The Accelerating Decisive Battle
♯
《SFIA Sphere》 Final Battle 《Tower of Legends》 First Day, Night—
Right after ascending to the third floor, we were betrayed by the Fuwa siblings and surrounded by the demon faction, but fortunately or unfortunately, the clock struck five p.m., and the 《Duel Game》 was interrupted at a critical moment.
Right now, we’re on the basement first floor of the 《Tower of Legends》. We rode the central elevator that connects all floors, which was used at the start of the 《Duel Game》, and were brought down from the third floor by the staff.
The structure of the basement first floor is quite different from the floors above—
First, the central area is a spacious lounge. Tables and sofas are scattered everywhere, giving it the ambiance of a luxury hotel lobby. In one corner, there’s a buffet-style spread of food. And along the outer perimeter, individual private rooms for each player are prepared.
Well, that aside.
“—Mari, Mari! Hey, would you like to be friends with me!?”
The moment we reached the basement first floor, the one who came rushing toward us with tiny steps and grabbed Minakami’s hand with enough enthusiasm to practically leap at her was none other than Fuwa Sumire.
Her long, beige hair, befitting a refined young lady, flared out softly, and a refreshing floral scent tickled even my nose as I stood beside her.
“W-Wah!? Wh-What’s that! Friends…?”
“Yes, yes! I want to talk with Mari so much more! And with Hiroto, too, of course! I want to get super close!”
“…Huh? How does that even follow? Weren’t we just fighting tooth and nail a moment ago?”
“That’s exactly why! We’ve gone through the 《Duel Game》 together, so we’re practically friends already!”
Sumire’s eyes sparkled innocently as she said this. Both Minakami and I were baffled by her unfamiliar logic when Fuka Mitsuru, arriving a bit late, spoke up softly.
“She’s at it again… Sorry, you two. Sumire’s just got no sense of tension.”
“No, no! The 《Duel Game》 is the 《Duel Game》, and now is now, right? I’ll work hard in the 《Duel Game》 so Mitsuru and Toya will praise me lots, but now’s the time to chat!”
“Well, that’s true, but… Sumire, you must really like Minakami-san, huh?”
“Yes! I mean, it’s the first time I’ve ever met someone with absolutely no malice! That’s why I absolutely want to be friends!”
Sumire said this, leaning in close to Minakami’s face. Minakami, flustered, stammered, “W-Well, if you’re okay with me…!” For Sumire, who’s sensitive to malice, Minakami, who’s the complete opposite, must be an incredibly endearing person.
Watching the two of them, Fuka shrugged slightly and continued.
“Sumire, it’s fine to get along, but shouldn’t you save that for after 《SFIA Sphere》 is over? Shinohara-kun is a formidable opponent, so we need to focus on tomorrow’s strategy.”
“Oh… Right, right! Mitsuru’s absolutely correct! I definitely want to beat Hiroto and Mari! Oh, I’m totally pumped for it!”
In response to Fuka’s words, Sumire clenched her fists with a beaming smile. …That must be their stance. They don’t have any particular grudge against me or Minakami, but that doesn’t mean they plan to lose.
And, well, leaving aside Saeki and Kurahashi’s abnormality, that’s how the 《Duel Game》 is supposed to be. Just because someone’s friendly doesn’t mean you can let your guard down.
“Alright then—”
“—See you tomorrow, you two! I’m really looking forward to it!”
With those parting words, Fuka and Sumire turned their backs on us. Though it seemed like they were heading to their rooms, I could see Sumire dragging Fuka to stop by the buffet.
“…As expected, they’re not going to back down easily, are they?”
“Well, yeah. We’ve got to do some thinking ourselves…”
Shaking my head lightly as I spoke, I turned my gaze to the screen set up in the center of the floor.
Displayed there was footage of today’s highlights compiled by 《Libra》, along with the floors each group had reached by the end of the first day. The demon and revolution factions were on the third floor, while the angel and kingdom factions were on the second. However, the latter two had deliberately stayed on the second floor, and just moments ago, Fuka had activated 《Residual Restriction》. Tomorrow’s battles will undoubtedly take place on the third floor and beyond.
By the way, there was also a ranking table for Chaos Values displayed. While specific numbers weren’t revealed, according to Himeji, this represents so-called “contribution.” The higher the rank, the more active a player has been in the 《Tower of Legends》.
“Ugh… I’m so sorry, Shinohara-senpai.”
Looking at the list, Minakami hung her head in shame. As expected, her Chaos Value was ranked sixteenth out of sixteen players—in other words, dead last.
As for why, well, it’s still unclear…
“Well, that’s something to tackle tomorrow. If we can figure out how to earn Chaos Value, that’ll solve it. As for the top Chaos Value ranks… Well, it’s a reasonable lineup. First is Saeki, second is Kirigaya, third is Fuka. The fact that Saeki, who’s still on the second floor, is first means progress isn’t that relevant—”
“—Oh? Are you perhaps talking about me?”
At that moment, a gentle voice interrupted me from behind. It was intellectual, friendly, and even carried the hint of a cheerful smile. But Minakami’s body stiffened instantly, and I tensed up with caution.
With a shallow breath—I slowly turned around.
“Yeah… Looks like you’re doing well even in the final battle, Saeki.”
I said with a bold smirk.
Standing before us was Saeki Kaoru, a tall figure with a gentle smile plastered on his face. Dressed impeccably in the Suisei Academy uniform, he’d undoubtedly give the impression of a “fine young man” at first glance. He was none other than the leader of the justice organization 《Hexagram》.
And one more person—
“…Filthy. For a barbarian to speak so arrogantly to Kaoru…”
(?! Whoa, whoa, whoa, isn’t that a bit too harsh!?)
—Standing beside Saeki was Akutsu Miyabi, one of 《Hexagram》’s executives. She brushed her dull silver-gray hair, her face showing not the slightest interest in me.
Well, that aside… Saeki narrowed his eyes and smiled at my words.
“Of course I’m doing well. After all, this 《Duel Game》 is an important stage to prove the righteousness of our 《Hexagram》. If I weren’t in high spirits, everyone would worry.”
