The Traitor Strikes Suddenly
♯
In the end, the Third Stage 《Blank Code》 wrapped up entirely within three days
of its start, every loose end tied.
《Libra》’s official channel has already posted the list of Fourth Stage Semifinalists—
exactly one hundred players, as announced.
Some districts had no one crack the passcode, while others saw nearly ten advance,
clearly splitting fortunes based on how well academies coordinated district-wide efforts.
By the way, Eimei’s got four qualifiers, including me.
Asamiya Nanase and Akizuki Noa, both 《Astral》 picks—solid so far.
But the last one’s Minakami Mari.
With most 5-Star upperclassmen out, a 3-Star first-year rookie from 《Hexagram》
nailed a spot in the Fourth Stage Semifinals.
That doesn’t mean the others were slacking, though.
One hundred out of 250,000 is just 0.04%—brutal odds.
And even then, the “district rep” class from 《Astral》 proved their mettle.
Saiouji, Kugasaki, Kirigaya, Kururugi, and Minami—
they all strolled into the Semifinals like it was a given.
Plus, as Himeji mentioned, first-years are starting to shine.
Beyond Minakami, there’s Saiouji’s junior Asuka Momo
and the still-enigmatic Yumeno Misaki from Amanezaka—
dark horses are everywhere.
As for Minakami’s 《Hexagram》, their leader Saeki, two execs,
and likely a hefty number of members cleared too.
Anyway, with the “lose a star if you lose” rule kicking in next stage,
battles are guaranteed to get fiercer than ever.
“N…”
So, yeah, that’s how it is.
The night 《Blank Code》 ended, we gathered in the theater room off my living room
to go over the Fourth Stage Semifinal rules, set to start in two days.
Four of us total, including me.
Himeji, in her usual maid outfit, briskly served tea and snacks,
while Kagaya-san—same old messy hair and tracksuit, tragically gorgeous—
sat cross-legged on the carpet.
And on my lap, head nestled with a cozy “Kuu… suu…” snore,
was the gothic lolita chuunibyou girl herself, Shiina Tsumugi.
“…Um, is it okay if I get a bit jealous now? Both of them.”
“Uh, w-well… hold on.”
Himeji, clutching a silver tray to her chest, said that with a faintly pouty tone—
but it’s not like I wanted this.
The second Shiina showed up with Kagaya-san, she glomped me
and fell asleep looking all comfy—that’s it.
As I looked away to dodge the vibe, Kagaya-san, gear sprawled on the carpet,
cut in with a sly grin.
“Hey, hey, hey, can’t be helped, Shirayuki-chan.
This kid’s been grinding nonstop since the event started.
She’s too pumped for the 《Duel》 to sleep—cute, huh?”
“Of course, I value her effort properly.
But a lap pillow? She was hugging Master so casually earlier too—
isn’t she a tad too close? …And, if I’m being totally honest,
I wish she’d hug me instead. I’d give her a lap pillow.”
“Hmm, but she’s already zonked…
Oh, hey, Shirayuki-chan, try touching her cheek for a sec?”
“…? Alright, I don’t mind.”
Urged by Kagaya-san, Himeji tilted her head curiously and stepped closer.
Whispering “Excuse me,” she knelt quietly
and gently touched Shiina’s cheek with her white-gloved right hand.
“Funya… ehehe…”
That moment, I felt Shiina shift slightly on my lap.
Probably unaware, she nuzzled Himeji’s hand like a needy kitten,
then melted into a happy, soft smile.
“! Th-This is…”
“…Right? Right? Insane, yeah?”
“Yes. What is this ultimate girl, maxed out in cuteness?
So squishy, silky, sparkly… N-No, this won’t do!
Master’ll get charmed at this rate!”
“…I’m not getting charmed.”
To Himeji, stroking Shiina while saying that, I mumbled with a sigh.
…No denying Shiina Tsumugi’s way too cute,
but it’s the kind of cute you’d feel for a much younger sister.
Definitely not romantic.
(Well, age-wise, she’s only two years younger… No, no, no!)
I shook my head hard to ditch the brief impure thought.
The jolt must’ve reached her, ’cause Shiina murmured, “Munya…?”
and, to not slip off, wrapped her gothic lolita arms tight around my waist—
keeping my emotions in check was a hassle, let’s say.
Anyway, that’s everyone for today’s strategy meeting.
After skimming the Semifinalists’ lineup,
time to review the rules.
In the end, the Third Stage 《Blank Code》 wrapped up entirely within three days
of its start, every loose end tied.
《Libra》’s official channel has already posted the list of Fourth Stage Semifinalists—
exactly one hundred players, as announced.
Some districts had no one crack the passcode, while others saw nearly ten advance,
clearly splitting fortunes based on how well academies coordinated district-wide efforts.
By the way, Eimei’s got four qualifiers, including me.
Asamiya Nanase and Akizuki Noa, both 《Astral》 picks—solid so far.
But the last one’s Minakami Mari.
With most 5-Star upperclassmen out, a 3-Star first-year rookie from 《Hexagram》
nailed a spot in the Fourth Stage Semifinals.
That doesn’t mean the others were slacking, though.
One hundred out of 250,000 is just 0.04%—brutal odds.
And even then, the “district rep” class from 《Astral》 proved their mettle.
Saiouji, Kugasaki, Kirigaya, Kururugi, and Minami—
they all strolled into the Semifinals like it was a given.
Plus, as Himeji mentioned, first-years are starting to shine.
Beyond Minakami, there’s Saiouji’s junior Asuka Momo
and the still-enigmatic Yumeno Misaki from Amanezaka—
dark horses are everywhere.
As for Minakami’s 《Hexagram》, their leader Saeki, two execs,
and likely a hefty number of members cleared too.
Anyway, with the “lose a star if you lose” rule kicking in next stage,
battles are guaranteed to get fiercer than ever.
“N…”
So, yeah, that’s how it is.
The night 《Blank Code》 ended, we gathered in the theater room off my living room
to go over the Fourth Stage Semifinal rules, set to start in two days.
Four of us total, including me.
Himeji, in her usual maid outfit, briskly served tea and snacks,
while Kagaya-san—same old messy hair and tracksuit, tragically gorgeous—
sat cross-legged on the carpet.
And on my lap, head nestled with a cozy “Kuu… suu…” snore,
was the gothic lolita chuunibyou girl herself, Shiina Tsumugi.
“…Um, is it okay if I get a bit jealous now? Both of them.”
“Uh, w-well… hold on.”
Himeji, clutching a silver tray to her chest, said that with a faintly pouty tone—
but it’s not like I wanted this.
The second Shiina showed up with Kagaya-san, she glomped me
and fell asleep looking all comfy—that’s it.
As I looked away to dodge the vibe, Kagaya-san, gear sprawled on the carpet,
cut in with a sly grin.
“Hey, hey, hey, can’t be helped, Shirayuki-chan.
This kid’s been grinding nonstop since the event started.
She’s too pumped for the 《Duel》 to sleep—cute, huh?”
“Of course, I value her effort properly.
But a lap pillow? She was hugging Master so casually earlier too—
isn’t she a tad too close? …And, if I’m being totally honest,
I wish she’d hug me instead. I’d give her a lap pillow.”
“Hmm, but she’s already zonked…
Oh, hey, Shirayuki-chan, try touching her cheek for a sec?”
“…? Alright, I don’t mind.”
