Chapter 2: May Inter-District Open Game:《MTCG》
♯
The morning of the fourth day of the May Inter-District Tournament was spent in a meeting with the Eimei members.
“As we discussed yesterday, I’ll be participating in《MTCG》to obtain the ‘Wildcard’—which means, at the very least, you four will have to hold the fort for the first half of today’s《Astral》without me. It’s obvious, I guess, but Enomoto will be giving the orders.”
“That’s Enomoto-senpai to you. Your lack of respect is as blatant as ever, Shinohara.”
“Who cares about that stuff? More importantly, if you’re gone, Shinji, I’ll have to follow his orders… Ugh, I’ll put up with it, I guess~”
Enomoto grumbled with a displeased expression at my words, while Asamiya, giving him a half-lidded stare, lazily kicked her legs back and forth, clearly dissatisfied. Her tone was sharp, but she didn’t seem that upset. If this is how it’s going, both of them should be able to perform at their best.
“Ehehe…”
As for Akizuki, once I finished explaining the strategy outline, she sidled up to me with a sweet, melting smile and said:
“Do your best, Hiroto-kun♪ You don’t need to worry about《Astral》at all since we’ve got Eimei’s ace, Noa-chan, on our side! ♡”
“…I see. In the sense that it keeps you away from Master and Akizuki-sama,《MTCG》might not be such a bad thing after all.”
“That’s harsh!? Oh, but, but—maybe experiencing a long-distance romance vibe every now and then could be fun! ♡”
“So positive…”
Over here, Himeji and Akizuki were, as usual, getting along splendidly. Their banter lightened the mood just right, and once we’d exhausted the topics, Enomoto, sitting across from me, straightened his posture and spoke:
“To reiterate—while Shinohara’s away, we’ll take charge. As a 6-Star and the student council president of Eimei Academy, I’ll lead this team and maintain our front. So, Shinohara, focus on《MTCG》without worrying about us. …If you dawdle too long, we might just take down《Chameleon》without you, you know?”
The rare, playful smirk on Enomoto’s face was something you didn’t see every day.
After the meeting wrapped up and some time passed, it was 9 a.m.
“It’s closer than I thought…”
I loaded the map data provided by《Libra》into my device’s app, guided by the voice navigation (or rather, Kagaya-san), and arrived at the《MTCG》venue.
The May Inter-District Tournament Open Game《MTCG》was held at Central Garden, an event hall located in the heart of Academy Island’s District Zero. It was about a ten-minute walk from the hotel we were staying at, with a capacity of over 5,000—pretty massive.
Inside the hall, I stepped into the circular venue dubbed the main floor after completing the game’s registration at the reception. Even though it was just after the start of the fourth day, I could see nearly a thousand high school students gathered. The hall was so vast that it didn’t feel cramped, but the sheer number of people was overwhelming.
The floor itself was mostly just a wide-open space with nothing special. However, near the outer edges, screens were set up to broadcast《Astral》, and next to them were various stalls offering everything from drinks to light snacks. And right in the center of the floor was something that stood out—a “duel field” with a distinctly different vibe from the rest of the area.
“…?”
The moment I tilted my head slightly at the sight:
‘—Let me explain, nya!’
With a flash, my vision briefly lit up, and suddenly, a calico cat appeared out of nowhere. This wasn’t just any cat—it was speaking in Kazami’s voice.
That’s right—this was one of《MTCG》’s theatrical elements, a “familiar.” It was just an AR projection with no physical form, but it could accompany a player without raising suspicion. Right now, this cat’s sight and hearing were synced with Kazami Suzuran, who was stationed backstage at the venue.
Kazami—or rather, the calico cat—perched on my shoulder, letting out a cute nyaon before continuing:
‘That special field is a dedicated duel arena used only for the final battle—y’know, when you face Tsumugi-chan! It’s got no other purpose, nya! None at all!!’
Just a showoff, huh…
I let out a small sigh. Shiina’s supposed to be painfully shy, but being shy and being a showoff aren’t mutually exclusive. Talking one-on-one is a whole different beast from basking in the attention of a crowd.
Anyway, while listening to Kazami’s explanation, I scanned the area. Whether it was because my presence here drew attention or because yesterday’s “self-destruction” was still fresh in everyone’s minds, I could feel an unusually intense barrage of stares piercing my skin. Curiosity, wariness, or mockery—countless gazes bore into me without restraint.
But none of that matters… I can’t waste even a second right now.
My right hand, stuffed in my pocket, brushed against the surface of my device as I muttered to myself inwardly.
The fastest way to clear《MTCG》—we touched on it a bit yesterday, but ultimately, the key to this game is how efficiently you can amass coins. In extreme terms, if you could get infinite coins, you’d barely need any time to beat《MTCG》.
Of course, that’s just an ideal scenario. If you’re moving as a team, you can use trades to optimize things to an extent, but there’s always a limit somewhere.
That’s why, in my case, I needed to resort to a little trickery.
I was thinking of waiting a bit longer, but… since I’m already drawing attention, maybe I should just get moving now.
While gauging the surroundings, I came to that conclusion internally. Before that, though, I opened the《MTCG》app from my device’s home screen. My current status was displayed: [Coins Held: 1000 / Quest Progress: 1 / Level: 3]. For the hardest route, the first target was listed as [Level 6].
After checking everything, I was about to stride forward confidently—when it happened.
“Kch… Haha, ahahaha! Oh, this is just too rich!”
…Hm?
From a group of about five people loitering near the reception, one guy—the apparent leader—suddenly called out to me. I recognized him… or rather, I’d just faced him in《Astral》the other day. A 5-Star from District 15’s Ibara Academy, Yuikawa Kanade.
He swept his bangs back, grinning wickedly with a wide, twisted smirk.
“Hey, it’s been two days, Shinohara Hiroto-kun. Do you remember me? I’m Yuikawa from Ibara Academy, the guy you knocked out of《Astral》way too early!”
“…Yeah, I remember you.”
“Great! That’s really great to hear—I’m thrilled, truly, that you’ve finally fallen to our level. That you’re in a position where I can crush you directly.”
Yuikawa sneered, his tone dripping with provocation as his smirk grew even more pronounced.
“Knowing how hot-blooded you are, you’re probably aiming for the Wildcard, right? But you’re too late—way too late. Starting《MTCG》at this point and trying to clear the hardest route? What kind of plan is that? You’ve got no foresight.”
“…”
“Compare that to me—I prepared from the start. If I got knocked out of《Astral》, I made sure I had a team ready to funnel coins and cards to me so I could grab the Wildcard and get back in. Thanks to that, I’m already tackling the fifth stage of the quest. You can’t catch up, Shinohara-kun.”
With a bright smile, Yuikawa spread his arms wide, throwing the words at me like a challenge.