“Right. Though what gets proven might not be righteousness but something else entirely.”
“Something else? Whatever could you mean? We’re a pure organization of justice.”
“Justice, huh? That’s rich. Then what was the fourth stage semifinal? You went all out to create a situation where I couldn’t possibly win unless I was the real 7-Star, didn’t you? But here I am. Doesn’t that mean you lost?”
“Th-That’s right!”
The one who raised her voice with determination was Minakami, who had been slightly bowing her head beside me. Half-hiding behind me, she managed to lift her gaze and continued.
“Shinohara-senpai is no liar! The ones doing bad things are you, Kaoru-san… and the senpai of 《Hexagram》!!”
“…Hmph. The moment your position changes, you start complaining, and now you’re saying we’re the bad ones? You’re utterly selfish, Mari-san.”
“Selfish… That might be true. But even so!”
“No buts. …Shinohara-kun, let me answer your earlier question. Why did we, 《Hexagram》, allow you to advance to the final battle despite all our efforts? It’s because of heartless members who betrayed us. The biggest traitor in the fourth stage semifinal—the ‘werewolf’—was you, Mari-san.”
“Th-That’s…”
Faced with clear, though not aggressive, hostility, Minakami’s lips trembled slightly.
It’s not like I meant to shield her, but I took a big step forward to protect her.
“Oh? Then that makes her my greatest ally. All that’s left is to prove that 《Hexagram》, not me, is the ‘evil’ one, and you, Minakami, will be the hero of 《SFIA Sphere》.”
“! Shinohara-senpai…”
“…Haha. You’re quite the smooth talker, Shinohara-kun. Maybe Mari-san is just that simple…”
Watching our exchange, Saeki gave a small shrug.
“Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. Either way, there’s no ‘next time’—the one who conquers the 《Tower of Legends》 is the victor, and the victor’s words carry absolute power. Faking a 7-Star is the greatest injustice… Don’t think you’ll get off with just exile from the island.”
“Hah. Those words, I’ll throw them right back—wait.”
As I reflexively tried to retort, a faint sense of unease made me stop mid-sentence.
To begin with… why is Saeki so fixated on me? Sure, I’m (publicly) a 7-Star, and a Quadra-Color at that, so there are plenty of reasons to target me. But according to Enomoto’s investigation, Saeki had barely appeared in the public eye until now. So why would he take the risk to crush me?
“…Hey, Saeki. Why did you start assuming I was cheating in the first place?”
So, I decided to take a slight detour and ask that question.
“Sure, becoming a 7-Star right after transferring might seem impossible to you, but the Academy Island’s ranking system is absolute. It’s got flawless security that can’t be breached… and it’s the one saying I’m a ‘7-Star.’ There’s no room for doubt, right?”
“? Oh, well—”
“—That’s enough, Kaoru. I’ll take it from here.”
At that moment, Akutsu cut off Saeki’s words. With a cold gaze that looked down on us, she spoke.
“Shinohara Hiroto is lying—that’s the only conclusion. We haven’t found solid evidence yet, but the circumstantial evidence is clear. There’s no need to consider other possibilities.”
“…Circumstantial evidence? What are you talking about?”
“Evidence is evidence. Or perhaps conviction. Because… I know the effect of the Red Star.”
(—?!?!?!?)
At Akutsu’s words, my breath caught as if my heart had been seized.
She knows the effect of the Red Star—if that’s true, it’s no wonder 《Hexagram》 suspects me. The Red Star’s effect is critical: “It can make any one lie come true.” The moment it passed from Saionji to me, the “fastest 7-Star in history” was born. It’s hard to believe that’s unrelated.
(But… is she serious? The Red Star was supposed to have been locked away by the Saionji family until last year. I checked STOC’s logs, and there was nothing about it. But if it’s true, this is bad. Not just for me, but for Saionji too—)
“…Hmph.”
As my thoughts reached that point, I noticed Akutsu let out a bored sigh. While I narrowed my eyes slightly, she continued in a dismissive tone.
“You’re pretty good at keeping calm for a rule-breaker. That was a joke. Or rather, I was just testing you. The moment the ‘Red Star’ passed from the 《Empress》 to you, so did the ‘7-Star seat’… I just speculated the effect based on that. I thought talking to you might give me some confirmation, but this is a waste of time. You’re truly boring…”
“Sorry about that. But all I hear is sour grapes.”
“Stop provoking me, it’s annoying to deal with you. …But fine. Either way, the winner of 《SFIA Sphere》 can only be Kaoru. He’s the only one worthy of being at the top of Academy Island… So stop your futile efforts and crawl. You and the 《Empress》.”
“…The 《Empress》? Why bring up Saionji now?”
“Why? There’s no ‘why.’ Don’t think you can fool me, you rule-breaker. If the Red Star’s effect is like that, there’s no reason you wouldn’t team up with the 《Empress》—right?”
(This… this girl—)
I clammed up again at Akutsu’s sharp, blade-like questioning,
In that instant.
“Honestly, if you just listened quietly from earlier… there’s no way that’s true,
right?”
With bold footsteps, a familiar voice cut in. Her luxurious red hair swayed lightly.
A face that all hundred out of a hundred people would call cute was scrunched in exasperation, her right hand placed on her hip.
That girl—Sarasa Saionji—glanced at me briefly while continuing her words.
“Me, teaming up with this guy? Even if the heavens and earth flipped, that’d never happen. I’d rather cleanly commit seppuku than work with Shinohara.”
“…That’s some harsh talk for someone who just barged in, Saionji. I wouldn’t work with you even if you begged me. It’d ruin the name of Academy Island’s strongest.”
“Hmph… what’s that supposed to mean? Fighting alongside me is a tremendous honor, you know? Well, someone as ignorant, incompetent, and reckless as you probably wouldn’t get it.”
“If I’m ignorant, incompetent, and reckless, then you, who lost to me, aren’t even the ‘Empress’ anymore, are you?”
“S-Stop it, please, senpai-tachi! Fighting is bad, it’s not good!”