Urged by Kagaya-san, Himeji tilted her head curiously and stepped closer.
Whispering “Excuse me,” she knelt quietly
and gently touched Shiina’s cheek with her white-gloved right hand.
“Funya… ehehe…”
That moment, I felt Shiina shift slightly on my lap.
Probably unaware, she nuzzled Himeji’s hand like a needy kitten,
then melted into a happy, soft smile.
“! Th-This is…”
“…Right? Right? Insane, yeah?”
“Yes. What is this ultimate girl, maxed out in cuteness?
So squishy, silky, sparkly… N-No, this won’t do!
Master’ll get charmed at this rate!”
“…I’m not getting charmed.”
To Himeji, stroking Shiina while saying that, I mumbled with a sigh.
…No denying Shiina Tsumugi’s way too cute,
but it’s the kind of cute you’d feel for a much younger sister.
Definitely not romantic.
(Well, age-wise, she’s only two years younger… No, no, no!)
I shook my head hard to ditch the brief impure thought.
The jolt must’ve reached her, ’cause Shiina murmured, “Munya…?”
and, to not slip off, wrapped her gothic lolita arms tight around my waist—
keeping my emotions in check was a hassle, let’s say.
Anyway, that’s everyone for today’s strategy meeting.
After skimming the Semifinalists’ lineup,
time to review the rules.
“《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DropOutTamers》—
aka 《DOT》. This stage features a team-based 《Duel》
styled after so-called ‘werewolf’ games.”
Himeji approached the large screen embedded in the wall opposite the sofa,
her silver hair swaying as she spoke in a cool tone.
…Werewolf. A wolf in human skin. Sounds grim,
but it’s just a genre of analog games that blew up in popularity recently.
Tracing its roots, it started with a game called Are You a Werewolf?
developed somewhere like America.
Players are split into “villagers” and “werewolves.” At night, werewolves kill one villager.
To stop it, during the day, players debate “who’s the werewolf”
and burn one person at the stake.
Repeat: werewolves try to reduce villagers without being caught,
while villagers aim to spot and execute them fast—that’s the gist.
The heart of werewolf games lies in deduction and deception.
If you’re a werewolf, you hide your role and shift suspicion elsewhere.
Others might be lying too, so you need sharp insight to expose them.
“So, 《DOT》 has those elements too?”
“Yes, that’s correct—please take a look, Master.”
At Himeji’s cue, the screen’s projection switched abruptly.
Against a sleek title logo, basic rules appeared in bullet points.
“Let’s start with the basics. 《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DOT》
is a 《Duel》 conducted in teams of five.
Unlike 《Astral》, districts aren’t teams—instead,
Semifinalists are randomly grouped.
Team assignments will be announced tomorrow morning,
and aside from ‘no same-district players on one team,’
it’s completely random.”
“…Got it. So, a team fight with players from other districts…
Sounds like a tricky setup.”
“Yup, totally. You can’t just trust teammates blindly,
and some might not care about clearing the Semifinals,
just dragging everyone down…”
“Indeed. You can’t let your guard down for a second.
That said, players assigned to your team are,
per 《DOT》 rules, your allies.
You share a win condition and play the 《Duel》 together as teammates.
…And now, the main point.”
With that, Himeji waved lightly at the screen.
Instantly, the rule text filling it went dark.
What hit my eyes next was all too familiar—unreal,
like manga or game visuals: so-called monsters.
Standing beside the vivid imagery, Himeji continued, unfazed.
“The main goal of this 《Duel》 is simple:
collecting these—Tamers.
Currently scattered across the island,
players must acquire them.
Thus, 《DOT》’s win condition is gathering
all designated Tamers assigned to each team.”
“Hm… So, there’s a set list like,
‘you need this, this, and this to clear,’ decided upfront.
And since it’s team-based…
does that mean required Tamers vary by team?”
“Exactly, Master. In 《DropOutTamers》,
the win condition—aka the Tamers you must collect—
differs completely per team.
All Tamers have a rarity metric for strength and scarcity—”
Pausing there, Himeji glanced at the screen.
Right after, text overlaid the displayed Tamers:
To wit—
【S-Grade Tamer: Highest rarity. One type/one unit exists in the 《Duel》】
【A-Grade Tamer: Highly powerful. Four types/one unit each exist in the 《Duel》】
【B-Grade Tamer: Fairly strong. Ten types/three units each exist in the 《Duel》】
【C-Grade Tamer: Common. Infinite types/infinite units exist in the 《Duel》】
“—Like so. Among these,
the common win condition is collecting three designated B-Grade types,
two designated A-Grade types, and one S-Grade.
Achieving this sends the entire team to the Final,
and 《DOT》 continues until sixteen players advance.”
“Sixteen out of a hundred, huh… Wait, sixteen?”
I nodded at Himeji’s explanation, then tilted my head at a small oddity.
“That’s off. 《DOT》 is team-based, with five per team.
Shouldn’t the Finalists’ number be a multiple of five?”
“Normally, yes—but this 《Duel》 has another key element.
That’s the part I called ‘werewolf-like’ earlier:
the traitor and dropout vote.”
“Traitor and… dropout vote?”
“Yes. …I said earlier that all five team members share a win condition,
clearing it to reach the Final together.
But that’s not quite precise.
Why? Because each team has one player assigned the traitor role,
with a different set of Tamers designated as their win condition,
separate from the team’s.”
“If the team’s win condition is met,
the traitor alone loses and is out.
Conversely, if the traitor’s condition is met first,
they win solo.
In that case, the other regular members all drop out.”
“Oh… so that’s the werewolf vibe.
You know there’s a traitor in the team,
but not who—or which Tamers they’re after.
So it’s all about probing each other.”
“Precisely. And the other ‘werewolf’ element is the dropout vote—
a system true to its name.
《DOT》’s 《Duel》 runs daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
After each day’s 《Duel》—during the so-called night phase—
every player picks one teammate they most want out
and votes by midnight.
The player with the most votes in their team is forcibly dropped,
and all Tamers they held vanish from the team’s resources.”
“…Huh? So, you don’t drop from battle losses against other teams—
you’re out if your teammates think you’re the traitor?”
“Yes. That interplay is 《DOT》’s core.
Each day, one player per team drops—
unless multiple tie for most votes, then no one drops—
so by the time a team clears,
it’s expected to be down a few members.
Thus, sixteen Finalists isn’t an odd number.”
“Got it…”
I nodded again, convinced by Himeji’s breakdown.
“So, next is how to collect these Tamers…?”
“Indeed. There are two main ways.
First, quests—when the Semifinals start,
quest guides are stationed across Academy Island.
Clear their quest challenges, and you get Tamers as rewards.
The other method is battles or negotiation.
Get needed Tamers from other teams—
either by trade or by force.
That’s a key way to secure Tamers.”
“Battles, huh… Wait, so we use Tamers in those too?”
“Sharp as ever, Master.
As you said, 《DOT》 battles are basically
‘pitting each other’s Tamers against one another’—
think Poké〇on or Pers〇na.
Both teams pick one Tamer to field,
and its holder becomes the main player, leading the fight.”
“Nice.”
“Then, all team members, including the main player,
choose one command for the battle.
Commands are, simply put, orders for the Tamer.
They split into two types: basic and skill commands.
Basic commands, available to all, boost or debuff stats.
Skill commands are the Tamer’s unique moves—
so, naturally, you can only pick moves
from Tamers you possess.”
