No Magic, Big Trouble !

Rei froze.

His eyes stayed locked on the screen.

MP : 0

His chest tightened.

No… not now.

Not here.

A dry laugh escaped him before he could stop it.

“Ah, ha… guess the sensor’s broken.”

Kazuto stepped closer at once, voice sharp.

“Don’t play dumb.”

He pointed at the watch.

“You really think the organizers didn’t check these? The answer’s obvious. You don’t have magic.”

The words hit hard.

Whispers spread instantly.

No magic?

A regular?

What’s he doing here?

Rei’s heart pounded.

His mind went blank.

Say something.

Anything.

Before panic swallowed him—

“Hm. That’s strange.”

Itsuki lifted his wrist, calm as ever.

“Mine’s at zero too.”

The room went quiet.

Kazuto stared.

“…What?”

Itsuki turned his arm slightly.

MP : 0

Akira followed without hesitation.

“Same.”

Zero.

All three.

Rei blinked, staring at his wrist.

Wait… seriously? Is the watch really broken?

Kazuto’s eyes narrowed, voice sharp and trembling with anger.

“That’s impossible! What are the odds all three of you have broken watches?!”

Rei swallowed, then forced himself to speak.

“Well… if two other people have the same reading,” he said, “then it sounds like a malfunction to me.”

Murmurs shifted. Doubt replaced certainty.

A firm voice cut through the noise.

“This is not a malfunction.”

An organizer stepped forward.

“As you should know, there are three types of energy,” he continued evenly.

“Human. Demonic. Divine.”

A pause.

“These devices only detect human magical energy.”

Kazuto’s eyes widened.

“Then that means—”

He pointed straight at Rei.

“He’s a demon!”

Itsuki tensed, aura flaring.

Rei snapped back instantly.

“So what is it?”

He glared at the boy.

“First I’m just an human, now I’m a demon? Pick one and leave me alone.”

A few laughs rippled through the room.

Akira spoke next, voice calm.

“So… do you call me a demon too?”

The rival hesitated.

Everyone knew the Tenshin name.

“…No. That’s different. They have divine power. But those two—”

“Enough.”

The organizer raised a hand.

“Regardless of their energy type, all registered candidates are valid.”

He scanned the room.

“Half-yōkai are permitted in this tournament.”

Final.

“This matter is closed.”

He turned away.

“Group up by region.”

Rei finally allowed himself to breathe.

I wasn’t exposed…

Not yet.

He glanced at Itsuki, then Akira.

“…Thanks.”

Itsuki smiled lightly.

Akira nodded.

A deep, amplified voice rolled across the arena.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 36th Magic Tournament!”

The crowd exploded.

Cheers, whistles, roaring excitement.

Rei flinched slightly at the sound. His heart started racing again, but this time, from anticipation.

“Let us begin with the candidates of Sapporo!”

Ten young exorcists stepped into the arena. Confident. Focused.

The announcement flowed fast after that.

“Sendai. Fukuoka. Okinawa. Kyoto.”

Each group entered in turn, like a rapid montage. Different styles. Different energies. Rei barely had time to process it all.

“And finally… Tokyo!”

Rei’s breath caught.

He stepped forward with Itsuki, Akira, and seven others. The moment their feet touched the arena floor, the noise doubled.

It was massive.

The arena stretched endlessly around them. Towering walls. Floating screens. A sea of people rising in waves of sound.

This is real…I’m really here.

“And now,” the presenter continued, “allow me to introduce the judges of this tournament!”

Rei barely listened. His eyes scanned the crowd instinctively.

Where is Enshin…?

“There is His Highness, Aurelios Mahōjima, Prince of the island!”

Polite applause.

“Kurogane Ishikawa, heir of the Kyoto Bureau!”

Louder cheers.

“And finally … Enshin Yosuke, Tokyo’s greatest strategist!”

Rei froze.

He turned sharply.

There seated at the judges’ table was Enshin.

Calm. Relaxed. Smiling like this was completely normal.

“What?!” Rei blurted out.

Itsuki snorted.

“Why are you so shocked? It’s not like you just learned he was a judge.”

Rei scratched his cheek, laughing awkwardly.

“Ahaha… yeah. Guess he forgot to tell me.”

Akira smiled softly.

“That’s totally his style.”

Rei groaned.

“That’s a crucial information!”

The presenter raised his voice again.

“And now, let the first trial begin!”

The crowd fell silent.

“All candidates, please approach the crystal.”

At the center of the arena stood a massive blue crystal, glowing softly.

“The first trial is simple. You must follow Sarutobi Haruto.”

A man stepped forward, short brown hair framing sharp, alert eyes.

He wore a light brown haori over a fitted dark brown top, loose hakama tied at the ankles, and tabi sandals, a classic outfit built for swift, silent movement.

Rei blinked.

“…We just follow a guy? That sounds easy.”

Itsuki laughed.

“If you think it’s that simple, you’re naïve.”

Rei narrowed his eyes.

“Yeah… you’re right. I’m ready.”

The crystal pulsed.

A sharp flash of blue light swallowed the arena.