Minakami wedged her body between me and Saionji, intervening in our argument. At the same time, when I subtly glanced at Akutsu, she shrugged her shoulders as if giving up.
(That was a bluff just now… but whether it’s a trap or a guess, she’s already figured out that Saionji and I might be connected. If that’s the case, it makes sense that Saeki’s making moves…)
It’s all about the return on investment. To Hexagram, I’m just a rulebreaker, but Saionji is a super VIP with ties to Academy Island’s chairman. If they’ve caught wind of any connection between us,
then exposing my lies—labeling me as a “rulebreaker” and crushing me—could very well lead to something massive, like control or dominance over the island.
At any rate, watching this exchange, Saeki narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Well—since the ‘Duel Game’ has already started, reasons and motives don’t matter anymore, do they? We think Shinohara-kun is a liar,
and that’s exactly why we want to expose it to the light of day through SFIA. The ‘Empress’ is naturally on our side, right?”
“If I say no, will I be treated as a rulebreaker too? I’ll pass on both options.”
“Nice answer, a perfect hundred points as the ‘Empress.’ …Well then, you two, we’ll meet again somewhere in the Tower. Regarding your avatar on the revolutionary side,
please don’t even think about cheating—we’re watching closely.”
While directing a cold smile at me and Saionji—completely ignoring Minakami—Saeki spun around gracefully.
Unlike the Fuwa siblings, he didn’t stop by the buffet and instead elegantly disappeared into his room with Akutsu.
The rest of us watched their retreating figures for a moment.
“W-Well… for now, senpai, I’m really, really hungry…!”
—Belatedly, we reached for the lined-up dishes.
♯
A little past eight in the evening.
Together with Saionji—though we were barely talking, just keeping each other in check—I had a light meal with Minakami,
then moved to a corner of the outer perimeter, or more precisely, my private room.
“E-Excuse me…”
Following me, Minakami crossed the threshold with a slightly nervous expression. She clasped her hands gently at her chest, her eyes darting around restlessly.
“Um… I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, but this is my first time entering a guy’s room, so I’m a little nervous… s-sorry.”
“Huh? Oh, no… it’s my room, sure, but I only dropped off my stuff this morning.”
“T-That’s true, but still… it’s, like… there’s something!”
Minakami squeezed her eyes shut, blurting it out as if forcing the words. …I see, if there’s something, then it can’t be helped. If this were Minakami’s room, I’d definitely be fidgeting too.
“Well, anyway, just sit on the bed or something. Sorry, but there’s only one chair.”
“O-Oh, y-yes. Then, um, excuse me…”
Nodding slightly, Minakami perched delicately on the bed. Seeing that, a fleeting, inappropriate thought crossed my mind: “No matter whose room it is, a junior girl in a school uniform sitting on a bed is dangerously close to being a problem…” But I kept it off my face and continued.
“Alright, I’d like to dive into strategy, but… there’s something I want to try first. Minakami, could you try summoning Himeji?”
“Huh… you mean using the ‘Avatar Summon’ skill? But it’s after hours, isn’t it?”
“That’s why it’s a test. Besides, I don’t think time matters much.”
Though she tilted her head in confusion at my words, Minakami obediently took out her device.
And then—in the next moment, the scene we saw a few hours ago in the Tower of Legends played out again before us. Minakami’s device glowed brilliantly, drawing a complex magic circle that pierced through the bed and desk. Immediately after, Shirayuki Himeji, dressed in a witch outfit with a tricorn hat, appeared with a lingering glow.
“—Thank you for summoning me after about two and a half hours, Minakami-sama. By the way, my eyes are witnessing the shocking sight of Master and Minakami-sama about to share a bed in a hotel room. Could it be… you’ll let me join in?”
“H-Huh!? N-No, it’s not like that at all! And, join in…!?”
“I’m kidding.”
“Hau! W-What, it was a joke…? B-But no, Shirayuki-senpai! Jokes are the start of lies, and lies are the first step to thievery! Hurting people is bad!”
“? I meant it as a wonderfully witty quip, but did I hurt someone?”
“Huh? W-Well… um, probably Shinohara-senpai is disappointed!”
“…I’m not.”
I replied with a sigh. The banter was so fast I couldn’t even get a word in, but anyway.
“Sorry for calling you out this late, Himeji. But as I thought, it works. The Tower of Legends’ skills can be used normally even after hours.”
That’s right—I’d been a bit curious about the wording in the rule text. [Within the Tower of Legends, players can use countless skills.] The only specification here is location. So, whether it’s after hours or whatever, as long as you’re in the Tower, skills can be used.
“Yes, it seems so.”
Himeji nodded as she moved close to me, sitting in the desk chair.
“It was worth staying on standby in Libra’s communication room even after the ‘Duel Game’ paused. I regret not being able to serve you two some tea, though…”
“Well, I’m disappointed about that too… but we’ll manage for now. Being able to communicate is enough.”
“Yes. Just hearing Master’s voice makes me very happy.”
“…R-Really?”
Her sudden, straightforward words caught me off guard, and I couldn’t hide my flustered reaction for a moment.
After taking a good while to reboot, I pulled myself together and got to the main topic.
“Anyway, the first day of the Tower of Legends is over… but we’ve got a mountain of issues.”
Minakami nodded solemnly at my opening, saying, “…Yes.”
“We’ve reached the third floor, so progress-wise, it’s not bad. But my Chaos Value is still zero… and then there’s Kaoru-san’s ‘Countdown.’”
“Yeah. A hidden elimination condition, different from the Reaper—for now, neither you nor I have any clue what the forbidden actions are. And it’s not like we can figure it out easily.”
“Yes. So, it’s almost better to think of it as an additional rule of the Tower of Legends. Players have some kind of forbidden action set, and if they commit it a certain number of times, they’re expelled from the Tower. However, defeating Akutsu-sama in combat can lift your own elimination condition, and if Master is eliminated, everyone’s conditions disappear.”
“Ugh… that’s too much. Where’s the justice in a method like this…?”