“Hm… got it.”
The main player deploys a Tamer,
then all teammates pick commands to support it.
Basic commands are infinite for everyone,
but skill commands tie to each Tamer’s moves,
so more Tamers mean more options.
“From there, the battle starts.
Each team’s main player picks one of their selected commands
to apply to their Tamer, and both Tamers attack once.
Tamers have four stats: ATK, DEF, SPD, and LP.
Damage is the attacker’s ATK minus the defender’s DEF.
If either Tamer’s LP hits zero, the battle ends.
If not, pick another command and go to turn two.
When it’s over, the losing team forfeits all Tamers used—
including those tied to chosen skill commands—
to the winners.
But as long as you don’t lose, your Tamers stay safe.”
“…Yeah, I think I get it.
The battle flow itself isn’t too complex.”
“Right. Its simplicity makes it easy for traitors to meddle.
Like picking skill commands that sabotage,
or letting key win-condition Tamers get snatched by enemies—
how naturally you pull that off is a traitor’s skill.”
I mulled over Himeji’s addendum, thoughts racing.
There are other small details, but that’s the broad strokes—
《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DropOutTamers》.
Players team up with others from different districts
to collect Tamers for their win condition.
But one teammate, the traitor, has a different goal.
The team’s victory means the traitor’s loss,
so they secretly sabotage the 《Duel》.
Thus, others must oust the traitor fast via nightly dropout votes.
It’s like werewolf mixed with Poké〇on or Pers〇na—a wild 《Duel》 setup.
(*The tasks are simple… but it’s gonna be rough.
Teammates you suspect are all high-rankers,
and if you can vote out targets, 《Hexagram》’s accusations could hit hard.
Even without that, plenty from other districts want me out.
Gotta plan tight…*)
Thinking that, I bit my lower lip unconsciously.
…I’ll pick abilities with 《The Company》, sure,
but this setup means linking up with Eimei’s crew is key.
I’ll need Enomoto to rally them tomorrow.
“Alright, good breakpoint—let’s call it here—”
“…Fue?”
The moment I said that, a sleepy, mumbly voice hit my ears.
Looking down, Shiina had apparently woken up.
Rubbing her eyes with her gothic lolita sleeves,
she glanced around, still leaning on me, taking in the scene.
As her awareness sharpened, her eyes sparkled,
and she blurted out:
“Onii-chan, onii-chan, the strategy meeting!?”
“…Sorry, kid, it just wrapped up.”
I muttered with a wry smile.
After that, with a now wide-awake Shiina leading,
the four of us inexplicably spent hours on Mari〇 Kart—
a bizarrely calm, mundane time.
It was stupidly fun, but I’ll skip the details here.
♯
—The next day, August 1st, around 10 AM.
At my request—no, at Enomoto’s summons on my behalf—
Eimei Academy’s members trickled into the student council room.
Most were familiar faces by now.
Me, Himeji, Enomoto, Asamiya, and Akizuki—
the 《Astral》 elite squad.
But in this 《SFIA》, Himeji and Enomoto already dropped out,
so things are shifting a bit.
And—the biggest change is the last member.
Just now, a girl stepped into the room,
her poised demeanor textbook-perfect as she approached.
Her flowing black hair, reaching her thighs, swayed softly,
and with a dignified gesture, she bowed.
“Nice to meet you, senpais—I’m Minakami Mari, first-year.
I’m green and have plenty to learn,
but I’ll give it my all, so please guide me!”
The junior girl, Minakami Mari, spoke earnestly,
hand on her chest.
Right—as we knew post-《Blank Code》,
she’d secured a Fourth Stage Semifinal spot.
Her earlier declaration of war was no joke.
She’s a vital Eimei asset,
but at least to me, Shinohara Hiroto, she’s openly hostile.
Plus, her 《Hexagram》 group’s starting to act shady…
she’s definitely someone to watch.
Anyway, the first to react to Minakami’s greeting was Asamiya.
“Mari-chan, huh? Got it, locked in.
I’m Asamiya Nanase, third-year!
I’m pretty green compared to the others,
but if you’re stuck on anything, ask me, ’kay?”
“Yes! Thank you, Asamiya-senpai!”
“Asamiya-senpai… senpai… whoa, that’s kinda dope!
Hey, hey, can I call you Marie from now on?”
“Wah…! Of course!
Being nicknamed by a senpai’s an honor!”
Liked by Asamiya, Minakami’s face lit up brightly.
She’s not just dead-serious—she’s open with her feelings too.
(*Man, total opposite of how she treats me…
Not that I care.*)
“Ehehe~ Okay, Noa’s turn next♪”
As their chat settled, Akizuki piped up.
Popping off the sofa, she clasped her hands behind her
with a cutesy tilt and a sweet smile, saying:
“Noa’s name is Akizuki Noa!
Hiroto-kun’s… er, I mean, Eimei Academy’s idol! ♡”
“Y-Yes, I know!
Tons of my classmates are your fans.”
“Hehe, really? ♡ But, like, makes sense—
Noa-chan’s super cute, so it’s a given♪”
Spilling that at Minakami’s reply,
Akizuki briefly flashed a smug grin at Himeji.
…But it was fleeting—she turned back to Minakami,
tilting her head slightly.
“By the way, been wondering…
Mari-chan, got an older sister?
Like, a third-year at Eimei?”
“Oh, yes!”
To Akizuki’s question, Minakami nodded eagerly,
almost cutting her off.
“That’s right!
Are you friends with my sister, Akizuki-senpai?”
“Totes♪ Mayu-chan skips school a lot,
so we haven’t hung much,
but we chat online tons! ♡
Actually, she’s mentioned you before.”
“! What’d my sister say about me!?”
[EMBED0015_HD.JPG]
“Yup. She was bragging about having a super talented, super cute little sister♪
Top entrance exam scores, next student council president candidate, guaranteed pageant winner—
she went on so much I thought she was exaggerating, but maybe not at all!
Though, you’re just a teensy bit below Noa-chan♡”
With a coy giggle, Akizuki pressed both index fingers to her cheeks.
In response, Minakami nodded seriously, her expression unwavering.
“Yes. Of course, I think Akizuki-senpai is far more popular than me.
But… it’s kind of nice to hear my sister said that.
She’s an amazing person.”
“Amazing person?”
“Oh, right. You haven’t met her, have you, Shino?”
My puzzled reaction prompted Asamiya, seated across from me, to nod knowingly.
She raised an index finger, explaining.
“Marie’s sister… Minakami Mayuyu, she’s, like, a genius.
Sees the world differently, finds answers from totally unrelated angles…
just crazy impressive. I’m pretty sure her 《Duel》 win rate’s 100%.”
“…Whoa. That’s legit amazing.”
My eyes widened inwardly at the staggering figure.
Then it clicked—oh, Minakami Mayu.
Back in April’s 《District Selection》, her name popped up alongside Enomoto and Asamiya as a standout.
In May’s inter-district matches, she was tapped as Eimei’s “sixth member.”
No direct contact, but her name’s been floating around.
Eimei Academy’s hidden genius—that’s Minakami Mari’s older sister, apparently.
“Ehe…”
Pleased her sister was praised, Minakami beamed with a pure, honest smile.
But—there, Enomoto furrowed his brow slightly.
Sitting a bit away from Minakami, next to Asamiya, arms crossed,
he spoke with his usual grumpy face.
