Rating: 4/5 curiously excited clouds 

So we flashback back to when the pursuers were chasing Mikihiko and we get to see Tatsuya take em down in real time. Although Tatsuya acts all impressed with how Mikihiko took down the intruders, Mikihiko states that he would have been shot without Tatsuya’s help. Tatsuya tells Mikihiko that Mikihiko’s spells have too much fluff in the sequencing (and basically insulted his family’s spells). LOL no one ever believes that Tatsuya can read the entirety of them magic sequences…

Tatsuya is approached by the Major after Mikhiko leaves. The next morning, the Nine School Competition officially begins. First and Third magic high are the biggest contenders. The Woman’s Battle Board event begins, with Mari as First High’s representative. Wow, magic and wakeboarding are pretty cool. Fortification magic is used to anchor her board to remain stable and casting movement magic on herself and the board makes them move as a single entity. THANK YOU TATSUYA FOR THAT LOVELY EXPLANATION since we don’t get many of those.

Tatsuya later visits some high-up military officials – for leisure, and not business. The intruders are suspected to be affiliated with the No-Head Dragons (yeah I know, horrible name). Seems like Tatsuya knows some rank A destructive spells which is why he stays away from such sporty magic events. Also, it would be unlikely that a magic high school would send an engineer to compete.

Speed Shooting is next in the episode at the quarterfinals and Saegusa is competing her. Mikihiko is missing, claiming to be resting. Wow Saegusa looks like a power ranger in her speed shooting gear. Saegusa ends with a PERFECT SCORE. HOT DAYUM the president’s got skillz. Women’s Crowd Ball is the next day and since Kinoshita also has some engineering things to figure out with Hattori after the Men’s Battle Board, the president suggests Tatsuya fill in for the engineering position tomorrow for Women’s Crowd Ball. [An excuse for Miyuki to visit Tatsuya at night to relay the message ;)]

Izumi volunteers to take care of the rest of the athletes while Tatsuya focuses on Saegusa… wonder what’s happening behind the scenes. I have to point out though that the way they incorporate magic into the sports. Women’s Pillars Break is next with Kanon competing. Pillars Break leans more towards the magic side than the sports side, requiring the contestants to literally break their opponent’s pillars while keeping their own intact. Both defensive and offensive spells are thus executed. Men’s Crowd Ball doesn’t end as well as they would have liked and decide that they need to win the official Women’s Battle Board, Men’s Pillars Break, Mirage Bat and Monolith Code should they be able to secure victory. There are six remaining matches and they need at least four victories.

This episode gets pretty exciting because of all the different spell uses we get to see. With how interesting the magic-tech world has been set up I wish the producers added more magic STUFF into the light novel plot so we get to see magic used on a daily basis and not merely in battle. The gang ends up in Tatsuya’s room who’s just received a new weaponized integrated CAD. Tatsuya allows Leo to try it out…

Now THIS is the kind of suspense I like in an episode. I can’t wait to see the new “toy” Tatsuya’s got his hands on. Chances are Taurus Silver had a hand in its concept and design. With Tatsuya’s brilliance you get the idea that magic technology could be totally innovated and revolutionized. Naturally the Nine Schools Competition will not end wrapped up in a tiny boy and we’re just waiting for more of a twist in the story to see more of Tatsuya’s amazing and unique combat skills.

– Cloudy

What are you pondering today?