“Pardon my words, Minakami-sama, but if Master is truly ‘evil,’ then doing everything to defeat him is undeniably a form of ‘justice.’ That’s why Hexagram is so desperate. If they boast so much and lose, their claims will never hold weight again—it’d mean they were the ‘evil’ ones.”
“Well, that’s how it is…”
I’m definitely not on the side of “justice,” but Hexagram’s self-proclaimed “justice” is pretty extreme too. Like last year’s Eimei ace, if left alone, they’d cause massive damage.
“So, for now, our goal is to defeat Akutsu while carefully avoiding forbidden actions. But… unfortunately, it’s not that simple anymore.”
“…The ‘No-Linger Restriction,’ right?”
Minakami tightly gripped her hands on her lap.
Another constraint thrown at us by Fumi Tsuru at the end of the day, the ‘No-Linger Restriction.’ In Himeji’s terms, it’s another “rule.” Players cannot stay on the same floor beyond a certain time. Violating this restriction results in immediate elimination.
“With Saeki’s schemes mixed in, this one’s a real pain. Rush forward, and ‘Countdown’ gets you; play it safe, and the ‘No-Linger Restriction’ kicks in.”
“Indeed. It’s an ability far too powerful for a 4-star like Fumi Tsuru-sama to use…”
“That’s probably Kirigaya’s ‘Black Star’ tweaking it, or maybe Albion’s got a hand in it. Geez… Hexagram alone is a tough opponent.”
I let out a small curse with a sigh. Following the “justice” organization Hexagram, there’s the mysterious group Albion—different in goals and methods, but both clearly targeting me, Shinohara Hiroto. We’ll clash somewhere, no doubt.
“That said… the immediate issue isn’t them, but Fuwa-sama’s ambush.”
As my thoughts reached that point, Himeji spoke calmly beside me.
“On top of defecting from the revolutionary side, they’ve coordinated with the demon side for a perfect ambush. They’re well-prepared. They’ll likely try to drain as much of your EXP as possible, stall you, and ultimately crush you with the ‘No-Linger Restriction.’”
“…Yeah.”
Such a bold betrayal isn’t something you can pull off repeatedly in the ‘Duel Game.’ Failing and expecting to just team up again… that’s not how it works. Fumi Tsuru and Sumire are probably aiming to end our revolutionary side here.
Minakami, gripping the edge of the bed, looked up as if recalling something.
“We were briefly together on the first floor, but Minami-senpai was definitely a summoner, right? As for Soma-senpai and Kugasaki-senpai’s roles… Shirayuki-senpai, do you know?”
“Yes, it was revealed in Libra’s broadcast. Yanagi-sama and Kugasaki-sama are both explorers. In combat with the demon side, you’ll mainly face Minami-sama.”
“Right. And by the way… she’s strong. Don’t think of her as just an average 5-star.”
“…Yes. She was highlighted in the fourth-stage semifinals, and I know her STOC nickname. ‘Nagi’s Blue Flame’—she already has a ton of passionate fans, apparently.”
“…”
I didn’t know that part. Well, Minami Shizuku always looks sleepy but is insanely cute, so it’s no surprise she’s popular.
“Anyway… we haven’t acquired a single combat skill yet, and Fumi Tsuru’s traps are already in play. Even if she’s a tough opponent normally, we can’t win under these conditions.”
“Indeed. Which means there’s only one viable strategy—recruiting Minami-sama.”
“…Hoe?”
Himeji stated the plan nonchalantly with her cool expression. To Minakami, who tilted her head in confusion, Himeji raised her index finger and continued smoothly.
“Listen, Minakami-sama. The chances of winning a direct fight against the demon side are almost zero. If we proceed like this, we’ll likely face a defeat penalty, get stalled, and be eliminated by the ‘No-Linger Restriction.’ Even if not, we’d lose a ton of EXP resources and have to restart.”
“Yeah. And in that case, the revolutionary side would be down to just me and Minakami. Fumi Tsuru’s ‘Temporary Defection’ lasts about three hours, but even if they return, continuing together is impossible, so we’d split the side with ‘Parallel Movement.’ So, aiming to recruit Minami from the start is way better. During ‘Temporary Defection,’ she’s treated as unaffiliated, so if we secure her transfer first, she won’t be kicked out later.”
“I-I see…! Not fighting head-on but using the Tower of Legends’ rules cleverly for a comeback! That’s amazing, both of you!”
Minakami’s eyes sparkled with awe, letting out a “Fwaaah.” …That’s probably the core of the Tower of Legends. If a strategy benefits you, you go for it, but if the opponent gains the upper hand, you can switch sides. If you can “stage” the situation well, you can even sway players from other sides.
We’ll need to think about how to recruit Minami by tomorrow, though…
“…Oh, by the way.”
As the strategy meeting wrapped up, I tilted my head slightly and glanced at Himeji beside me.
“How’s the situation outside? You mentioned moving to take down Hexagram.”
“Yes. I’ve been getting updates from Enomoto-sama, but—for now, our ultimate goal is to deal a fatal blow to Hexagram. As preparation, we’re contacting whistleblower candidates… people currently suffering from Hexagram’s actions, like Minakami-sama was before.”
“Huh… but isn’t Hexagram watching them?”
“That was true up until the fourth-stage semifinals. But now it’s different. Hexagram’s top two are trapped in the Tower of Legends, so their surveillance is lax. Enomoto-sama even said it’s ‘like invisible fairies are helping everything go smoothly.’”
“…Fairies, huh.”
I let a small smile slip at an expression so unlike Enomoto’s vibe. It’s probably Kagaya-san and Shiina supporting from behind the scenes. That’d explain why the investigation’s going so well.
“Anyway, we’re steadily gathering whistleblowers that way. We’re also getting help from the former ace of Eimei Academy and Minakami-sama’s big sister.”
“O-Onee-chan!? Even though she hasn’t been going to school!?”
“Yes. She was very eager, saying it’s for her cute little sister. She’s surprisingly influential… she might even negotiate directly with the administration. Of course, they’re not an organization that moves without solid evidence…”
“…So, we need concrete proof. Got it.”