“Hm… well, sure. Personally, I’d like her to show a bit more drive.”
“Drive?”
“Yeah. Minakami Senior’s record is eye-catching, sure,
but that’s only when she sticks it out to the end.
Every other 《Duel》? Forfeits or abandons midway.
Even in this 《SFIA》, she didn’t leave her house once during the First Stage
and got knocked out.
She’s supposed to be here—a real talent.
Honestly, in that sense, the younger sister’s far more impressive.”
Enomoto shook his head, as if it were a waste.
Like during 《Astral》, he clearly rates Minakami Mayu highly.
A lazy genius sister versus a diligent, model-student sister—
yeah, they’re polar opposites.
And then it happened.
“Hmph… I can’t let that slide, Enomoto-senpai.”
Minakami, who’d been smiling at Akizuki and Asamiya’s chatter,
shifted to a slightly annoyed expression.
With a clack of her shoes, she stepped closer to our table,
placed both hands gently on it, and leaned toward Enomoto, pressing him.
“When you compare me to my sister, she’s obviously better in every way.
Your words just now sounded like you were mocking her.”
“…That wasn’t my intent.”
“No, it doesn’t matter what you meant.
You badmouthed my sister behind her back—that’s gossip, isn’t it?
Gossip’s wrong. It’s absolutely not okay!”
“Ugh… hm…”
Overwhelmed by her rapid-fire righteousness,
Enomoto—either sensing he was losing ground or admitting his slip—muttered,
“…Sorry.”
Hearing that, Minakami smiled brightly and bowed.
“Alright. If you apologize, it’s fine.
I’m sorry for being cheeky myself.”
“Nah, that was totally Shinji’s bad. Zero tact, seriously…
But wow, Marie, that was awesome!
First junior to outtalk Shinji besides Shino, maybe.”
“Thank you, Asamiya-senpai. But it wasn’t really an argument.
I just followed my sense of justice—
because I’m 《Hexagram》!”
Bam!—Minakami declared it with comic-book focus lines.
The moment that word dropped, I thought Enomoto’s face twitched,
but Minakami didn’t notice, continuing proudly.
“Academy Island’s official organization—justice’s ally, 《Hexagram》!
You know it, right, Asamiya-senpai!?”
“Well, kinda? They solved last year’s illegal ability scandal, yeah?”
“Exactly! …I was a third-year middle schooler then,
feeling down about something, really struggling.
Almost broke me.
But then I saw that case on IslandTube—
learned about 《Hexagram》, and I was moved!
There are such cool, good people out there.
I wanted to be like them!”
Her hand gently touched the badge on her chest,
her voice pure and earnest as she shared her resolve.
Then, she turned to me and Himeji—first time since entering the room.
“So—surrender, Shinohara-senpai. You too, Himeji-senpai.
I’m still a rookie justice trainee,
but 《Hexagram》’s seniors are amazing!
Better apologize now, yeah?”
“Even so, neither I nor Master have anything to apologize for.
Should I say, ‘Sorry Master’s too strong’ or something?”
“No. Come clean about all your lies, cheating, and misdeeds,
and properly apologize to everyone!
Then, I’m sure you’ll be forgiven.
…Don’t you think that’s pretty wonderful!?”
“Not really, at least not now.”
“Same. Also, Minakami, stop assuming I’m cheating already.”
“You’re stubborn, senpais… Fine, if that’s your stance.”
Pausing, Minakami shook her flowing black hair,
raised a challenging gaze, pointed at me sharply, and declared:
“I’ll say it again—in this 《Duel》, I’ll make you reform!”
She said it like a true justice protagonist.
♯
“Hm… that about covers it.”
—A few minutes later.
Having finished introductions with Minakami,
we shifted to the main topic: strategizing for 《DropOutTamers》.
For context, Enomoto’s compiled rule summary was projected on the table’s screen.
I’d already skimmed it, but let’s review—
To wit:
【《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal—《DropOutTamers》. Aka: 《DOT》】
【《DOT》 is a team battle, not solo.
Players are split into random five-person teams,
each aiming to fulfill their assigned win condition:
collecting all designated Tamers.】
【Tamers have four rarity tiers: S, A, B, C.
Higher rarity means stronger Tamers and tougher acquisition.
S-Grade: one type, one unit.
A-Grade: four types, one unit each.
B-Grade: ten types, three units each.
C-Grade: infinite types and units.
The win condition consists of six Tamers:
S, A, A, B, B, B.】
【Each player starts 《DOT》 with one Tamer.
The type is random, typically B or C-Grade.
The four who topped Third Stage get an A-Grade Tamer as a bonus.
A-Grade and above Tamers have unique abilities
separate from their moves.】
【Tamer acquisition comes mainly via quests or stealing from other teams.
Numerous quests are scattered across the island;
harder quests yield higher-rarity Tamers.
However, Tamers at max capacity can’t be quest rewards
(e.g., A-Grades, one per type, can’t be quest-gained if held).
If a player clears or drops out, their Tamers respawn as quest rewards.】
【Battle Rules: For battles, each team picks one Tamer.
Its holder is the main player.
After Tamers are set, all players choose commands (detailed later).
Once ready, the battle begins.
Main players pick one command to apply,
then Tamers attack once each.
If one’s LP hits zero, the battle ends; else, it’s turn two.
Winners claim all Tamers used by losers.
Only main players can use battle-affecting abilities.】
【Commands come in two types: basic and skill.
Basic Commands: All players have them; can’t be taken.
They raise or lower stats by one stage.
Skill Commands: Chosen from a Tamer’s unique moves.
Stronger than basic but risk loss if defeated.】
【Each team has one traitor.
They get a different traitor condition—a unique Tamer set.
If their set’s met, they win solo, dropping all teammates.
If the team’s condition is met first, the traitor loses.】
【Dropout Vote: 《DOT》 splits into day (9 AM–5 PM) and night.
《Duels》 happen in day, but at night,
players vote for one teammate to drop, by midnight.
Called the dropout vote, the player with most votes
is out at the next 《Duel》’s start (announced 6 AM).】
【Up to three abilities can be equipped.
Traitors can equip four.】
—And that’s that.
“Wow…”
Staring at the slides, Minakami, seated diagonally left,
let out an awed gasp.
Her earlier spat forgotten, she looked at Enomoto with respect.
“That’s amazing, Enomoto-senpai.
Summarizing all this in just a day since the rules dropped…
This is Eimei’s student council president.
I need to step up.”
“…Hm. Glad you like it.”
Enomoto nodded gruffly at Minakami’s sincere praise,
seeming quietly pleased.
But then, Asamiya muttered, “Hmph?” with faint irritation.
Annoyed by Enomoto’s attitude toward Minakami,
she shot him a half-lidded glare.
“Shinji, you’re so meticulous.
How many hours did this take?”
“Not much, really.
I whipped it up last night while explaining the rules to you, Nanase.
If anything, you stole my time.”
“Ugh… That’s ’cause you kept calling me dumb!
If you’d done this from the start, I’d have got it!
And, like, sleep properly!”
“No worries, I’m getting the bare minimum.
…What do you think I dropped out of 《SFIA》 for?
Whatever you say, I’m giving full support.”
“…Ugh, Shinji, you… that’s exactly it…”
Fiddling with her hair, Asamiya turned away, blushing,
hiding her face.
Enomoto, puzzled—what’d I do?—frowned briefly,
then sighed, resigned, and faced us.