He’s right—that’s probably the most straightforward way to tackle《MTCG》. Teaming up with allies from the same academy to trade cards efficiently. It gets trickier in the later stages, but it’s still the best approach.
Seeing me stay silent, Yuikawa’s grin widened even further.
“Hah… Yes, that’s the face! You look calm on the surface, but inside, you’re panicking, aren’t you? Just seeing that makes this worth it!”
“…Were you always this much of a jerk? Or were you just hiding it before?”
“Don’t make it sound so bad. I was just reading the room, that’s all. …So, Shinohara-kun, which card do you need? A [3]? Or maybe a [4]? If you’re in a rush, kind-hearted me might be willing to trade. Just add a tiny bit to the market rate—say, 100,000 coins—and I’d be happy to.”
“…”
“Oh, but you don’t have that kind of cash, do you? Hmm, that’s a problem… Oh, I know! How about a dogeza? If you grovel in front of everyone, I might even give it to you for free. Wow, what a steal. Maybe I’m being too nice?”
Yuikawa kept taunting me with that manic, cheerful grin.
It’s a known issue—since “trading” involves players’ interests, it naturally breeds people like him. And since I’m always playing the provocateur, acting like Academy Island’s strongest, I inevitably make enemies.
Eimei students might help, but there’s no guarantee they’d have the card I need. Either way, I’d need to lay some groundwork.
I let out a small sigh, assessing the situation.
Just as I was about to ignore Yuikawa completely and move forward with my plan—that’s when it happened.
“—Hey.”
As if she had zero interest in my conversation with Yuikawa, a girl slowly stepped in front of me. The familiar uniform of Tsuyuri Girls’ Academy. If my memory’s right, she’s a teammate of that《Ogre Shrine Maiden》—the girl who stayed by Kururugi’s side until the end in yesterday’s battle.
Staring at me through the gap in her long bangs, she said:
“Which card do you want?”
“Huh? …[4]. I need a [4].”
“Got it. Then I’ll trade my [4] for your [1]. Special trial price, just this once… 100 coins.”
“…What?”
The one who reacted first wasn’t me but Yuikawa. He strode intimidatingly in front of the girl, his voice dropping slightly as he spoke.
“Popping up out of nowhere and saying that? I was in the middle of talking to him… And, haha, are you sure about this? Helping him here means our academy will go all out to sabotage you guys from now on.”
“Or is 100 coins a bit too steep?”
“…Hey, don’t ignore me and keep talking.”
Yuikawa roughly grabbed the girl’s shoulder, his tone growing harsher. But she didn’t budge. Her clear eyes stayed fixed on me alone.
Though slightly unnerved by her demeanor, I slowly opened my mouth.
“…Normally, upgrading from [1] to [4] takes about 3,500 coins and an hour’s wait. If you’re offering to trade for 100 coins, that’s a great deal, but can I ask why first?”
“Why… Do you need a reason?”
“Yeah. I mean, we let Kururugi slip away, but we’re the ones who half-destroyed Tsuyuri. It’d make more sense if you said you hated me, like that guy over there.”
“…”
At my question, the girl tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled, and fell silent for a moment.
Then, a few seconds later, she lifted her face again, tilting her head and saying:
“Because… you’re trying to take down《Chameleon》, right?”
What!? How does she know that…?
I couldn’t help but catch my breath inwardly. …My leaving《Astral》to join《MTCG》is obviously a hot topic on island tube and STOCK, but my “purpose” remains unclear and heavily debated. No one outside Eimei’s members or《Libra》should know.
Unfazed by my confusion, the girl continued in a calm tone:
“You—someone who abandoned《Astral》of your own accord—joining《MTCG》to chase the Wildcard? There’s no other reason that makes sense. You’ve got some kind of plan, don’t you? I knew it the moment I saw you here.”
“…Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s obvious.”
To my evasive response, the girl replied with a resolute voice.
“Our leader—Senri—joined《Chameleon》for Tsuyuri’s sake. Senri’s always strong, calm, rational, and never wrong. So, this time, too, it’s probably the right choice. I think so, but… it’s still warped. It’s frustrating that our weakness forces Senri to make such choices. We don’t need a fake second place that we can only get by bowing to someone else. We—Tsuyuri—will rise on our own strength.”
“…”
“So—that’s why I want you to return to《Astral》. I want you to let Senri rest. …I think you’re the only one who should get the Wildcard.”
Her earnest plea silenced not only me but also Yuikawa and the onlookers.
In that heavy atmosphere, I quietly pulled out my device and initiated a “trade” from the transaction screen. I selected the [1] card and entered a payment of 100 coins. Instantly, they vanished from my device, replaced by a [4].
After confirming the trade, I gave a small wave of my device in gratitude.
“Thanks. …And look forward to it, yeah? I’m not fighting for Tsuyuri or anything, but I’m taking down《Chameleon》either way. Kururugi Senri included, naturally.”
“…Got it. That’s fine.”
With a slight softening of her expression, the Tsuyuri girl slipped away silently. Nearby, Yuikawa clicked his tongue in annoyance and slunk back to his group.
It was an unexpected encounter, but a stroke of luck nonetheless. With that trade, my hand was upgraded to [1, 1, 4] at [Level 6]. Since the first stage of the hardest route targets a [Level 6] opponent, my number cards were now ready.
‘—Alright, now it’s time to stock up on skill cards, nya.’
The calico Kazami reappeared, whispering as much.
‘The one who initiates the battle—the first-mover—gets to use one more skill card than the defender. So, having a《Skill Nullifier》card would guarantee a win, but it’s super pricey, so you can’t just toss it around. The basic strategy is to have at least one《Level Up》card and play a mind game on whether to use it, nya!’
Kazami reviewed the early-game basics, and since I had no reason to argue, I bought one《Level Up》and one《Reward Up》card from my device.
Following Kazami’s instructions, I raised my device to eye level—and instantly, a map app-like destination marker appeared above the heads of a few students passing by. A custom search function courtesy of《Libra》. Those marked were my targets—players currently at [Level 6].
So, I picked one at random.
“Hey.”
“Huh? …W-Wait, Shinohara!? What’s this all of a sudden!?”
“What else? I’m challenging you to a duel.”
“A duel!? No way, it’s barely been ten minutes since you started《MTCG》…”
The male student’s eyes widened in shock, his voice trembling slightly.
But ignoring his panic and hesitation, my duel request was accepted, and both our devices lit up blue. The participation fee (500 coins for the first stage) was automatically deducted, and our familiars materialized via AR tech. Mine was the cute calico synced with Kazami, while his was a sharp-fanged snake.
‘The first battle of the day… Show ‘em what you’ve got, Shinohara-kun, nya!’
After a quiet word of encouragement, the calico nimbly hopped off my shoulder to face the snake. The snake looked stronger, but familiar visuals are purely random and don’t affect strength.