I nodded slightly, satisfied with Himeji’s explanation.
“Then, a message from me—could you tell Enomoto and the others to stay cautious? Even without Saeki and Akutsu, there’s still some level of surveillance.”
“…Is that so?”
“Probably. Because… earlier, Saeki warned me about your avatar. But we haven’t encountered the angel side in the ‘Duel.’ Unless he heard it from Ishizaki, there’s no way he’d know right after coming down from the Tower. They can’t communicate with the outside either.”
“! So, Hexagram might be doing the same thing as Master… Indeed, I need to pass that on. Thank you, Master.”
Himeji quietly bowed, holding her tricorn hat with both hands. …There’s so much to think about it’s overwhelming, but the “outside” movements are critical.
Because we’re not just aiming to win the ‘Duel Game’—we have to completely crush the organization called Hexagram. As long as they’re recognized as champions of justice, situations like this could happen again and again.
Glancing at my device’s clock, it was already past ten.
“Alright… let’s call it a day for the strategy meeting. Let’s each think individually about how to recruit Minami. Then we’ll meet again tomorrow morning.”
“Yes! …Yes? Um, by individually, you mean…?”
“? I mean, go back to your own room.”
“Oh… I see. …Ugh…”
Minakami frowned as if faced with a complex equation. Still seated on the bed, she leaned forward slightly and spoke hesitantly.
“Um! A-Actually, you see… I, um, have trouble sleeping alone.”
“Huh?”
“N-No, it’s not like that, senpai! I just sleep a bit lightly! It’s like I’m having bad dreams, waking up every thirty minutes… I’m only fine when I sleep with Onee-chan. It didn’t used to be like this…”
“…Since when, exactly?”
“Um… about last week, I think.”
Minakami answered quietly, looking down as if it was hard to say. …Last week, the timing of Saeki’s brutal betrayal. It’s not hard to understand. She’s been acting strong in front of us, but that wound wouldn’t heal in just a few days.
“Hmm… so you can sleep if someone’s nearby? Not just your sister?”
“! Y-Yes! I can sleep soundly then. It was fine at the beach too. Just having Shinohara-senpai nearby… it, um, makes me feel really safe.”
Minakami looked up with a faintly warm gaze, her voice soft and fluffy. I understood it wasn’t “that kind” of implication, but my heart couldn’t help racing, and it stirred an overwhelming urge to protect her.
“Geez… fine, I get it.”
So, half-surrendering, I agreed.
Knowing what happened in the fourth-stage semifinals, I couldn’t just brush her off.
But the one who pursed her lips slightly at my response was Shirayuki Himeji, in her witch outfit.
“Master. I understand the situation, but… you’re not planning to sleep in the same bed, are you?”
“Hya!? S-Same bed… me and senpai!?”
“…No way. That’d be, you know… bad, in a lot of ways.”
“Y-Yes, exactly! In a lot of ways!”.
Minakami nods repeatedly, face bright red.
Watching her, I rise from the desk chair and sit by the bed.
Not parallel to the bed, but perpendicular. Basically, leaning my back against the bed’s legs.
“Does this still count as ‘being close enough’?”
“Y-Yes, of course! But, Shinohara-senpai, you’ll…”
“I’m fine. It’d be way worse if you couldn’t sleep and it messed up the Duel Game.”
“Ah… I understand. …Um, thank you, senpai.”
Saying that, Minakami bows slightly, her graceful black hair swaying.
Right after—maybe to hide her embarrassment—she declares, “I’ll take a bath first!” and springs off the bed.
I watch her dash to the unit bathroom, letting out a sigh.
“Fuu…”
[What a cute person, Minakami-sama. If I weren’t just a projected avatar, I could’ve slept with her, but if the projection failed, she’d feel uneasy. So—reluctantly—I’ll leave the role of staying close to Minakami-sama to Master. Meanwhile, I thought I’d sit beside you.]
“Eh? …Wait, you’re planning to stay all night?”
[Is that… not okay?]
“No, it’s not that it’s not okay… I’m just worried it’ll be tough on you, Himeji.”
[No need to worry. Falling asleep on the sofa while reading was my old routine, so I’m used to sleeping seated. Besides, I can’t leave Master and Minakami-sama alone. I have a duty to prevent any infidelity.]
“Infidelity, huh.”
[Just kidding. But… it’s not Minakami-sama, but being alone in Libra’s comms room feels lonely, even for me. I can’t bother Kagaya-san or Tsumugi-san either. So, even if we can’t be together, at least let me stay close. …One more time, Master. Is it really not okay if I stay beside you?]
“…Of course it’s not not okay.”
I nod slightly as I speak. Himeji softens her expression faintly, whispering “Excuse me” so quietly it’s barely audible, and gently sits to my right.
Half-leaning toward me, she closes her eyes.
Of course, being a projected avatar, I can’t touch her—
But somehow, it feels warm.
♯
SFIA Sphere Final Battle: Legacy Tower—Third Floor.
As the second day’s Duel Game begins, Minakami and I face the Demon Faction once again.
“Finally, a fresh start, huh?”
Smiling ambiguously is a slender, beautiful boy from the Demon Faction, Fuwa Mitsuru. He’s from our Revolutionary Faction but is temporarily neutral due to a skill effect.
Clearly, he has no intention of aiming for victory with the Revolutionary Faction anymore. If he can siphon EXP points from us here, it’ll boost the Demon Faction’s Kirigaya even further.
“Yes, yes! I can’t wait any longer!”
Clenching her fists beside Mitsuru is Sumire Fuwa, her long hair fanned out in an ojou-sama-like flair. Despite her friendly attitude last night, she’s now eager to take us down.
“This room is a ‘trap room’ we prepared. As long as you’re here, you two can’t perform any EXP-consuming actions. You can use the skills you have, but acquiring new ones is a no-go. And the Revolutionary Faction doesn’t have—more accurately, didn’t take—any skills to escape this situation. Trap-related skills are my domain as an Explorer.”
“Amazing, amazing! Our victory is practically guaranteed!”
