayumi: You still haven't told me who else there is. Sanjouno Haruhime: I may be unworthy, but please guide me, my lord.

Himeragi Yukina: Sensei, you're such a lecher. Sylvia: Thank you for helping me find Sensei.

Volume One

Prologue

"Shingen, I can't believe you dared to do this." The old man's aged voice carried a hint of anger.

"Father, I may lack talent, but this child has it." The younger man's voice sounded agitated, too.

Ever since he was born, he had looked up to his father. But no matter how hard he tried, he could never measure up. The heads of the Ten Master Clans who had come of age alongside him had all made a name for themselves. He alone seemed like a failure.

So he had made up his mind. Even if it meant defying the whole world, he would produce an exceptional heir—a child capable of surpassing everyone of the same generation.

"That's enough. Leave!"

As he watched his son go, disappointment filled the old man's eyes. His back, once straight and sturdy as a pine, now seemed a little more bowed.

After taking one last look at the baby on the bed, the old man quietly stepped out and gently closed the door behind him.

I never thought I'd get another chance to be a baby. I'll just have to take it slow!

After witnessing that family drama, William could no longer fight off the drowsiness and sank into a deep sleep.

The Irregular at Magic High School

Chapter 1: Opening Day

A gentle breeze blew, scattering cherry blossom petals that landed in the boy's slightly tousled golden hair.

The moment he stopped at the school gate, the boy drew frequent glances from the female students passing by.

But he had long since grown rather tired of scenes like this.

William—no, that wasn't right. He had another name in this world: Koushu Kudou.

When he came to this world, William had hoped he would be born into an outstanding family of magicians.

Reality had suited him quite well—so well, in fact, that it had exceeded his expectations.

The ten families that ruled Japan's magical world were known as the Ten Master Clans.

Ichijou, Futaki, Mitsuya, Yotsuba, Gorin, Mutsuzuka, Saegusa, Yashiro, Kudou, and Jumonji. The Ten Master Clans of modern Japan were made up of these ten families.

Still, it was the first time since the Ten Master Clans had been established that their names had so conveniently covered the numbers from one to ten.

William had been reborn as the youngest son of the Kudou family and the biological grandson of Retsu Kudou, the current head of the family. His status was quite lofty.

"I thought Kudou-kun looked so handsome in his photo, but he's even better-looking in person!"

The sudden voice interrupted Koushu's wandering thoughts and drew his gaze to the girl who had appeared in front of him.

She held her hands together in front of her waist. Her eyes were a deep wine red, and her features were nearly perfect. Two locks of hair fell neatly over her chest from either side of her forehead. The only flaw was that she was a little short.

But perhaps her petite frame only made men want to protect her more.

The girl was standing so close that her natural scent, mingled with the fragrance of shampoo in her hair, went straight to Koushu's nose.

"You must be Saegusa-senpai. Nice to meet you. I'm Koushu Kudou."

Coming back to his senses, Koushu took a small step back and gave the petite girl a polite bow.

That was why Koushu had waited outside instead of going straight through the school gate. Given the Kudou family's location, he should have been attending Second High School.

The reference book about this world hadn't gone into much detail, but it had clearly marked Japan as the focal point of this world's vortex—and the focal point in Japan was right here: First High School, affiliated with the National Magic University.

Even Retsu Kudou, who had always indulged him, had strongly opposed Koushu moving out on his own and attending First High.

In the end, though, he couldn't overcome Koushu's firm resolve and reluctantly agreed.

Somehow, Saegusa Koichi, the head of the Saegusa Family, learned about it when he visited Retsu Kudou. He told Retsu that his daughter, who also attended First High, would look after Koushu, which had led to this moment.

Saegusa Mayumi wasn't displeased by Koushu's step back. If anything, she was more curious.

She knew full well that even setting aside her magic and the allure of Magic Face, her looks alone were enough to make the boys swoon and lose their composure.

But Kudou-kun hadn't been bewitched by her. Instead, he had calmly kept a certain distance from her. How could that not make her curious?

"Sorry, Kudou-kun. I'm a little late because of some Student Council business."

Although Saegusa Mayumi apologized, her eyes kept blinking as she spoke. Koushu found her apology rather unconvincing.

"Not at all. I'm the one imposing on you, Saegusa-senpai." Koushu gently shook his head.

"Then let's head to the school auditorium. The opening address will start soon."

Saegusa Mayumi turned slightly and gestured for Koushu to follow with her slender hand.

Koushu nodded and immediately caught up, walking alongside Saegusa Mayumi.

"By the way, I heard something interesting on my way here."

As she walked, Saegusa Mayumi suddenly closed one eye and tilted her head slightly.

"What was it?"

Koushu looked at Saegusa Mayumi.

"It was about your grades, Kudou-kun. The teachers were saying that if you'd taken the test for magic activation speed, you would have been the top freshman this year."

"After all, you're the first student in Magic High School history to get perfect scores on all seven written exams, as well as in both magic theory and magic engineering."