The next moment, five cards appeared before me as my hand: three number cards [1, 1, 4] and the two skill cards I’d just bought. The latter glowed blue, indicating I could tap them to use.
“…”
I glanced at my opponent’s face, quietly weighing my options.
In this duel, the only thing to consider was whether my opponent would use《Level Up》. We’re both definitely [Level 6] right now, so if neither of us uses《Level Up》, I win outright. But《MTCG》’s rules mean I can tell if they used a card, just not which one. They’ll probably play something—likely a《Level Up》, though there’s a chance it’s a《Reward Up》bluff.
—But,
He was shocked just by me challenging him… He probably thinks it’s insanely fast to hit the first target this early. If so, he’s highly likely to use《Level Up》. Against a newbie, he’d want to max out his level for safety.
Keeping my expression neutral, I reasoned internally.
I decided to use《Reward Up》first as the initiator. The turn passed to my opponent, who quickly made their choice—card used, as expected. In response, I played my remaining《Level Up》.
“Alright… That’s the card phase done. Now we just wait for the level reveal.”
“Y-Yeah. I mean, no way I’d lose to a guy who started the game ten minutes ago… Right?”
Despite his confident words, he cast an anxious glance at his familiar.
Right after, the level reveal phase kicked in, and the skill cards’ effects activated. A blue light briefly enveloped our familiars, and vibrant marks appeared on their bodies. My calico had a VII etched on its forehead, while the snake had one on its extended tongue, each showing their level.
In other words:
“Dead even. …Which means I win.”
“Wha…!?”
The boy, who’d apparently used《Level Up》as well, muttered in shock and slumped to the ground. …According to Kazami, the player on the “challenged” side racks up a “win streak” as long as they keep winning, earning bonus coins accordingly. But a single loss resets the count to zero.
Well, anyway—this was good enough for a tutorial. Clearing the first stage earned me reward coins, and the next target level appeared on my device. Total time elapsed since the game started: about twenty minutes.
Not bad… Not bad, but there’s no room to relax. …Time to get serious.
The groundwork for cheating was already in place—.
After nodding to the cat that climbed back onto my shoulder, I headed toward a certain spot.
♯
—《MTCG》has staff called “regulators.”
Given the quest structure of defeating players at specific levels, especially in the later stages, there’s always a chance that “no one at the desired level is on the floor.” To avoid this,《Libra》deploys a single combat-ready regulator who can “adjust levels” for battles.
But regulators have another role beyond emergency opponents: they act like a shop. Unwanted cards—bought by mistake or rendered obsolete by quest progress—can be swapped for others by paying (or receiving) the rate-based coin difference.
Having just burned through skill cards to clear the first quest, I didn’t have any cards to trade. With [Level 13] players—the second stage’s target—plentiful, there was no need to rely on a regulator.
And yet:
“You’re the ‘regulator,’ right?”
After blitzing through the first quest, I made my way to a screen at the edge of the hall and addressed a girl sitting on a bench in the back row.
“…Yes, I’m the regulator ‘Alpha.’ What do you need?”
She knew I’d be coming from yesterday’s meeting but showed no sign of it, responding coolly. I sat a short distance away, nodded once, and continued quietly:
“I want to trade cards.”
“Understood. Trading with a regulator involves exchanging coins based on《MTCG》’s official rates to balance the cards’ value difference. No haggling for discounts or premiums is allowed. Is that acceptable?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
She threw out what sounded like a scripted line—probably to ward off onlookers—and I gave a curt affirmation. …I wasn’t planning anything as blatant as cheating here. Getting cheap cards or illicit coins from her would quickly expose our connection, torching both me and《Libra》.
So there’s no need to break the rules…
If trades must follow official rates, that means any request, no matter how absurd, will be honored as long as the rate-based price is paid.
“Then I’ll trade my [1] number card. Give me one《Reward Up》in return.”
“——”
‘‘‘…Huh?’’’
At my request, Alpha blinked in surprise, and the crowd buzzed loudly.
It’s understandable—normally, card “trades” only happen between number cards or between skill cards. Players are capped at three number cards, so you can’t gain more. Naturally, you wouldn’t reduce them either… I mean, there’s no benefit to dropping your number cards under normal circumstances.
“…Are you serious?”
That’s why Alpha tilted her head, her expression skeptical.
“As a non-standard player, I can hold more than four number cards. But doing this would leave you with only two. With a number card’s max value at [9], your highest possible level would be [18]. Unless you’re on the easiest route, clearing the game would be impossible.”
“That’s fine. You’ll do the trade, right?”
“…The trade itself is possible. The rate difference between a [1] number card and a《Reward Up》skill card is—!?”
“What’s wrong? …How much is the rate difference for those two?”
“M-My apologies. To clarify, the rate difference between a [1] number card and a《Reward Up》skill card is 99,000 coins. Is that acceptable?”
The moment Alpha announced the amount, the crowd erupted with a collective ‘!?’. …And no wonder—99,000 coins. At my current second-stage progress, my coin generation rate is 1,000 per hour. That means I just gained ninety-nine hours’ worth of resources in an instant.
But it makes sense—as Alpha herself noted, skill cards are easily bought, while number cards, which can’t be increased, are fundamentally more valuable. Trading them “per the rates” naturally results in a massive coin payout.
…Though, I’m pulling a slight trick here.
With a sly grin, I muttered to myself internally.
Here’s the deal: until yesterday, regulators were treated as standard players. Their settings, aside from level flexibility, matched regular players, including the three-number-card cap. I had《Libra》change that. …It might sound like a brute-force move, but I’m told no player tried to increase or decrease their number cards via the regulator from day one to day three. That makes this a foolproof cheat.
“—Got it. Make the trade on those terms.”
With a small nod, I held out my device. Instantly, the [1] card vanished from my hand, replaced by a《Reward Up》and 99,000 coins.
“Alright… Thanks, Alpha.”
“No need. I merely followed the rates. …However, that trade drained my coin reserves. I’ll have to refrain from further trades until they recover over time.”
Without so much as a smile, Alpha averted her gaze. …Her curtness seemed deliberate, likely a technique to maintain a neutral expression. When Kazami picked her for this role, she was apparently a nervous wreck, and I’m pretty sure Himeji gave her a crash course in “stoicism” afterward.
‘Nya-haha… She passes, nya. So many promising members—I’m thrilled, nya!’
On my shoulder,《Libra》’s ace narrowed her eyes, but I’ll let that slide for now.
♯♯
“Yeah, that’s right. If you can manage it, even just a little… can I count on you?”
—9:52 a.m.
Armed with a fortune from my trade with Alpha, I went on a trading spree, effortlessly crushing the [Level 13] target for the second stage of the hardest route.
Upgrading my number cards from [1, 4] to [6, 7] cost about 70,000 coins, but doing it through “enhancement” alone would’ve taken 50,000 coins and two and a half hours. Spending just 20,000 coins to save that much time isn’t a bad deal.