“Right, Sumire. All thanks to our preparations. Touya-san told me to ‘be ready to clean up,’ but I’ll make sure that never happens.”
Mitsuru shrugs slightly at Sumire’s praise.
And—at the same time, a girl steps forward from the Demon Faction. St. Rosalia’s Sleeping Fairy, Minami Shizuku. With her usual sleepy expression, she sways her short blue hair and speaks.
“You’re the stalker who abandoned me… Long time no see. Doing well?”
“My reputation’s getting worse by the minute… Well, I’m doing fine. How about you?”
“That’s a mean question. Think about it… What happens when a cute girl like me is thrown into a group of three guys? It’s practically trauma-level torment…”
“Kuku… Whose side are you on, Nagi’s Blue Flame?”
Shaking her head, Minami is met with an exasperated retort from Kugasaki, wearing a collared cape.
“Sorry, but I’ve only ever been interested in the Empress, even before I was born. And you—aren’t you the type to shy away just because the opponent’s a guy? You’ve been picking up useless skills left and right.”
“Mmph… That’s just your bad eyesight. Every skill I’ve taken is useful… Perfect scores. I bet that stalker over there would get it.”
“…For example?”
“‘Cat Paws Meowalk.’ When used, my avatar’s footsteps sound like cat meows… Cute.”
I shake my head quietly, half out of pity for Kugasaki and the others, as Minami declares this expressionlessly. Minami Shizuku is undeniably strong, but she’s not exactly an easy player to handle.
Still, seemingly pleased (?) with her cute skill, Minami continues.
“But that used up EXP points… So, I’ll take some from you. The cute skill is just a stepping stone… Probably a huge hit with the whole island. Got it? If you get it, let’s start the battle.”
“…Just so you know, the only reason we haven’t started is because you’ve been rambling about irrelevant stuff.”
I sigh and retort, then shift my gaze to Minakami beside me.
“Minakami, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes! Here we go—Shirayuki-senpai!!”
In that instant, Minakami thrusts her terminal forward, activating the “Avatar Summon” skill for the third time. The Revolutionary Faction’s avatar, Himeji Shirayuki. Emerging from a fantastical white magic circle, she adjusts her triangular hat slightly with gloved fingers.
[It’s been a while, Minami-sama.]
“Mmph. From maid to witch… Cute. But why is she talking…? Growth spurt?”
[If you read the rules closely, you’d notice some loopholes. I’m sure Minami-sama could figure it out.]
“Hmph? Another one of the stalker’s tricks… But we’re not losing in cuteness.”
In response to Shirayuki’s appearance, Minami calmly swipes her terminal. With a crackle of lightning-like effects, a warped black magic circle spreads across the floor. From it emerges a girl with youthful features. Instead of St. Rosalia’s pristine uniform, she wears ominous black robes, with tiny horns sprouting from her head. This must be the Demon Faction’s avatar.
“Fufun. The model’s my kouhai… a first-year at St. Rosalia. Super cute… Saying I’m in the Duel Game to spread her cuteness wouldn’t be an exaggeration, would it?”
“Don’t ask me. But… Hey, Minami, if you’re that confident, why not let us win here? Minakami completely crushed the Kingdom Faction’s Ishizaki in yesterday’s battle. You wouldn’t want to see your cute kouhai get torn apart, right?”
“? That’s fine… Because I probably won’t lose.”
Saying that, Minami turns her body. Her sleepy blue eyes lock onto Minakami, naturally.
“Yesterday’s Chaos Value rankings. You were dead last… So, you probably haven’t picked up any strong skills. Your win yesterday was just a fluke… Right?”
“Ugh… T-That might be true, but my total EXP stats are—!”
“I think we’ve got the edge there too… My ability is specialized for combat. I joined SFIA Sphere to fight strong opponents… So, I don’t want to lose to anyone.”
Minami’s calm voice carries a clear spark of determination. Her crushing defeat by Saionji in the fourth-stage semifinal must’ve left a strong impression. A former champion awakening. Her skills, stats, and sheer prowess far outmatch Minakami’s.
“…Bring it on.”
Even so, Minakami doesn’t flinch. She clenches her fist tightly once, her voice steady with resolve as she gives a short reply. Minami seems slightly surprised but says nothing more, quietly shifting into battle stance.
But then—
“—Hold it right there.”
A sudden “wait” interrupts the battle about to begin. The voice comes from Yanagi Souma, a Hexagram member who’d been watching from the sidelines.
“I’ve got a proposal. How about we tweak the rules for this battle?”
“…The rules?”
“Yeah. Legacy Tower’s rules say the winning faction takes half the losing faction’s EXP points—but you can’t challenge the same faction consecutively. So, the plan was for our Demon Faction to attack your Revolutionary Faction first, then, once Fuwa returns to the Revolutionary Faction, he’d challenge us back. That’d create an endless loop.”
“Right, that’s the plan. What’s wrong with it?”
“Don’t play dumb, you slick bastard. …Listen up. We didn’t hear anything about this ‘No Lingering Restriction’ bomb. We only found out when the notification hit our terminals at the end of yesterday. If there’s a time limit, that changes everything. What proof do we have that your shitty scenario isn’t to drag this out until both the Demon and Revolutionary Factions wipe out simultaneously?”
“Oh, I see… Hmm, it’s not that strict of a time limit, you know.”
“No, I don’t trust it.”
Yanagi stubbornly refuses to budge, dismissing Mitsuru’s claims.
“So, here’s my proposal—my ability, ‘Free Rate,’ lets me freely change what’s at stake in a battle. Normally, the stake is half your EXP plus a penalty, but with this, we can go for an ‘all-in showdown’ where the winner takes everything. Way simpler, right?”
“…Huh, interesting.”
I bring my right hand to my mouth as Yanagi’s gaze lands on me. It’s a proposal with some merit for the Revolutionary Faction too. I’d rather minimize the risk of dropping out due to the No Lingering Restriction.