“Now—this 《Duel》 isn’t like 《Astral》,
where same-school allies can cooperate fully.
It’s a team fight, but practically solo.
Still, we need to share info actively:
traitor clues, quest strategies, rewards,
and who holds which Tamers—battle strength distribution.”
“Yeah, makes sense.”
“Right. So, I propose making this council room Eimei’s hub
for centralized info processing.
We’ll analyze 《Libra》 broadcasts and player reports,
sharing anything useful ASAP.
Also, after each 《Duel》 ends—at night—
I’d appreciate it if you’d swing by here.”
“Got it, Enomoto-senpai!”
Minakami replied earnestly to the request,
aimed mainly at us four Semifinalists.
…Given Enomoto’s wariness of 《Hexagram》,
it might’ve been a subtle check,
but she seemed unfazed.
Akizuki and Asamiya chimed in soon after,
and Enomoto’s plan passed unanimously.
As we moved to the main discussion, Himeji spoke coolly:
“So—how are your team compositions?
Are you the traitor or not?
Who’s on your team?
Strategies will shift a lot based on that.”
“Oh, yeah, gotta cover that. Nice one, Yukirin, so smart~”
Asamiya latched onto Himeji’s point first.
She tapped her device, projecting the “team info” screen,
twirling golden hair around her finger as she continued.
“So, I’m a regular member, not the traitor!
My team’s kinda nuts—two 6-Stars and three 5-Stars.
Standout’s… hm, Phoenix-kun, maybe?”
“Phoenix… you’re with Kugasaki? Damn, that’s rough.”
“Yeah, for real. But I bet Noa’s got it worse.”
“…? You think, Akizuki?”
“Ehehe… yeah, maybe.
One’s a nobody, but the rest are big-name high-rankers.
Like, District 16’s 《Oni Shrine Maiden》,
and District 2’s Comet, Aku Tsukiyabi—
she’s a 《Hexagram》 exec, right?”
“Yes, exactly!
She’s called Kaoru-san’s right hand—so kind, strong, reliable…
I’m jealous you get to 《Duel》 with Tsukiyabi-senpai!”
“Hm… jealous? Maybe?
They’re not real teammates, and a team full of powerhouses sounds tough…
Anyway, the last one’s 《Empress》♪
Hiroto-kun’s fated rival, right? ♡”
“Rival… nah, it’s not like that.”
It totally is, but character-wise, I deny it.
Then—after listing her teammates,
Akizuki glanced at me briefly.
Before I could catch her intent, she turned to Minakami,
pressing an index finger to her cheek with a coy tone:
“—Oh, and Noa’s the traitor♡”
(What…?)
Her words startled me inwardly.
The traitor part, sure, but… is it okay to say that?
We just heard her team’s got a 《Hexagram》 exec.
If they’re linked to Minakami, Akizuki’s out day one.
But—maybe that’s the point.
If Akizuki’s pegged as the traitor now,
it’d mean Minakami leaked it.
She’s testing if Minakami’s loyal to Eimei or 《Hexagram》.
And Minakami’s reaction?
“Whoa… really? That’s tough, I better not spill…!”
She clapped hands to her mouth, looking serious.
Seeing that, Akizuki’s vibe softened.
She probably judged her “clear.”
I agree—Minakami Mari’s not the lying type.
(*Still, Akizuki drew traitor in a team with Saiouji, Kururugi, and a 《Hexagram》 exec?
That’s brutal.*)
I shook my head, musing.
Akizuki’s strength I know well,
but this setup’s rough.
A traitor’s already disadvantaged,
and her team’s a fortress—too solid to disrupt.
It might end before she can sabotage properly.
Anyway.
“Um, my turn… right?”
Gauging Akizuki’s talk was done, Minakami spoke up.
Eager, her face lit up as she continued:
“My team’s amazing!
Two 《Hexagram》 seniors!
Third-year exec Tsukizuki Kouji-senpai,
and above all, Leader Kaoru-san…!
Just 《Dueling》 with them makes 《SFIA》 worth it!”
“…《Hexagram》’s leader and an exec? That’s…
How do you feel about that, Minakami Junior?”
“Huh? Like, it’s awesome…
What a crazy coincidence, right?”
“Coincidence. …Hm, fine.”
Enomoto, looking like he had more to say,
dropped it at Minakami’s earnest reply.
She tilted her head—“?”—then turned to me.
“So… what about you, Shinohara-senpai?
Since you’re a liar, I’d say traitor suits you, but…”
“Suit or not, I’m a regular member. Here’s the lineup.”
Answering Minakami, I projected my device’s screen.
Five names, including mine, listed by district:
【Fujishiro Keiya / District 3 Ouka Academy, 2nd Year / 6-Star】
【Shinohara Hiroto / District 4 Eimei Academy, 2nd Year / 7-Star】
【Minami Shizuku / District 14 St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy, 2nd Year / 5-Star】
【Yuikawa Kanade / District 15 Ibara Academy, 3rd Year / 5-Star】
【Niita Sana / District 20 Azumino Academy, 1st Year / 1-Star】
“…Wow. Every team’s wild, but yours is intense too, Hiroto-kun♪”
Akizuki gave a vague smile, eyeing my roster.
…She’s not wrong.
Ouka’s “ultimate weapon,” Fujishiro Keiya.
Yuikawa Kanade, Ibara’s top—only recall his breezy annoyance.
And Minami Shizuku, the lethargic genius reawakening via 《Diaskript》.
All players you’d rather not face.
“But… 1-Star? Someone like that’s here?”
Asamiya leaned forward, pointing out the obvious question.
She gestured at “Niita Sana” on the screen’s edge—
an unfamiliar name from District 20’s Azumino Academy, first-year.
Himeji nodded softly, whispering, “Indeed.”
“Niita Sana-sama—I looked into her a bit,
and she doesn’t seem to have any notable background.
But a first-year reaching this far
likely has some exceptional something not reflected in rank.”
“Right? Total dark horse vibes.”
Asamiya swallowed hard.
…Yeah, a first-year 1-Star hitting the Fourth Stage Semifinals?
No ordinary player.
She’s as much a threat as the others—maybe more.
“Anyway, that’s the info shared for now.
We’ll strategize with this in mind,
but given 《DOT》’s rules,
priority one is ‘never get suspected.’
Traitor or not, doesn’t matter.
Whoever gets the most votes is out, no questions asked.”
“No problem, Shinohara-senpai.
I’m 《Hexagram》—justice never lies.
Everyone’ll trust me for sure!”
“Whoa, Marie’s got confidence.
Me? I panic when nervous, might slip up… scary.”
“Ehehe, Mya-chan’s so honest♪
Noa’s super good at this stuff♡”
“Yeah, Akizuki’s got the skills.
If you’re the traitor, you lay low, look for sabotage chances,
and pin suspicion on someone else—
get a scapegoat to take the votes, you’re golden.
Better yet, ‘split the votes so no one drops.’
Regular members? Gotta sniff out the hiding traitor.
Numbers favor you early, but slack off, and you’re flipped fast.”
“…That’s… decent advice, for Shinohara-senpai.”
Minakami nodded seriously, casually dissing me.
With that, we wrapped up the situation
and moved to share broad strategies.
Asamiya’s going muscle—stacking battle-heavy abilities
to “collect strong Tamers like crazy.”
Brute force, sure, but logical.
Since dropped players’ Tamers vanish from the team,
holding key ones makes you less vote bait.