The ground vanished beneath Rei’s feet.

In the next second, he was standing on rough stone.

Cold air. Wind. Mountains.

They had been teleported.

Jagged cliffs surrounded them, mixed with wide dirt paths and rocky slopes stretching far into the distance. A classic fantasy terrain, but vast, wild, and unforgiving.

The presenter’s voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you can now follow the candidates on the giant screens!”

High above, floating panels lit up, tracking every movement.

Sarutobi Haruto cracked his neck and glanced back at them.

“Alright, kids,” he said calmly. “Let’s go.”

He started running.

Not fast. Not slow.

The candidates followed instinctively, spreading out. At first, the pace felt manageable. Almost casual.

Minutes passed.

Then more.

The path grew steeper. The wind stronger. Breathing heavier.

One candidate stumbled and stopped, hands on knees.

“Candidate 12, withdrawn.”

Another collapsed further ahead.

“Candidate 41, eliminated.”

No monsters. No combat.

Just endurance.

Rei clenched his jaw, sweat running down his temple.

This is already brutal…

The terrain shifted. Dirt gave way to stone. Then back again.

Suddenly, Sarutobi’s movement changed.

Rei noticed it immediately.

His steps became… strange.

Small, sharp hops, zig-zagging as if dodging invisible traps, each movement precise and deliberate.

Then Sarutobi stopped.

Leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed, one leg resting on the trunk, he looked down at the path.

Ahead, a deep ravine yawned.

He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. Just waited, exuding confidence.

Itsuki grabbed Rei’s sleeve.

“Stop.”

Akira nodded. 

“Careful.”

Rei frowned, confused.

Another candidate rushed past them without slowing down.

The moment his foot touched the ground—

BOOM.

A dull explosion threw him backward.

Not deadly. But violent enough.

“Candidate 35, eliminated.”

Rei’s eyes widened.

Mines…

Sarutobi smirked.

“Didn’t notice, huh? Watch out! Explosive talismans are buried in the ground. Sense them with your magic… or boom.”

Then he added casually,

“Oh, and I forgot to mention. Avoiding the traps is only part of the trial. The jury will also score your style.””

Rei groaned internally.

Itsuki leaned closer, a card clutched in his hand.

“If you want, I can make you walk on one of my barriers.”

Rei shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“No need. I know where the traps are.”

Itsuki blinked.

“…What?”

Akira stared at him, surprised.

“Oh … It’s rare for an exorcist to develop his magic sight this young.”

Rei shook his head slightly.

I can’t see them.

He inhaled.

But I remember every step the examiner took.

He moved. Not running. Not walking.

Almost dancing , feet landing exactly where Sarutobi’s had.

Precise. Fluid. Sharp turns, light hops, perfect balance.

Step after step.

No explosions.

Sarutobi slowed down, glancing back with interest.

“…Huh.”

A grin spread across his face.

Someone agile enough to keep up with him?

Now that was interesting.

After a moment, Sarutobi tapped his watch, voice sharp.

“Those who haven’t passed yet, eliminated. The rest, move on.”

The mountain path stretched ahead, jagged rocks and steep slopes.

Rei’s breath came in steady bursts as he ran, keeping pace with the others.

Up ahead, the ground dropped sharply.

A wide ravine yawned before them, no bridge in sight.

Rei skidded to a stop, staring at the chasm.

No solid ground. Just a drop.

Thin ropes stretched across, barely holding.

The examiner’s voice carried over the wind:

“Casual crossings lose style points!”

Itsuki flicked a card. Instantly, a glowing bridge materialized.

He glanced at Rei, a teasing smirk on his face.

“Need a hand this time?”

Rei shook his head, determination burning in his chest.

“I’ve got this.”

Kazuto didn’t hesitate, slicing through the air with knives, floating over the ropes like it was nothing.

“Zero chance for you,” he sneered.

Rei grinned and tossed a smoke orb at his feet.

Thick clouds swallowed him, hiding him from view.

Under the haze, his boots flared to life, glowing with a soft blue heat.

He lifted off the ropes, hovering just above them.

Hands in his pockets, he glided forward like it was effortless.

Itsuki blinked, impressed.

“Oh… he can fly.”

Rei’s mind raced.

Great… the illusion is perfect.

He had invoked Kaitsuki the moment he threw the smoke. Hidden in stealth, completely invisible to everyone.

Thin, transparent wires attached him to his robot, who activated the boots.

Rei only pretended to walk, floating lightly above the ropes.

The boosters alone weren’t enough. The wires alone weren’t enough. Together… it seemed to work.

I didn’t have time to test it… glad it held.

Then—

SNAP!

One wire twanged. The boots flickered, sparks dancing like a misfiring engine.

Rei’s heart pounded.

Shit… the boosters alone aren’t strong enough to hold me!

He teetered, barely steady. Gravity was starting to win.

The glow died completely.

In the arena, the crowd gasped.

Akira froze.

Itsuki’s eyes widened, he shouted.

“Hold on!” as he shifted his barriers, trying to reach him in time.

For a moment, time seemed to pause.

Then Rei fell.