(But something’s…)
“…What’s with the silence? Fine, whatever. ‘Free Rate’ needs approval from a player outside my faction, but I don’t have to stick with the island’s so-called strongest. So, Fuwa, come over here. You’re a key ally, right?”
“Hmm… Alright, got it.”
Fuwa glances briefly at Sumire beside him before stepping forward. He pulls out his terminal and raises his right hand—but in that instant.
“…Wait, Mitsuru.”
A small voice echoes clearly. The speaker is none other than Sumire Fuwa. Gone is her usual bubbly, sparkly demeanor; her serious eyes fix on Yanagi and Mitsuru.
“No, no, this won’t do. Mitsuru, you need to get away from him now! I can only sense intense malice from him toward you!”
“…Oh? What’s that about, Yanagi-kun?”
“Tch… H-Huh!? What kind of nonsense are you two spouting!? Are you saying I, a Hexagram member, am lying!?”
Yanagi’s voice spikes instantly. Fuming, he shoves his terminal screen toward Mitsuru.
“Look! Where does it say anything that screws you over!? I’m just trying to make things more efficient! That’s all there is to it!”
“…Yeah, it doesn’t seem like an ability that attacks us. It rewrites the ‘stake rate’ in a battle with third-party approval… Right?”
“That’s what I’m saying! Tell that idiot sister of yours something—!”
“But, Yanagi-kun… I’ve decided to always trust Sumire’s words, no matter what. Even if your ability seems safe, if Sumire senses strong ‘malice’ from you… That means…”
Mitsuru’s short hair, the same color as Sumire’s, sways slightly as he smiles.
“Could it have something to do with my forbidden action?”
“Tch!! N-No way, that’s—!”
“Bingo. …Not cool, Yanagi-kun. Reacting that obviously? My forbidden action is ‘forming contract-based abilities with others,’ right? Though, it feels like I’ve got some leeway with the count. Maybe each clause counts as one? If so, you could take me out by tacking useless conditions onto ‘Free Rate.’”
“…!”
Mitsuru’s tone shifts from speculation to certainty as Yanagi’s face pales. Yanagi was likely informed of each player’s forbidden actions by Saeki and tasked with triggering them. But Sumire’s “empathy” thwarted that plan.
“Still… Why would Hexagram want to take me out? I thought I was cooperating with you guys.”
“…Cooperating?”
In that moment, Yanagi, who’d been silent, spits out a venomous reply. He glares sharply, pointing at Mitsuru as he steps closer.
“Don’t screw with me! If you were really cooperating, you’d have shared your strategy upfront! If I’d known about the ‘No Lingering Restriction’ ability, I wouldn’t have teamed up with you in the first place!”
“No way I’d tell you. That’s our trump card. Besides, it’s a tailwind for you guys too, right? It increases the chances of everyone triggering their forbidden actions.”
“That’s irrelevant! Hexagram’s victory is a done deal, no probabilities needed—so the problem is that Kaoru-san, or rather, I, now have a dropout condition! Damn it, unbelievable! I only want to play Duel Games I’m guaranteed to win!”
Yanagi’s selfish logic clashes with Mitsuru’s cool gaze.
But… even so, Yanagi forces a strained smirk.
“Damn it, you figured it out, but it’s too late, Fuwa. As you guessed, your forbidden action is [Forming contract-based abilities with other players / Count 4 (1 per clause)]. Sure, you’ll reject the ‘Free Rate’ contract, but I’ve got ‘Forced Execution’—huh?”
As Yanagi smugly raises his terminal, a low buzzer-like sound echoes around us. Tracing the source, it’s Yanagi Souma’s terminal. Immediately, familiar fluorescent green text appears above his head.
[Sound Feather Academy, District 8 / Second Year / 4 Stars / Demon Faction—Yanagi Souma. Status: Eliminated]
[Reason for Elimination: Met forced dropout condition via ‘Countdown’ / Forbidden Action: ‘Revealing the contents of another player’s forbidden action / Count 1’]
“…H-Huh!?”
The first to react is Yanagi himself.
“What… What the hell!? Dropout condition!? On me!? Why did Kaoru-san set a forbidden action on a Hexagram ally!? My comms skill… Damn, it’s not activating!? Am I really out…!?”
“…”
“I didn’t hear about this! I DIDN’T HEAR ABOUT THIIIIIS!!”
Yanagi roars with a voice that could shatter his throat. Using Mitsuru’s “Power Scout” skill to check, Yanagi Souma’s name has indeed vanished from the Demon Faction’s roster.
(Even Hexagram members had dropout conditions… And secretly, at that.)
Witnessing this, I bite my lip hard.
Yanagi’s elimination isn’t bad for me, but it heightens my wariness of Saeki. Using allies to their fullest, then discarding them with a cold “If you’re going to be used by the enemy, disappear.” It’s logical, but far too ruthless.
“Damn it…”
Muttering bitterly, Yanagi slinks to the room’s corner and slumps down roughly. Normally, Libra staff would retrieve him immediately, but the central elevator isn’t moving—likely because we’re in the middle of a battle. There are higher priorities than collecting Yanagi.
“N…”
Then, Minami, who’d been watching the scene with disinterest, turns toward us with a sigh-like voice. Swaying her blue hair, she speaks.
“Now we can finally start… The long-awaited battle time. …Ready?”
St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy, Second Year, 5 Stars. The former strongest, Nagi’s Blue Flame—Minami Shizuku.
To her calm words, Minakami responds with a bold shout.
“Yes. —I won’t lose, Minami-senpai!”
♭
(…This is bad.)
At the same time, SFIA Sphere Final Battle: Legacy Tower—Third Floor.
Saionji Sarasa and Yumeno Misaki of the Kingdom Faction are in dire straits.
“Haha—Well, well, if it isn’t the Empress? Fancy meeting you here.”
Standing before Sarasa and Misaki are members of the Angel Faction. Spreading his arms like a spokesperson is Hexagram’s leader, Saeki Kaoru. Beside him is Akutsu Miyabi, her dull silver-gray hair flowing, while near the door stands Kururugi Senri, her sharp gaze like a guard watching for escapees. Yuikawa Kanade’s absence likely means he’s part of the Angel Faction’s “detachment,” probably the one that cornered Sarasa and Misaki here.