Akizuki, the traitor, focuses on chaos.
Abilities like 《Misfire》 to randomize votes
or 《Backdeal》 to contact other traitors
are on her shortlist.
Minakami? Just one line:
“I’ll fight fair and square.”
(Alright…)
And so, 《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DOT》
was closing in, moment by moment.
♯
[*“Heya, everyone! Libra’s Kazami Suzuran here!
One week since the opening ceremony,
Academy Island’s summer fest 《SFIA》 hits the Fourth Stage Semifinals!
The roster’s out—district reps, next-gen aces,
and bold dark horses all clashing in the hypest setup!
We’re bringing battles hotter than midsummer sun,
so don’t blink for a second!!”*]
—August 2nd, Tuesday, just before 《Duel》 start time.
I waited for my teammates at District 1’s station plaza.
Like the Third Stage, the Fourth Stage 《DOT》—
at least the day phase—ran 9 AM to 5 PM.
You’re free to act during that window,
but day one’s starting point was team-designated.
Ours was here.
And then,
[“Audio test… Master, can you hear me?”]
“Yeah, loud and clear.”
My right earpiece carried the familiar whisper
of Himeji Shirayuki, now a supporter, not a player, for this stage.
Lately, I’ve felt a tad… empty without her nearby,
but even if she’d stayed a player,
《DOT》’s rules meant we wouldn’t be teamed.
Her call to switch was spot-on.
Anyway, her soft voice continued over the earpiece.
[*“Thank you, Master. As of now,
《The Company》 shifts to 《DOT》 support mode.
Kagaya-san’s on player data deep dives,
Tsumugi-san’s analyzing in-game info,
and I’ll handle eaves—er, intel—while moving.
Anything you need, just ask.”*]
“Got it, thanks.
…Though, heads-up—my teammates, especially Fujishiro,
are sharp as hell.
I might mute the earpiece depending on the vibe.
If so, I’ll switch to texts.”
[*“Understood. Agreed, better safe than sorry.
Though, if you and Minami-sama vanish together,
we’ll need a plan—”*]
“…Nah, that ain’t happening.”
I chuckled wryly at Himeji’s half-joking, half-serious quip.
And right then—
“Well, well, if it isn’t the talk of the town, Shinohara Hiroto!”
A theatrical opening line.
I knew who it was instantly but tilted my head and glanced back.
Sure enough, there stood a familiar guy—
tall, soft smile, breezy good looks.
Yuikawa Kanade, 5-Star from District 15’s Ibara Academy.
With a dramatic flourish, he brushed back his bangs, smirking faintly.
“Looks like you beat me here.
I, the team’s only third-year and obvious leader,
planned to arrive first and greet everyone.”
“Oh, my bad then.”
“No, no, no need to apologize—I’m magnanimous.
Still, fate’s funny, huh?
After clashing so hard in May’s matches,
here we are, teaming up in 《SFIA》!”
Yuikawa spread his arms grandly, flashing an overly bright smile.
…Man, he’s annoying as ever.
Not long ago, he was scrambling to recover his tanked 《Astral》 rep,
but this sparkling vibe says he succeeded.
Anyway, he shot me a probing look, smirking.
“Though, maybe that win was your cheating.
…So, how’s it really? 《Hexagram》’s accusations hit the mark?”
“Dunno. Like Saeki said, this 《Duel》’ll sort it out.”
“Nice, I’m pumped.
Fun fact—I got a 《Hexagram》 invite once.
Obviously turned it down—not the follower type—
but I was impressed. They’ve got an eye for talent.
…So, no other teammates here yet?”
“Nah, you’re number two.
Start time’s twenty minutes off, so they’ll show soon…
See? Told ya.”
Before I could finish answering,
a guy stepped out from the station.
I turned toward him—
Fujishiro Keiya, Ouka’s delinquent first-year,
decked in a flashy, unbuttoned uniform,
piercings and necklaces glinting, jet-black dyed hair.
He glanced at me—maybe due to 《Hexagram》’s claims—
then spoke in a low growl.
“You’re early, assholes.
…You’ve fought before, so maybe it’s pointless,
but once everyone’s here, let’s share names and schools.
Can’t even talk if we don’t know who’s who.”
“Not a bad idea, Fujishiro-kun.
But barging in and taking charge? Bit rude, no?
As the senior, I’m the one leading this team.”
“Do what you want.
But from where I stand,
anyone eager to lead looks shady.
Dunno if you’re the traitor,
but watch your mouth.”
“Whoa, harsh, Fujishiro-kun.
I’m a threat, sure, but no need to be that wary.
I’m just stepping up ’cause I’m the best fit.”
“…”
Fujishiro shot us piercing glares but let it drop.
…Light jabs, but the traitor hunt—or blame game—has already started.
Any move could spark suspicion.
(*《Hexagram》’s accusations aren’t helping,
but traitor picks are random, so I’ll push through.*)
I mulled it over, waiting for the last two members.
But—fifteen minutes later, no new players showed up.
With the 《Duel》 start just minutes away,
Yuikawa, mostly, started showing irritation…
Then—
“…Kept you waiting?”
A flat, quiet voice.
It hit my ears just as a girl appeared—
no rush despite being down to the wire.
She stepped before us, wearing St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy’s neat uniform,
a white cap perched on her blue bob, second-year.
Long bangs shadowed a face that, up close, was breathtaking,
but sleepy eyes and a listless air dulled her charm a bit.
“Hm…”
That girl—Minami Shizuku—scanned us with her blue eyes,
then let out a blatant “…Ugh.”
She shuffled toward me (why me?) and spoke in a disappointed tone:
“Unbelievable… I was excited for an unknown girl’s name,
but it’s just a sleaze, a delinquent, and a stalker.
Total scam… can I go home?”
“No way. And for the record, I’m not a stalker, unlike those two.”
“That’s a lie. You tailed me all last month,
and now you’ve rigged this 《Duel》 to team us up.
Anyone’d feel threatened.
My heart’s only for cute girls…”
“I’m not gonna jump you, no matter how paranoid you get.”
“…Really? Not even for someone this cute…? In my prime?”
“Your vibe’s as unhinged as ever…”
I sighed at Minami’s deadpan head-tilt, checking my device.
Right then, the digital clock hit 9:00.
Fireworks exploded across the island, heralding the Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DOT》’s start.
Peeking at 《Libra》’s stream, Kazami was hyping the opening.
“…Here we go.”
Fujishiro, leaning against a wall with eyes closed, muttered softly.
《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DOT》.
We could now move freely, itching to hit quests or battles,
but—
“Tch… what’s their deal? Late on day one?”
Yuikawa tapped his foot, spitting the words.
Yup—Minami made it just in time,
but the last member? Nowhere, even after the 《Duel》 started.
High-rankers who hit district events are one thing,
but she’s a 1-Star. No one here knows her, no contacts.
(Kagaya could dig up her info, but explaining’s a hassle…)
I bit my lip at the curveball.
Since we didn’t all meet by start time,
a one-hour movement ban penalty was already in effect.
We could ditch her after it lifts and roll with four,
but starting a tricky 《Duel》 with that handicap sucks.
“So… we’re stuck anyway.
Wanna check our starting Tamers and plan while we wait?
Maybe do intros too. If she’s still AWOL post-penalty,
tough luck—we’ll start with us four.”
“…Fair call. I’m cool with it.”