“Got it—talk to you later.”
After clearing the second stage, I ended the call I’d been on and pocketed my device. …That call was a bit of “prep work.” It won’t pay off immediately, but it’s a crucial stepping stone for later quests.
“Alright…”
I shifted my focus back to the present. Normally, the third stage would’ve been a major hurdle for me. The hardest route’s third-stage target is [Level 21]. With my hand down to two cards, it’s literally unattainable.
But there was a loophole.
First off, in《MTCG》, every player’s [Level] is tracked in real-time. Whenever levels change due to enhancements or trades, the data updates, and targets are narrowed down accordingly.
The one exception is level changes during a duel. Since skill cards can temporarily alter levels, all processing is put on hold. …Which makes sense. If targets shifted mid-duel due to level changes, quests would be impossible to complete. So, the target level is locked in at the start of the duel. And “card trading” in《MTCG》can be done even during a duel.
With that in mind, the rest was simple. Find a [Level 0 win streak] target operating in a team, start a duel, and then negotiate: “Could you trade with your teammates to temporarily lower your level?” Of course, they won’t agree for free, but I still had over 30,000 coins in my device.
…It took Kagaya-san just a few minutes to find a player matching the criteria.
‘Huh!? Lower my level? No way, that’s—’
‘…30,000 coins if I agree? Wait, I’d get them? …All of them!?’
‘Tch, uh, well… C-Could you, maybe, please do it?’
And just like that, I cleared the third stage without enhancing my hand from [Level 13].
♯
Number cards in hand: [6, 7]. Coins held: 4,000.
My resources were looking pretty thin, but I’d cleared the third stage of the hardest route and moved to a rest area near the perimeter, staring down my device.
The reason:
“Unlocking special skill cards… huh.”
Right—as explained in the rules,《MTCG》has “special skill cards” beyond the usual three types. They unlock automatically after clearing the third stage, and you can choose one from a few options, like a ultimate move.
According to Kazami, since the final boss of the hardest route, Shiina Tsumugi, is set at [Level 30], I’d need to buy《Limit Break》to reach it…
‘…Like I said yesterday, that might not be the case, nya.’
The calico, still perched on my shoulder, muttered as much.
‘I mean, something’s definitely been tampered with, nya. If Tsumugi-chan’s level was really [30], the hardest route would’ve been cleared by now.’
“Yeah… Probably messed with, huh. Not sure if it’s Shiina herself or someone helping her, but someone’s tampering with the data. She said she’d never lose. If her level was [30], she wouldn’t say that.”
Recalling her “invincible declaration” from last night, I shook my head slightly. Hearing my reasoning, the calico let out a (probably) sorrowful nyaon.
‘To think the game we made got hacked, data rewritten, and we can’t do a thing about it, nya…’
“…? Why can’t you do anything? Shiina’s a staff member, not a regular player, right? No one’s getting hurt, so forcibly resetting it shouldn’t be an issue.”
‘That’s true, but… Tsumugi-chan’s data is locked behind some seriously tough protection, nya.《Libra》has the access rights, but we can’t break through the protection… It’s frustrating, nya. If《Libra》wasn’t just a PR group but a tech-savvy powerhouse—’
‘—Hmm? That’s some juicy info, nya.’
‘Funya!?’
A sleepy voice cut in, making Kazami (the calico) jump slightly on my shoulder. The voice, of course, was Kagaya-san’s. She was probably piping her usual earpiece audio directly to Kazami’s headset.
Startled by the intrusion, the calico hissed, fur bristling.
‘W-Who, nya!? What are you, nya!?’
‘Mm, can’t give my name, but I’m not shady, promise. Just a passing hero of justice. …Anyway, about what you said. You’ve got access rights but can’t crack the protection, right?’
‘Y-Yes, nya. Hero of… justice?’
‘Yup, got it, got it. See, this big sis can crack protections like nobody’s business, but I didn’t have the access rights and was stuck. So… how about we team up, kitty?’
Kagaya-san let out a sly chuckle.
Kazami was understandably wary but eventually nodded reluctantly, accepting the offer. And thus, the ultimate tag team of《Company》and《Libra》was born.
♯
But, first things first, I had to reach Shiina before any of this mattered.
“…I lose.”
10:49 a.m.—I’d defeated the [Level 5] target for the fourth stage of the hardest route.
[Level 5]. Yes, [Level 5]. The fourth stage in《MTCG》is a bit unique, being the only one of the five stages where the target [Level] is lowered. It seems easy at first glance, but since there’s no “weaken” command, you have to trade repeatedly with other players to lower your level. With regulators off-limits at this stage, it’s widely considered a tough hurdle.
But… that’s only if you’re playing normally. With《Company》’s help identifying “who wants which cards,” the fourth stage turns into a bonus round. Dropping my [6, 7] hand to [2, 3] didn’t take long at all.
Nice… This is good, not bad at all.
Keeping a cool facade, I muttered inwardly. …It’s been about two hours since the fourth day of the May Inter-District Tournament began. A bit behind schedule, but still well within acceptable limits.
‘Next up is the fifth stage… For the hardest route, the target level is [27].’
From my right earpiece came the voice of Inamura-san,《Company》’s resident punching bag, filling in for Kagaya-san, who was busy cracking protections.
Target level [27]—skill cards complicate things, but to hit it with number cards alone, you’d need [9, 9, 9], essentially the max level. Coming off the fourth stage’s rock-bottom level requirement, it’s brutally difficult.
‘Also… In your case, Shinohara-kun, you’ve only got two cards in hand. Even if you tried the same trick as the third stage, you don’t have enough coins to negotiate.’
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
Inamura-san was right. Without enough coins to offer, I couldn’t persuade someone to lower their level. Plus, [Level 27] players are practically nonexistent, so my opponent would likely be Alpha by default. Negotiation’s out of the question.
Which means I need that “prep work” from earlier to pay off…
As I mulled it over with a sense of urgency, it happened.
“—Shinohara-kun!!”
A girl energetically dashed up from behind, tapped my shoulder, then spun around to face me. Her short ponytail bounced, and her moderately short skirt flared slightly.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Shinohara-kun! Your trusty class rep, Tatara Fuuka, has arrived!”
That’s right—about an hour ago, after clearing the second stage, the person I’d called was none other than Tatara Fuuka. The class rep of 2-A, a 3-Star girl bursting with brightness. I knew she was in《MTCG》before the event even started.
I gave her a nod and spoke calmly:
“Thanks, Tatara. I didn’t expect you to show up this fast.”
“No problem at all, Shinohara-kun! Helping a struggling classmate is my duty as class rep!”
Tatara responded to my gratitude with a confident thumbs-up.
“So, um… As you asked, I looked for people who might help. You needed three people with [9] cards, right?”
“Yeah, that’s perfect.”
