"What are you laughing at? What's so funny?"
Gyoubu Hattori was furious to see Tatsuya Shiba laughing at a time like this.
"Didn't you just say that magicians had to stay calm at all times? Actually, I don't want to become a member of the Public Morals Committee. I came here to turn it down.
"After hearing what you said, I wondered what Big Brother would choose to do if he were in this situation,"
Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Big Brother Bai Feng?" Miyuki Shiba said.
"What?"
Mayumi Saegusa looked puzzled when she suddenly heard Tatsuya Shiba mention Baifeng Uesugi.
"Miyuki, how do you think Big Brother would handle it?" Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"Big Brother Bai Feng would probably prove everything through action. To quote something he taught me before, no amount of talk is as direct as a fist," Miyuki Shiba recalled.
"Mm. I think so too, so I'm going to settle this Big Brother's way," Tatsuya Shiba replied with a nod.
Tatsuya Shiba's words made Mayumi Saegusa and Miyuki Shiba miss their Big Brother Bai Feng even more.
"In that case, fine. I'll show you what happens when you don't know your own limits."
Gyoubu Hattori had been thoroughly enraged by Tatsuya Shiba and was determined to teach him a lesson.
In the simulated match.
Tatsuya Shiba and Gyoubu Hattori stood facing each other.
"I'll explain the rules. All lethal spells are forbidden, as are spells that cause irreversible physical or mental impairment.
"Direct attacks must not cause injuries worse than a sprain. Weapons are prohibited; only unarmed attacks are allowed.
"The match ends when one contestant admits defeat or the referee judges that one side can no longer fight. I'll punish any violations severely, so remember that.
"That is all."
As a member of the Public Morals Committee, Mari Watanabe explained the rules of the simulated match to the two of them.
Of course, her explanation was mainly for Tatsuya Shiba's benefit. Gyoubu Hattori was a veteran student who had fought simulated matches for years, so he knew the rules very well.
In a battle between magicians, the first person to hit the other with magic wins. And with CAD activation speeds being what they are, a Bloom could never lose to a Weed. Besides, I hear he's particularly bad at practical skills, even among the Weeds.
The outcome was obvious before we even started.
Gyoubu Hattori placed a hand on his CAD.
As long as I activate a simple, speed-oriented Activation Sequence at the start and finish casting before Tatsuya Shiba, I'm sure to win.
"Are you both ready?" Mari Watanabe asked.
Both nodded.
"Then, begin."
At Mari Watanabe's signal, Gyoubu Hattori immediately tried to activate his spell.
But just as he activated it, Tatsuya Shiba became an afterimage and vanished from sight.
Before his brain could register that Tatsuya Shiba had vanished from in front of him, he felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed unconscious.
Gyoubu Hattori's eyes were still open when he passed out.
"Ah..."
"Ah..."
"Ah..."
"Ah..."
Mayumi Saegusa, Azusa Nakajo, Suzune Ichihara, and Mari Watanabe all cried out in surprise at the sight.
Only Miyuki Shiba remained composed, as if everything had gone just as she expected.
Tatsuya Shiba looked at Mari Watanabe, bringing her out of her daze.
After her brief moment of shock, Mari Watanabe hurriedly announced the result of the simulated match.
"The winner is Tatsuya Shiba."
"Wait, was the spell you just used a self-acceleration spell?" Mari Watanabe asked.
"That wasn't magic, just physical technique," Tatsuya Shiba explained.
"Big Brother has studied under Master Yakumo Kokonoe, the ninjutsu practitioner," Miyuki Shiba explained.
"Tatsuya Shiba studied under Master Yakumo Kokonoe?" Mari Watanabe asked in surprise.
"That's right. Big Brother Bai Feng is studying under Master Yakumo Kokonoe too," Mayumi Saegusa said.
"President, Big Brother Bai Feng stopped needing Master Yakumo Kokonoe's instruction many years ago. His physical techniques had already surpassed Master Yakumo Kokonoe's back then," Miyuki Shiba explained.
"What? There's someone even more skilled than Master Yakumo Kokonoe?" Mari Watanabe was even more shocked.
"I knew about that too. Big Brother Bai Feng told me before. But was the magic you used to attack also ninjutsu?" Mayumi Saegusa asked.
"Oh, that wasn't ninjutsu. It was an ancient martial art from that mysterious country that Big Brother taught me," Tatsuya Shiba explained.
"What? You mean that mysterious country that disappeared without a trace over ten years ago?" Mari Watanabe asked in surprise.
"Yes. Actually, the president probably knows this too, but Big Brother isn't from Sakura Country. The current heads of the Ten Master Clans brought him back from that mysterious country," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Yes, my father told me about that too. I just didn't expect Big Brother Bai Feng to know ancient martial arts, much less teach them to you," Mayumi Saegusa said in surprise.
Then she pouted and said unhappily,
"He didn't teach me. Big Brother Bai Feng really plays favorites."
"Mayumi, Big Brother Bai Feng said this move isn't suitable for girls like us. To master Iron Mountain Lean, you need a physique like a man's."
Miyuki Shiba explained.
Hearing that, Mayumi Saegusa imagined her physique becoming like those of the burly boys, and a sense of incongruity immediately welled up in her.
"But what caused Vice President Hattori to end up like this?" Mari Watanabe asked, puzzled.
"There are many special acupoints in the human body. If you strike them with enough force, you can trigger certain chain reactions. Striking the spot I just hit on Vice President Hattori causes a brief loss of consciousness."
Tatsuya Shiba explained.
"Tatsuya Shiba, this was supposed to be a simulated match using magic, not physical techniques," Gyoubu Hattori said after waking up.
"If it's meant to simulate a real battle, then any means can be used. If you go onto a battlefield someday and meet an enemy with powerful physical techniques, are you going to insist on magic against magic and physical techniques against physical techniques?" Tatsuya Shiba replied.
"Well..."
Hearing that, Gyoubu Hattori felt that Tatsuya Shiba had a tiny bit of a point. He got up, walked over to Miyuki Shiba, and bowed in apology.
(PS: Keep the "power" coming, and the happiness will keep coming too! As a new author, thank you all for your support. Please tap to request updates and send some "power." Give this new author a little more encouragement and motivation. Wishing you all happiness and joy in advance!)