“Hm… I’d rather cut a team-wrecker now,
but if you guys say so, fine by me.”
“I’m, like, whatever—”
—And.
As Minami started to shrug indifferently,
a girl approached from the main street, cutting her off.
Unfamiliar uniform, oversized summer coat,
light brown hair tucked under a hood—petite frame.
No proof, but she’s likely our “fifth.”
“…”
She walked up silently, lifting her hood’s edge slightly,
eyeing each of us with wary, probing eyes.
First impression? Crazy guarded.
Like she trusts no one—or fears something.
That vibe hit hard.
After “scanning” us, she finally spoke.
“…Niita Sana. Hey.”
“W-Wait, hold up!”
Yuikawa pounced on her curt greeting,
undaunted by the “keep out” aura she oozed,
pointing straight at her.
“You! Late on day one and no apology?
Don’t you think that’s, like, zero manners?
Lucky you’re with a team as forgiving as us—
any other squad would’ve ditched you already!”
“…Don’t care. Ditch me if you want.”
“Wha—What’s with that attitude?
We’re a team! You think you can go solo or something?”
Yuikawa’s lecture got a flat, hard reply from Niita.
“Whatever. …Doesn’t matter.
I’m not even into this 《Duel》.”
(…Not into it?)
Her words sparked a mental question mark.
That’s… weird, right?
A first-year climbing this far’s no joke—
people even peg her as a dark horse.
So what’s this “not interested” deal?
“Y-You—”
As I mulled, Yuikawa kept pressing Niita.
But right then, Minami slid between them.
“Bullying’s bad. She’s super cute,
so one or two screw-ups should slide… not guilty.
If anything, the leader (lol) should take the heat.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? And did you just say ‘lol’?”
“Huh? Rude, that’s your imagination…”
Minami shook her head blandly as Yuikawa pointed at her.
Probably just vibing with Niita’s looks or something.
Anyway, it should defuse Yuikawa’s aggro a bit.
(…Hm?)
While watching them, my eyes locked with Niita’s.
She’d been staring at me.
Noticing my gaze, she yanked her hood down fast,
but that reaction wasn’t random.
Her deal’s still a mystery, but—
“Alright… everyone’s here.
Wanna kick off the strategy talk?”
I flashed a slight grin, tossing the words out.
《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DropOutTamers》—
about thirty minutes in.
Using the movement ban from Niita’s tardiness,
we decided to check our starting Tamers.
As the rules stated, every 《DOT》 player gets one Tamer to start.
The four who aced Third Stage 《BlankCode》 get a unique A-Grade Tamer;
everyone else gets a random B or C-Grade.
Tamers also have moves and stats beyond rarity and type,
but we agreed not to share those yet.
With an unknown traitor, baring all’s too risky.
So, our current lineup:
【Fujishiro Keiya — Tamer: C-Grade “Skull Knight”】
【Shinohara Hiroto — Tamer: C-Grade “Fairy”】
【Minami Shizuku — Tamer: B-Grade “Land’s Allure, Succubus”】
【Yuikawa Kanade — Tamer: B-Grade “First Flame, Hellhound”】
【Niita Sana — Tamer: C-Grade “Mithril Golem”】
“…Alright. Two B-Grades, three C-Grades.”
I muttered, eyeing the five Tamers.
No A-Grades, but not a bad hand.
Tamers are random—could’ve all been C-Grades.
This is decent.
Yuikawa, scanning his device, nodded, seeming pleased.
“Not bad at all. Solid start, right?”
“…Tch. Bit early to say that.”
Fujishiro growled, cutting him off.
He tapped his device, projecting the “team info” screen, and went on:
“Checking our own stuff’s pointless alone.
Gotta know the team’s win condition—
what we’re aiming for—or we can’t even judge what’s good.”
“Oh, uh, yeah, totally.
I was just about to suggest that, yup.”
“Lame-ass leader…”
“What!?”
Minami’s deadpan jab made Yuikawa flinch,
but she’d already lost interest, so no fight sparked.
Watching them, I pulled up our team—Team VI’s—win condition.
【Team VI Win Condition】
【If the surviving members’ Tamers include all of the following,
Team VI, minus the traitor, clears the Fourth Stage Semifinal
and advances to the Final.】
【S-Grade “Divine Envoy, Daitenshi”】
【A-Grade “Western Guardian, Byakko” “Northern Guardian, Genbu”】
【B-Grade “First Flame, Hellhound” “Third Gale, Hanuman” “Ninth Thunder, Anzu”】
“Let’s see… One S-Grade, two A-Grades, and…
Haha, check it, Shinohara!
My 【Hellhound】’s a straight-up win condition Tamer!
Man, I’ve got it.
Meanwhile, Shinohara, yours is… what, a mob?
Er, no offense—kinda useless C-Grade, huh?”
“…Guess so.”
I shrugged, glancing at my 【Fairy】’s details.
Only rarity’s shared with the team, but its stats are trash.
ATK, DEF, LP—all 1, maxed out on SPD.
Sure, it’ll move first, but in a 《Duel》 where damage is your ATK minus their DEF,
it’s barely scratching.
“Still, it’s random, so what can ya do?
You’ve got a win condition Tamer—don’t let it get snatched.”
“Who’re you talking to?
I’m Ibara’s top dog. I don’t slip up.”
Yuikawa smirked smugly, flicking his bangs.
I tossed a “If you say so” and turned to Minami and Fujishiro.
“So, that’s where we stand.
Like Yuikawa said, we’ve got 【Hellhound】,
so five more Tamers to go.
S-Grade’s a special case—gotta follow a unique quest chain.
Clear conditions to unlock the next step,
grind through, and you snag 【Daitenshi】.”
“Yeah. Gotta keep that in mind,
but early game? Straight to regular quests.”
Fujishiro stated firmly, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
“Two ways to get Tamers: quests or battles.
But with no spare Tamers—extra skill commands—
battles are 50-50 at best.
Against an A-Grade holder? We’re toast.
Quests first. Build strength.”
“Agreed. The S-Grade quest’s first step is ‘clear one regular quest’ anyway.
Issue is, which quest…”
I muttered, eyeing my device.
The 《DOT》 app’s main screen lists your Tamers.
Swipe, and it’s Academy Island’s full map.
Tap, and it zooms to your spot—District 1.
Scattered flags marked quest guides.
I projected it for all four to see.
“See these flags? They’re where quest guides hang out.
Quests have difficulty levels—higher means better rewards,
stronger Tamers.
But details? Zilch until you show up.
Difficulty, rewards—all a mystery.”
“Hm? So… wipe ’em all out?”
“Jumping to violence, Minami?
Sure, smashing everything’d bulk us up,
but some quests are duds. That’s inefficient.”
“? Then what?”
“Simple. Five teammates—someone’s gotta have a scouting ability.”
I grinned slightly, scanning Yuikawa, Fujishiro, and Niita.
“C’mon, fess up now, or you’re traitor bait later.
Spill for the team.”
“…Tch. Fine, I’ll bite.
My ability—《Wide Scan》.
Shows every quest’s difficulty and rewards, one shot.”
“Ooh… true leader vibes.”
Minami slow-clapped blankly; Fujishiro tsked again.
He swiped his device, activating 《Wide Scan》.
Instantly, map flags flipped red—“scanned.”
Tap one, and details pour out.
…6-Star for a reason—killer ability.
We split up to pick a quest.
“This one’s C-Grade Tamer… same here. Nah, these are weak.”