I nodded slightly at her earnest question. …Exactly. This was the same “rely on allies to forcibly boost your level” strategy as Yuikawa’s. I’d reach out to Eimei Academy’s network, starting with classmates, to find people willing to trade [9] cards. It’s a tough sell even among allies, but with a good enough reason, it’s doable.
“I don’t have enough coins to pay for it, but if I clear《MTCG》and get the Wildcard, it’ll boost Eimei’s chances of winning《Astral》—which means more stars for Eimei. If anyone buys that logic, that’s who I’m looking for.”
“Got it! By the way, I’m totally on board! I mean, I’m the class rep, after all!”
“…That’s not really a reason.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Being able to do this naturally is my ideal ‘class rep’ vibe! So don’t worry, just take it!”
Tatara beamed with a dazzling conviction. …Well, if she’s willing to trade, I’m grateful. As I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, Tatara glanced around and continued:
“Also, -kun said he’d help too. He should be here soon…”
“—Yeah, ‘soon’ as in I’m already here.”
Whoa!
A voice suddenly answered from right behind me, startling me inwardly. Turning around, I saw my classmate, the androgynously beautiful Tsuji Yuuki.
“I was wondering when you’d notice me—got my hopes up for nothing. What’s the point if I have to reveal myself, Tatara-san?”
“Oh, shoot, my bad! You were kinda hidden in Shinohara-kun’s shadow!”
“It’s fine… I was sorta hiding a bit anyway.”
Tsuji circled around to stand next to Tatara, then looked at me with a slight smile.
“Anyway—that makes me the second helper, Shinohara-kun. Or maybe the second and third, technically.”
“…? What’s that mean?”
“Well, where do I start… Remember we talked about Eimei Academy’s ‘sixth member’?”
“Sixth member? Oh… Yeah, I heard about that.”
I nodded at Tsuji’s words. …Eimei’s sixth member. Before the May Inter-District Tournament, Enomoto mentioned that Eimei had a secret powerhouse in《MTCG》to snag the Wildcard and join《Astral》as a sixth member. That was supposedly Minakami Mayu, a hidden talent—but Tsuji later reported she’d already dropped out of《MTCG》.
“Yup, that’s Minakami-san.”
Tsuji gave a quick nod, then shrugged with a wry gesture.
“She’s got talent, but zero motivation. She joined《MTCG》on day one and dominated the quest progress, but from day two, she just stopped showing up. Apparently, her favorite streamer was doing an endurance broadcast on island tube.”
“Seriously…?”
“Haha… Anyway, Minakami-san quit the game ages ago. But she left her device with me, saying I could use it however I wanted.”
Tsuji continued with a bittersweet tone. I’d heard Eimei’s “sixth member” candidate was a slacker, but this was next-level. Beyond lazy or not, handing over your device—basically your phone, wallet, and ID on Academy Island—to someone else is straight-up insane. It’s the ultimate form of apathy.
“So, there’s a [9] in here too, so why not take it, like she said? Trade it for some random skill card to fill out your hand. Then I’ll give you my [9], and that makes three.”
“Minakami aside, you sure about this, Tsuji?”
“Yeah, I’m good. If Tatara-san’s in, I can’t just sit it out, right? As the self-proclaimed ‘Shinohara-kun’s friend number one.’”
“…Thanks, man.”
“No prob. …For a normie like me,《MTCG》is just a fun festival. Even if I cleared it, I’d get maybe one ability. But if you win, it could shake up《Astral》. Eimei might turn it around—I want to see that. So don’t sweat it, okay?”
He flashed a smile so delicate it could be mistaken for a girl’s.
Cute… I mean, this is seriously a lifesaver…
Thanks to Tsuji, Tatara, and the mysterious Minakami Mayu trusting me, I could jump from a [2, 3] hand to [9, 9, 9] with barely any time spent. Now, I just needed to siphon as many coins as possible from Minakami’s device during the trade and buy a《Skill Nullifier》to guarantee clearing the fifth stage.
But then:
‘—Hiro-kyun, got a sec?’
Kagaya-san’s voice came through my earpiece, and I pressed my right hand to my ear.
‘Thanks to Kitty, we got into Tsumu-tsumu—Tsumugi-chan’s data—but the final authentication’s a pain. It needs a password, and forcing it might get us locked out…’
‘So, can I ask you to handle the analysis, Hiro-kyun?’
‘“Shiina Tsumugi’s true level” …That seems to be the final key.’
Hearing her rare, pleading tone—
“…”
I began to think quietly.
♯
—May Inter-District Tournament Open Game《MTCG》Final Round.
The fifth stage went off without any major drama. Using《Skill Nullifier》, I easily beat the [Level 27] regulator (Alpha), clearing all of《MTCG》’s quests. Normally, this would meet the reward criteria, but the hardest route doesn’t let you off that easily.
Next, I’ve got to beat the secret boss, Shiina, to fully clear it. …But that’s weird. My device’s target info hasn’t updated—
“—Ahahaha!!”
A mocking laugh cut through my thoughts. Predictably, it was Yuikawa Kanade. From atop the special stage in the center of the floor, reserved for the final battle, he spread his arms wide, looking down at me smugly.
“Shinohara! Oh, Shinohara, so close! You were strong, sure, but you were just a tad too slow to catch up to me! Why don’t you sit there on the ground, sucking your thumb, and watch my victory!!”
Yuikawa was practically buzzing, probably hyped up by the massive crowd of spectators.
Facing him stood a girl. Her petite, delicate frame suggested her age, but she was draped in a long, gothic-lolita-style robe with a deep hood, making her identity unclear… or not. The intricate patterns on her robe and the crimson glint of her eyes peeking from the hood screamed middle-school-level chuunibyou—it was definitely Shiina Tsumugi.
Turning from me to face Shiina, Yuikawa continued in his theatrical tone:
“Hey there, final boss—nice to meet you. Are you a girl, maybe? Sorry, I don’t enjoy picking on delicate kids, but… no choice, right? It’s a competition.”
“…”
“…Too bad, no chit-chat, huh.”
With that, Yuikawa swiftly swiped his device. In sync,《MTCG》’s AR system conjured a ferocious black dragon above his head. Glancing at the massive, menacing creature, he smirked slightly.
“If I scared you, my bad… That’s my familiar.《MTCG》rules say familiars are randomly assigned, but maybe they account for compatibility a bit? Speaking of, I think Shinohara Hiroto’s familiar was—a calico cat! A cat! Wow, adorable!”
“…Shut up…”
“Huh? …Oh, sorry. Got a bit too excited. Fine, if you’re that eager, let’s wrap this up quick.”
His tone soured slightly, but Yuikawa stepped forward. With a gesture straight out of a detective novel, he pointed dramatically at Shiina.
