Disclaimer: Irregular is owned by Tsutomu Sato.
Fujibayashi Kyouko rounded the corner and found a big grin coming to her face as she entered her genius brother's room. The reason for this is because the boy was on the floor with papers all around him, all with different diagrams and looked way too much for an eleven year old boy.
"So Tats, what are you working on now?"
The boy, who in another life would go on to be Shiba Tatsuya of the Yotsuba, just calmly ignored the presence next. Kyouko found her grin expanding at his response to her presence, even as she picked up one of the papers to see what was on it. Much to her surprise, it was the diagram of an early Tanegashima matchlock rifle, and it was a detailed one at that.
She shook her head as she set it down to look at another when he finally spoke to her. "Well, using the loop cast system as a base, I want to figure out how to create a solar panel type of battery for CADs."
Kyouko just stared at Tatsuya in confusion for a moment. She opened her mouth to say something when he continued. "From my understanding, useful spells like Gram Demolition are nearly impossible to be used by anyone with a standard psion count. I'm hoping that I can create a way to level this out, by taking the strain of powering the spell off of the mage. It would be like when gunpowder was created by the Chinese, and how the development of guns changed where the strain of long-range combat would be.
This, of course, could change the playing field amongst the mages, especially since this would stay in-house, or well with the 101 division. The main problem is figuring out how to create this 'battery' and how it will collect the necessary psions to perform any loaded magic. I was figuring that it could be used as a sidearm when I began thinking of this idea, but I first have to create a working design and battery for such a thing to take place."
Kyouko cut in. "And for it to work with spells like Gram Demolition, you need either a battery big enough or on that is powerful enough to hold the energy needed to do it. That is quite the dilemma Tatsuya." She sat in his empty chair as she began to think on the new project that Tatsuya started.
It was something of a serious dilemma seeing as Tatsuya would work himself until he was able to figure it out. She knew because it was the exact same thing he did with the development of the loop cast system.
Kyouko was walking around the base when she encountered Tatsuya bugging the Lieutenant Colonel. She began to shake a little from the amusement that emanated from her, as she approached the two. This amusement stemmed from the frustrated looks on both Tatsuya and Kazama's faces.
"Boy, if you have an idea that you think would be useful then go and create it yourself. I am not going to ask the Major General for any sort of aid on your idea without a working prototype."
Tatsuya shifted as he opened his mouth. "And no I am not allowing you access to any of the militaries pre-working CADs either, you will have to show your resourcefulness and build one for yourself."
The boy glared at the Lieutenant Colonel. "If that is what it will take then that is what I'll do. I'll prove to you that it will work, and then we will see who is laughing."
Kyouko just shook her head as she watched Tatsuya storm off towards his room. "Colonel Kazama, sir, you do realize that he will find a way to make his idea reality right? Like when he found Kokonoe Yakumo of the Kyuuchouji Temple, just so he could try and prove himself better than you in a fight."
Kazama just gave Kyouko a small smirk and responded with only two words. "I know."
She found herself annoyed at that. "Do you love antagonizing him that much commander?"
It was then that the older one of the two gave a deep sigh before shaking his and began to move away. Annoyance flared for her as she followed him. "Commander?"
Kyouko shook her head from her musings. She should have known that the commander had his reasonings for pushing the boy the way he did. Well besides the fact that the two refuse to see eye to eye with each other. It was a little-known fact around base that the two were just too similar, despite being decades apart in age.
It almost scared her at how many times the two argued with each other. If it wasn't for the fact that Tatsuya looked up to the man, she would make the argument that he hated Kazama. She sighed as she continued to try and aid Tatsuya's research, as that is exactly the stage he was in. There was no way he would need the base design of over 40 different weapons, multiple papers written on how magic is believed to work, and a giant mug.
She stood up and left to head to the canteen knowing that it would a long night, and she will probably not get a wink of sleep.
It was six months later that a tired Tatsuya approached the Lieutenant Colonel with a workable prototype "rifle." The deadlock stare the two share before either commented on the CAD in the younger one's arms. It was Kazama that broke the deadlock with a cursory glance towards the prototype. "And just what am I looking at, boy."
Tatsuya waited all of 2 seconds before launching into his explanation. "Well Old Man, this is merely a prototype. The objective of this prototype is to perfect the battery and collection system that is embedded into this 'rifle' through the stock and part of the barrel. While this is clunky and improbable to be used in live combat, it is more like a thesis of the idea that magic can be used by anyone, no matter who they are..."
Kazama stops Tatsuya. "Now I'm going to stop you right there. Are you saying that you created a weapon that can potentially utilize magic and be used by even non-magicians?"
Tatsuya faltered for a moment before carefully blanking his face. "That is exactly what this prototype signifies, sir. It is meant to be developed into a way for higher-ups in the military to be able to use Gram Demolition without needing to be born with an astronomical amount of psions."
Kazama looks at Tatsuya amazed for a moment, before asking a simple question. "If it is to be used by the whole of the military, then how will those without a mental calculation area be able to wield the magics, as I assume that your current design does not account for that problem."
It was here that Yanagi Muraji, Captain of the 101, cut into the conversation. "This thing has already been tested? Then again, boss, the kid here said it was a prototype, not the final product."
Kazama just looked at the kid and then at Yanagi. "Thank you, Yanagi, for the bright observation."
It was a good month after that Lieutenant Colonel Kazama brought the young Tatsuya with his two finished prototypes before the Major General. Unlike with the Loop Cast, none of the people present saw fit to announce either products, as they were put under heavy lock and key.
Alright, chapter 2 is here.
This took longer than expected, as I was unsure how far to go into the future.
Now for the "battery" that was developed by Tatsuya. This was one of those flashes of inspirations type thing where I wondered, "Why hasn't this been done?" Seriously though, It is not seen often enough in fantasy/sci-fi settings. It isn't exactly overpowered as that would be highly improbable to make one that is so early on, especially as the battery itself would have to be custom made to hold Psions. Not to mention the harder part of absorbing ambient Psions into the battery in the first place.
Kazama's comment on the mental calculation area was more of a jab at Tatsuya himself, seeing as he is a specialized mage in the first place. I will go into the second device Tatsuya built in the next chapter though.
I do have to say that I think I know which story you are referring to PandaGX, but oddly enough I didn't encounter that story until after I started writing the first chapter of this.
As for TastuyaShiva4, I know that this is a highly improbable thing to legit happen, but then again so is most of the events of most anime canonically. All I got to say to that is to think of this as that 0.0000000000000000000000001% chance that you gave. I like going off of the multiverse theory, so to me this is still entirely possible no matter how improbable. Also, the thief was a No-Maj that made a living off of stealing things, so as his pride would dictate yes he would, in fact, be stupid enough to try.
Vivion, I hear ya on that front. He won't be too emotional, y'know being raised by the military. Or at least he shouldn't be, so sorry if he does become too emotional.