“Oh. High-difficulty quest—B-Grade Tamer chance.
We going for it?”
“No way. Our current strength? We’d get smoked.”
“…Bummer. Then this one.
Reward’s C-Grade Tamers for everyone…”
“…Not bad. Smart pick for you.”
Fujishiro nodded at Minami’s choice.
Yuikawa flashed a “No complaints” grin.
Me? I’m good too… but one’s silent.
“Niita?”
“…Whatever.”
Predictably curt.
Still no read on her, but no time to dwell.
Gotta move the 《Duel》 forward.
So—
“Ten o’clock sharp… Let’s roll.”
Penalty lifted, we headed for the quest.
—Moving to District 1’s outskirts, chasing a map flag.
《DOT》 quests come from quest guides.
It’s less about hitting coordinates, more about finding the guide.
Plus, with 《Duel》s streamed on IslandTube,
guides shuffle quest details periodically.
Anyway.
“Welcome, Team VI. I’m Sigma, your quest guide.
My quest is battle-type—
face my Tamer in a mock fight.
Win, and you get the reward. Up for it?”
“Yeah, let’s do it, lady.”
Yuikawa answered for us, nodding at the woman reading on a park bench.
Sigma smiled softly, continuing:
“Very well. Here’s the deal—
you’ll fight my C-Grade Tamer, 【Great Eagle】.
First, we randomly pick your main player,
who chooses a Tamer from their stock.
Then everyone sets commands, and we battle.”
“Got it. Like a battle tutorial, huh?”
“Exactly. Main player’s random, and I use five commands alone.
Otherwise, it’s standard rules.
Lose, and your Tamer’s gone—so heads-up.”
“Cool, I’m on it. I’m a quick study.”
Yuikawa nodded smugly, flicking his hair.
Then—Sigma raised her right hand from the bench.
A colorful roulette popped up, spinning.
It slowed, landing on “Niita Sana.”
Minami’s shoulders slumped, her blue eyes on Niita.
“Bummer… kinda wanted a shot.
Niita-chan, good luck.”
“…Hmph.”
Niita sighed faintly but stepped forward.
Next was Tamer selection, but with only starting Tamers,
that part auto-skipped.
Commands were the real choice—
《DOT》 has basic and skill commands.
Basic: stat buffs or debuffs, anyone can use.
Skill: Tamer-specific moves, stronger but losable.
Right now, skill’s too risky.
Basic’s the safe play.
“—All commands set. Battle begins.”
Sigma raised her hand like a conductor.
Instantly, a massive 【Great Eagle】 materialized overhead.
Its piercing KIIII! and wing gusts hit hard,
AR or not—serious impact.
“…”
Niita stood unfazed, hood up, facing the eagle’s wild look.
Her Tamer: 【Mithril Golem】.
It loomed protectively, ten times the eagle’s size—
maybe bigger than the park.
Behind Sigma and Niita, screens popped up,
showing Tamer stats and commands:
【Quest Guide: Sigma. Tamer: C-Grade “Great Eagle”】
【Stats: ATK 4, DEF 2, SPD 3, LP 3】
【Commands: Speed+, LP+, Attack+, Defense+, Defense-】
【Team VI: Niita Sana. Tamer: C-Grade “Mithril Golem”】
【Stats: ATK 3, DEF 4, SPD 2, LP 4】
【Commands: Attack+, Defense+, Defense+, Defense+, Speed-】
“—Here’s how it goes.”
Sigma gestured “wait” to her eagle, speaking gracefully:
“First, the order phase.
Both sides pick one command to apply to their Tamer.
Then, battle phase—
higher SPD attacks first, simple.
Hit rate’s your SPD divided by theirs.
Damage is your ATK minus their DEF.
LP’s the Tamer’s health—zero, and it’s over.”
“…Hold up, one thing.
Basic commands—【Attack+】, 【Defense-】, etc.—
they’re buffs or debuffs, got it.
But how long do they last? Just that turn’s battle phase?”
“Good question, Shinohara Hiroto.
No. Unlike skill commands, which are often one-shot,
basic commands are permanent.
That’s their edge, number one.”
“…Gotcha.”
I nodded, processing Sigma’s answer.
Permanent basic commands—more to juggle.
Gotta weigh stats, commands, and avoid getting boxed in.
[“But this time, not much to sweat.”]
Himeji’s cool voice chimed in through my device.
[*“Niita-sama’s 【Mithril Golem】 has DEF 4; Sigma-sama’s 【Great Eagle】 has ATK 4.
They’ve got 【Attack+】 and 【Defense-】,
but Niita-sama’s two 【Defense+】 cancel them out.
Stack those first two turns,
and 【Great Eagle】 can’t touch 【Mithril Golem】.”*]
(Right… yeah, that checks out.)
I nodded inwardly to Himeji’s calm breakdown.
Normal battles need ability paranoia,
but Sigma’s a guide—no curveballs.
Time to wrap this quick.
“Let’s start. Turn one, order phase.”
Sigma’s words dimmed her command screen,
one card sliding forward, face-down.
Simultaneous reveal, I guess,
but Niita hadn’t picked yet.
“Yo, what’s the holdup?
If you’re lost, just—”
“It’s not that.”
Fujishiro snapped, but Niita cut him off, shaking her head.
She paused, mulling, then chose a command.
Same deal—her card slid forward.
“Now… battle phase.”
Sigma snapped her fingers.
Both commands flipped, bared to us.
Sigma’s: 【Attack+】, as expected.
A red glow sank into 【Great Eagle】,
its ATK ticking to “+1”—total 5.
Our side? Niita picked 【Defense+】, textbook.
Guess she nailed the “right” call after all.
Before her downcast eyes, a blue glow—
““—Huh?””
—sank into 【Great Eagle】, not 【Mithril Golem】.
We froze as the eagle, now buffed in ATK and DEF,
screeched KIIII! and dove at 【Mithril Golem】.
Damage: just 1, but the golem staggered back.
It swung a massive punch,
but with ATK and DEF tied, no damage landed.
“Niita…? Yo, what the hell—?”
Fujishiro finally barked, but Niita was already on her next command.
Turn two, order phase: both picked 【Defense-】.
Two debuffs hit 【Mithril Golem】,
its high DEF dropping two stages.
【Great Eagle】 slammed again—
the weakened golem took a heavy hit.
Damage: 3, exactly its remaining LP.
Mithril flaked off; the golem crumbled to stone and vanished.
In other words—
“…Battle over. Victory to the quest guide.
The Tamer used—【Mithril Golem】—is forfeit.
Um… this quest’s repeatable, so come back anytime, okay?”
Sigma, rattled by the weird end, bowed and sat back down.
【Great Eagle】 was gone too.
“…Heh.”
Niita turned to us four, stunned stiff,
and flashed a vague smile.
Mocking? Resigned? Faking cheer?
Hard to pin.
She shuffled back, clutching her left arm,
her voice faint:
“Yeah—that’s right. I’m this team’s traitor.”
“—!?”
Her bombshell made me clench my fists.
That’s all I showed, but inside?
A storm of question marks.
My brain spun, rejecting reality.
(*Traitor…? TRAITOR!? What the hell’s that mean?
I thought she was some hidden-genius dark horse…
What’s going on, damn it!?*)
—《SFIA》 Fourth Stage Semifinal 《DropOutTamers》.
Day one, and chaos kicked off.