“The ‘final boss’ who appears after clearing the fifth stage of the hardest route—several players have reached you, but none have beaten you. Some even saved their special skill cards. …Why? Simple—you’re stronger! The max level with《Limit Break》is [30], and even with two《Level Up》cards, it’s [32]. So, I’m betting your level is [33]!”
Yuikawa shouted with theatrical flair. …It’s a reasonable guess. If [30] can’t win, go higher. Shiina Tsumugi must be at the top.
“But I’m going beyond even that—did you know?《Limit Break》doesn’t just turn a [9] into a [10]; it temporarily removes the card value cap. Just for that duel, but it erases the level ceiling. Now, is enhancement banned during a duel? …Nope, it’s not. There’s no time limit in《MTCG》duels, and enhancing during one isn’t forbidden!”
The crowd stirred. Shiina remained silent, head bowed.
“Haha, too spot-on to speak? That’s right—I used《Limit Break》to make [10, 10, 10], then enhanced all three cards at once! [11, 11, 11] for [Level 33]! That’s my answer, final boss!!”
Yuikawa grinned triumphantly, unveiling his ultimate strategy.
—But,
That’s not it. …It’s a solid theory, but sadly, it’s wrong.
Watching him, I muttered to myself inwardly.
His logic was consistent, but it was fundamentally off. I’d considered infinite level scaling with《Limit Break》too, but that would let you beat Shiina outright. She’s not operating on that level.
And, as expected:
“…No way, I’m not waiting that long.”
The moment Shiina muttered that while still looking down, a tremendous wave of heat and pressure hit me, forcing my eyes shut. It was just an effect, but its realism made me want to stagger back.
After a brief silence, I cautiously opened my eyes—and there she was. Shiina had tossed off her hood, her heterochromatic eyes gleaming, standing confidently before a three-headed Cerberus.
“…Wrong. All wrong.”
Shiina Tsumugi spoke in a curt, dismissive tone.
“My level’s [33]? No way. I’m not that weak—so this duel’s over. I’m not waiting around.”
“W-Wait, hold on, my answer’s not—!”
“I said, shut up.”
With a flick of her delicate arm and a commanding “Go!”, the Cerberus lunged forward, slamming into the black dragon’s throat. The dragon roared, caught off guard, but it couldn’t keep up with Cerberus’s speed. It was quickly overwhelmed, torn apart without a chance to fight back.
‘Grr… O…’
In mere seconds, Yuikawa’s black dragon collapsed to the ground.
Staring at it with pure eyes, Shiina muttered, “Ugh…” in mild dissatisfaction.
“No good, okay? Stalling’s bad manners when you’ve got no shot at winning.”
“S-Stalling? No, this was a legitimate strategy—!”
“I’m saying you can’t win like that. Try again.”
Shiina coldly declared a retry without even looking at him. …She’s supposed to be painfully shy, so maybe it’s not coldness but nerves.
—Well, whatever.
“Ha…”
I watched Yuikawa stumble off the stage in a daze, then Shiina finally turned to me. Her face lit up with a delighted grin, and she crossed her arms proudly, saying:
“Come on up, Onii-chan—I’ve been waiting!”
♯
—Facing Shiina on the special stage.
“I’m so happy I get to fight Onii-chan in《MTCG》too!”
Shiina stood before me in her fantasy-villain gothic-lolita outfit, grinning ear to ear and speaking in a bouncy tone.
“Hey, hey, Onii-chan, how about we add a penalty game to this battle? Like before—winner gets to order the loser to do anything!”
“…Still brimming with confidence, huh? Even though you lost handily the day before yesterday.”
“It’s fine! ’Cause in this game, I’m definitely winning!”
She patted each of Cerberus’s heads in turn, standing close to it, and declared boldly. I quietly mulled it over.
“I’ll definitely win”… That’s a phrase Shiina’s been repeating since yesterday. In this game, I can’t possibly beat her. At least, that’s what she thinks.
That much was probably certain.
If so, the possible levels for Shiina were narrowed down significantly. As Yuikawa just showed, any level above [30] can be forcibly reached with《Limit Break》. It’s tough, sure, but not “invincible.”
“Also…《MTCG》only lets you clear quests by matching the target’s exact level, so a higher level isn’t always stronger. [33] or [99], it’s all the same. With《Limit Break》, you can enhance cards indefinitely, so you can’t be ‘invincible’ either way.”
If that’s the case, the answer’s obvious.
“It’s negative—Shiina, your level’s below zero. I don’t know the exact value, but it’s definitely not zero or higher. That’d explain why you keep saying ‘no one can beat me.’”
“—!”
At my carefully timed deduction, Shiina froze, mouth half-open in shock.
And then—
“…Amazing.”
The next moment, she said it quietly.
“Really amazing, Onii-chan. You nailed it—this one’s level is [-99]. I mean, Lloyd’s a hellhound, right? Hell’s where levels flip, probably.”
“Yeah… Figured as much. Lloyd’s versatile, huh.”
“Of course! It’s the treasure Onii-chan gave me, after all!”
Shiina declared gleefully, without a hint of shame. …[-99]. Yeah, that’s unbeatable. You can sell number cards to hit [Level 0], but anything below that is impossible in《MTCG》’s system. Literal invincibility. For players, it’s practically a scripted loss.
Level flipping, negative numbers… Very Shiina-like, I guess…
It’s cute in a way, but the consequences are anything but.
Still—despite the situation, I flashed a grin. …Hearing that was enough. My win condition was now fully met.
Tapping my right earpiece, I took a quiet step forward.
“Whatever. Let’s just get this duel started, Shiina.”
“? Sure, but… I’m totally gonna win, you know? If I win, Onii-chan’s stuck being my gaming buddy for life!”
“That’s a hefty penalty… But fine. I’m winning anyway.”
I flicked my device, summoning my cat familiar, and muttered calmly. The calico, synced with Kazami, glanced back and nodded, as if to say, “Everything’s ready.”
After confirming, I raised my device slightly.
“Duel start—I’m using [9, 9, 9] with the special skill card《Limit Break》to make [10, 10, 10] for [Level 30]. My other slot’s got《Skill Nullifier》, so whether you use a skill card or not, our levels are locked in.”
“W-Wait, that’s it!? But, but, my level’s [-99]—!”
“What’re you talking about? That’s obviously a bluff.”
I flatly shot down Shiina’s panicked outburst.
“Listen, Shiina. You saying your level’s negative just means ‘it makes sense’ for the logic to hold. If your level was actually below zero, the game would be impossible to clear. You think《Libra》’s game would have a flaw like that?”
“B-But it’s true—!”
“No buts. …Anyway, my level’s [30]. Go on, reveal yours, Shiina.”
“Ugh, uuu…”
Shiina let out a disgruntled groan at my smug attitude.
Reluctantly, she glanced at her device—and in an instant, her expression shifted. From confusion to shock, her face transformed in a heartbeat.
Because:
“Wha… W-Why!? Why’s Lloyd’s level [30] now!?”
—Exactly.
The trick was painfully simple.《Libra》originally managed《MTCG》’s settings, and Shiina had hacked in to alter her level.《Libra》couldn’t undo it because the altered data was locked with heavy protection.
But I didn’t just have《Libra》—I had《Company》, tech wizards in their own right. With both as allies, all I needed was to pinpoint “Shiina’s level” as the final key. Overwriting her cheat to restore the original settings was child’s play.
“…Who knows? Maybe ‘invincible’ was just your delusion all along.”
I smirked slyly and muttered.
With a fluid motion, I swung my right hand, and the blue-aura-clad calico leaped forward, slashing at Cerberus in a flurry of scratches. In a flash, Cerberus dissolved into particles. A moment later, Shiina’s arm held only Lloyd’s plush toy.
In other words—《MTCG》hardest route, fully cleared.
“…”
As for Shiina, facing me, I expected her to be upset about losing… but instead, she stared at me with a dazed expression. After a long silence, she hugged Lloyd tightly and burst out in an ecstatic tone:
“Amazing… So amazing, Onii-chan! You’re really strong!”
“…”
“I’m so happy, so happy! Yesterday and today were super fun, but now it’s getting even more fun…!”
Shiina ran up to me, practically bouncing with joy, her face beaming with euphoria. Beneath her innocence, there was a hint of obsessive “gaming fixation.”
“I thought I was unbeatable, but you still won…! Yup, yup! This is how it should be! Onii-chan, you’ve gotta go back to《Astral》!”
“…Why’s that?”
“Because!”
Shiina declared brightly, firmly, with unwavering conviction.
I’d felt something off about her for a while, but now it was certain. A girl who kept saying she wanted to fight me, reveled in stirring up the game, and now told me to return to《Astral》. I knew one other person like that.
“Hey, Shiina—when I win, I get to order you to do anything, right?”
“Oh, right, I forgot… Sure, Onii-chan. What do you want?”
Shiina tilted her head, clutching her Cerberus plush, looking like nothing more than a cute kouhai or little sister.
“Answer one thing. …You’re《Chameleon》, aren’t you?”
“—!”
At my question, Shiina’s heterochromatic eyes widened. The crowd stirred at the seemingly out-of-nowhere term.
But as if she didn’t hear them, Shiina locked eyes with me.
“That’s… That’s your order? I have to answer?”
“Yup.”
“…Hmph, guess I’ve got no choice. It’s a penalty game, after all.”
Without much resistance, Shiina flashed a bright smile. Then, in a dramatic shift, she flared her robe like demonic wings, her voice trembling with uncontainable excitement as she spoke:
“That’s right—I’m《Chameleon》, Onii-chan. Congrats on clearing《MTCG》’s hardest route. But this is just the beginning, okay? This was just prep. A ritual to bring you back—so now, let’s fight in《Astral》! Let’s play tons and tons of games and settle this properly!!”
…《Chameleon》, dominating and ravaging《Astral》without mercy.
Her expression held not a trace of malice, only pure, overflowing “joy.”
♯
“H-Hurry, Shinohara-kun, nya! We’re running out of time, nya…!”
“…Yeah, I know!”
—Shortly after clearing《MTCG》.
I hopped into a pre-arranged taxi, racing from the《MTCG》venue back to Shikishima Grand Hotel. Guided by Kazami, I headed to《Libra》’s base—the underground floor I’d visited last night.
The time was 11:47 a.m. …Barely safe, you could say. I wanted more wiggle room, but the first half of day four wasn’t over yet.
“—Arrival, nya!”
Kazami announced loudly as we entered the control room. At her voice,《Libra》members’ eyes turned toward us—they’d likely been monitoring《MTCG》’s outcome while managing《Astral》. Their gazes held a faint glimmer of hope absent yesterday.
“Haa, haa… Okay, I’ll handle the ‘Wildcard’ program to process Shinohara-kun’s revival, nya. Use the equipment here as you need, and call me if anything comes up, nya!”
“Got it. …I’m counting on you.”
“Leave it to me, nya!”
Kazami plopped onto a nearby desk and started typing furiously. Glancing at her, I walked to the large monitor in the center of the control room—the main display showing all of《Astral》.
“…”
The screen showed a grim scene. Seijo Academy’s black area, controlled by《Chameleon》—now Shiina Tsumugi’s《Allied Forces》—covered nearly half the dominated fields. Her overwhelming force was undeniable.
That she was《Chameleon》meant she was juggling both《Astral》and《MTCG》, which wasn’t impossible.《Chameleon》is just a projected image with no physical presence, so Shiina didn’t need to be on《Astral》’s field. She could participate from her hotel room or《MTCG》’s waiting area, treating it like a game.
Her《Allied Forces》was steadily expanding today, while Eimei’s territory hadn’t changed much from yesterday.
But, faced with this reality, I—
Good… I made it in time.
Let out a deep sigh of relief inwardly. …With this kind of gap, we could’ve been swallowed whole by now. Holding the line was more than enough.
After assessing the situation, I asked a nearby《Libra》girl how to operate the monitor. Following her instructions, I connected my device to the equipment, and a section of the monitor switched to《Astral》’s site mode—a management screen for various data. Dominating the center was a command that hadn’t existed during《Duel》.
The operations contact command… huh.
Right… This was the function Kazami told me about last night: a way to “forcibly contact《Astral》’s players.” The reason I wanted to clear《MTCG》not just “before the second half” but “before the first half ended” was to use this during the first half.
So, here we go.
“—Yo, can you all hear me?”
‘‘‘!? !? !?’’’
My broadcast, aimed at all players not under《Chameleon》’s control, was deliberately cocky. The twenty-odd players on the monitor reacted in varied ways. Some looked utterly shocked, others furrowed their brows in confusion, Saionji quietly sighed in relief, and Himeji gave a pristine bow—all different, but shock was the majority.
And no wonder. In《Astral》, where contacting other teams is nearly impossible, a supposedly eliminated player suddenly reaching out is nothing short of horror.
Knowing that, I—though they could only hear my voice—grinned and continued:
“It’s me, Shinohara Hiroto. I missed the first half today, but how’s it going?”
‘W-W-What the hell’s going on!?’
Amid a cacophony of reactions, the most direct question came from a survivor from District 10 or somewhere. His voice, cracking, was more confused than accusing.
‘Shinohara Hiroto!? Why are you… No, wait! Is this《Chameleon》!?’
“Me,《Chameleon》? I’d praise your quick thinking, but sadly, no. Why would they bother impersonating me? A washed-up guy like me would get exposed in a second, like now.”
‘Tch, true, but… If you’re real, that’s even weirder. You’re supposed to be out, right? And this broadcast—’
“Oh, how I’m pulling off this broadcast?”
Cutting off his rapid-fire questions, I quirked the right corner of my mouth. Looking at Saionji and Eimei’s members on the screen, I said:
“That’s because I cleared《MTCG》and got the Wildcard. I can’t officially rejoin《Astral》until the second half, but I’ve already reclaimed my eligibility.”
‘Wha… Seriously!?’
“Dead serious. This broadcast is proof. A function like this—contacting other teams—doesn’t exist in《Astral》’s commands, right? Yet here I am. My voice is reaching nearly twenty of you, not just you from District 10. Why? …Exactly. It’s gotta be an ability or a role effect. And you’re spot-on—my role, after reviving through《MTCG》, isn’t just [Commander] anymore. It’s [Specter/Commander].”
‘[Specter/Commander]…? So that’s the Wildcard’s reward?’
The District 10 guy swallowed hard and backed off at my confident declaration. …Of course, everything I said was a lie. I’ll have《Libra》tweak my device’s display later, but my role’s still plain [Commander]. The Wildcard doesn’t grant special abilities.
But honestly, that didn’t matter. Since only one person can win《MTCG》and rejoin《Astral》, no one can verify my claims. What mattered here wasn’t the truth but how compelling a “lie” I could spin—and whether I could make everyone here believe it.
“…Listen up, everyone.”
Taking a deep breath, I addressed them again.
“That was just the preamble. The real deal starts now—[Specter/Commander] has another handy trait: a one-time ability to dig deep into an opponent’s info. I used it on《Chameleon》, and guess what I found?”
‘Something… interesting?’
“Yeah, and it’s a doozy. …Listen close. That guy—《Chameleon》—isn’t an official participant in this event. They’re a pure enemy character set up by the organizers.”
‘Huh?’
‘…Funya!?’
The players on the screen tilted their heads in confusion, while Kazami and the《Libra》crew let out startled noises. I glanced at them reassuringly before continuing with a smirk:
“So, they’re just an ‘enemy.’ Check《MTCG》’s highlights later, and you’ll see—their real identity’s Shiina Tsumugi, a middle schooler. Not even a star-collecting game participant, let alone an《Astral》player… Just a prop to stir up this battle royale.”
‘W-Wait, no way…’
“Think it’s a lie? But it’s weird, right? Their《Allied Forces》ability—because of it, seven districts are under《Chameleon》’s control. It’s blatantly abnormal, yet it’s been overlooked. …There’s only one explanation.《Chameleon》was set up by the organizers from the start. That’s why they haven’t been called out.”
‘…’
“You okay with losing to a thing like that? …At this rate,《Chameleon》’s gonna steamroll《Astral》. Then, at the closing ceremony or whatever, they’ll reveal its identity and say there’s no winner this time. Doesn’t that piss you off?”
I spoke deliberately, reading their expressions and weaving my argument. I couldn’t tell the full truth, but this logic held up just enough.《Chameleon》wasn’t a cheater but an unfair enemy character planted by the organizers. Since they’re not a real player, they don’t have to follow the rules.
And then:
“But—there’s still time.”
‘!!’
As everyone fell into grim silence, I threw out those words to shatter the mood. As intended, several faces snapped up, staring at their devices as if clinging to hope.
Meeting their gazes, I signaled《Libra》to disable all in-game《Astral》cameras and began my “persuasion” in a conspiratorial tone:
“—Listen. Right now,《Chameleon》’s area spans 2,488 tiles. Their control rate, excluding neutral tiles, is 49.2%… Despite all that, they’re not even at half. If we all use a《Truce Agreement》and work together, our combined force will be bigger.”
“Sure, unlike《Chameleon》, we’re not a《Allied Forces》. At best, we’re an ‘alliance’ with a common enemy. Our colors are all different, and our approval ratings are still gutted.”
“But approval ratings can flip from here—think about it.《Chameleon》racked up votes because they were a ‘mysterious dark horse.’ With that much attention, their rating was bound to soar. But it’s been too one-sided, so now they’re losing favor, and votes are splitting. …So, where do those votes go next? Who will the audience, fed up with《Chameleon》’s rampage and tired of a strong character steamrolling everything, support?”
“Think about it. Right now, I’m the reckless [Commander] who left《Astral》to prepare to take down an unfair, organizer-planted powerhouse. And Eimei, my team, is dead last. There’s barely a chance for a comeback. …If you were the audience, what would you think? A boring story where《Chameleon》crushes everyone to win, or a dramatic upset where I, from rock bottom, team up with all of you to take them down—which one’s better?”
‘‘‘…’’’
The players on the screen fell silent at my words. …They’re probably weighing their options: stick with《Chameleon》or trust me. They have to pick a side. Sitting it out isn’t an option.
And then—
‘The only thing I don’t love is that Shinohara’s the figurehead… but oh well.’
In the tense stalemate, Saionji broke the silence by agreeing to a《Truce Agreement》with Eimei. Her commitment, as the second-ranked Ouka Academy’s leader, was the spark. Like a dam bursting, voices of agreement rose, and《Truce Agreements》were signed. An alliance to drag《Chameleon》down began to form.
Six districts, twenty players—a force just barely surpassing《Chameleon》’s coalition.
Staring quietly at the data, I lifted my face again.
“Hah… You guys get it. Alright? Our《Duel》—our《Astral》—starts now. The phase of being toyed with by the mysterious《Chameleon》is over. They’re just an unfair enemy character, and anyone who joined them is a traitor. We can’t let those guys run wild. We can’t lose. Let’s show ’em—”
Saying it all in one breath, I raised my device dramatically.
“—Now it’s our turn to strike.”
I grinned and said it.
Island Tube Comment Section / At the End of《MTCG》
11:35 “Man, Hiroto-sama is just too cool!!”
11:35 “Wait, what? While I was eating, Shinohara actually won《MTCG》? For real?”
11:35 “So overwhelming it’s hilarious. Seven Star is just insane.”
11:35 “No, but seriously, isn’t it objectively crazy that it didn’t even take him three hours…? My friend’s been in it since day one and is still stuck on the third stage.”
11:35 “Well, as a destination for the Wild Card, it’s pretty fitting, right?”
11:35 “Exactly. Though personally, the reveal of《Chameleon》’ true identity is the bigger news.”
11:36 “[Breaking News] [Great News]:《Chameleon》is a beautiful middle school girl…!”
11:36 “Tsumugi-chan is seriously adorable! I wanna pat her head! She’d probably hate it, though!”
11:36 “With a face like that, she’s picking fights with《Empress》and trampling《Astral》? What an absolute powerhouse… I’m in love.《Libra》really knows how to put on a show.”
11:36 “This clears up the cheating allegations against《Chameleon》, too.”
11:36 “She’s not just any player… Also, super late, but was Ibara’s Yuikawa always that annoying?”
11:36 “Right?”
11:36 “Yeah.”
11:36 “Thought so.”
11:36 “Same.”
11:36 “Unanimous agreement, lol.”