(Tch… How did it come to this…?)
Sarasa clenches her right fist, hiding her expression behind her bangs.
Just moments ago—barely two hours in Duel Game time—the Angel Faction had been chasing Shinohara’s Revolutionary Faction. Their target shifted to Sarasa’s group right after Shinohara ascended to the third floor… almost simultaneously with Fuwa Mitsuru’s “No Lingering Restriction” notification. If so, their motives aren’t hard to guess.
(They probably changed targets… Saeki was originally using his Reaper powers to “hunt.” But the No Lingering Restriction means he can’t stay on one floor too long, so he abandoned that plan. He’s now aiming to quickly form a strong party and climb higher.)
It makes sense when you think about it. Misaki is SFIA’s dark horse, and Sarasa herself is a 6-star player dubbed the Empress. Their combat strength is undeniable.
Regardless—Sarasa brushes her long hair aside to refocus and speaks.
“Fancy meeting, huh. That’s rich, considering you’ve been chasing us since we reached the third floor. Don’t you think it’s a bit cruel to take pleasure in hounding two girls?”
“Haha, my apologies. You noticed, huh? But becoming a bit cruel is unavoidable. After all, I’m a Reaper now.”
Sarasa opens with a sarcastic jab, but Saeki brushes it off and cuts to the chase. His narrowed eyes lock onto her without a doubt.
“I’ll be blunt—Saionji Sarasa-san, won’t you join our faction? With your… no, your power, our victory will be even more assured.”
“Hmm. What if we’re terribly incompatible? The Angel Faction hasn’t lost a single member, have they? Doesn’t seem like there’s any room for me.”
“Oh, that’s not entirely true. Our absent member—Kanade—is a wonderful comrade who’d say his own needs don’t matter if it’s for Hexagram’s victory. If I make a small ‘request,’ I’m sure he’d gladly step aside.”
“…W-Wait, what about me!? I get wanting to scout Sarasa-san, but you’re just ignoring me, the other protagonist!? This isn’t an idle game!”
“Eh? Oh… Sorry, Yumeno-san. This Duel Game’s factions are built for four players.”
“Ugh, you’re awful! A villain! Grrrrr!”
Misaki, brushed off casually, growls in frustration. Sarasa would love to back her up, but she doesn’t have the leeway right now.
(Of course not. He’s negotiating politely for now, but Saeki’s still a “Reaper.” He could eliminate us anytime… If we don’t want that, we have to comply.)
Right, exactly. If Sarasa loses, everything’s ruined. The real Sarasa would have to return to the island, the Saionji family’s reputation would plummet, and her strange accomplice-like relationship with Shinohara would end—not that that’s particularly important, but both of them would face social death. That’s absolutely, absolutely unacceptable.
Her red hair sways quietly.
“Your demand is for me to join the Angel Faction… right? By the way, what benefits do I get if I agree?”
“Nothing but benefits. If you refuse, I’ll use my Reaper powers on you. Is the ever-victorious Empress okay with losing so easily?”
“No. Unfortunately, I always register emergency evasion abilities in every Duel Game. Attack if you want, but don’t blame me if it fizzles.”
“Is that so? Well… since you mentioned being ignored, how about I eliminate your faction mate—Yumeno-san—instead? If you refuse my recruitment, I’d have no choice but to weaken your faction. Quite a pitiful story, isn’t it?”
“…You’re utterly despicable.”
“Hahaha, that was just a figure of speech, of course. But if Yumeno-san drops out, it’d be tough for you, right? Especially since one of the Kingdom Faction is Hexagram’s Ako.”
While subtly cutting off Sarasa’s escape routes, Saeki smiles gently
and lets a faint grin appear.
“Shall I present a more straightforward benefit? If you join our faction,
the 《Countdown》 imposed on you will be lifted at that moment. And…”
“And?”
“About yesterday’s discussion—we know the effect of the Red Star. Of course, at this
point, it’s merely a hypothesis, right? But if we, 《Hexagram》, win
《SFIA Sphere》, that hypothesis becomes undeniable truth.
The Red Star is the star of ‘falsehood’—yes, Shinohara Hiroto is a false Seven-Star.
So, what about you, Sarasa-san? What are you hiding?”
With a smile twisting his lips, Saeki speaks fluently,
or rather, as if looking down on her.
“Hey, Saionji-san. If you’re as clever as I think you are, you must have realized by now…
don’t you think we could work together? You must have some kind of circumstances.
That’s why you used the Red Star, and that’s why you’re teaming up with Shinohara-kun.”
“…You’ve been spouting nothing but delusions this whole time.”
“I’m quite confident in my deductive skills… But, Saionji-san, Shinohara-kun’s lies
will, unfortunately, all be exposed at the end of this 《Duel》. In other words,
you should be siding with us, not him. Whatever your circumstances, we can cover them up.
We are justice, and the words of justice are absolute. Won’t you join us in creating the ideal Academy Island?”
Faced with Saeki’s invitation, brimming with absolute confidence, Sarasa falls silent
for a moment.
Probably, this was Saeki’s goal from the start—to label Shinohara a violator and banish him
from the public stage, then approach Sarasa to advance his pieces toward the core of Academy Island.
He manipulated 《Hexagram》 for that purpose and used 《SFIA Sphere》 to achieve it.
And… indeed, if she went along with his plan, Sarasa’s lie would be protected.
Since the Red Star would pass to 《Hexagram》, the lie of the ‘fake’ would never be exposed.
Even if Shinohara tried to protest, his claims would be dismissed as the words of a liar. It’s a flawless logical展開.
…But even so.
“No. —Unfortunately, I’m already set.”
As if slicing through Saeki’s offer, Sarasa flicks her red hair with a swift motion.
“Thanks for the delusional spiel. But I couldn’t understand more than half of it.
Weren’t you supposed to be a ‘hero of justice’? Talking about creating an ideal island
sounds more like a ‘tyrant’ to me.”
“If it’s domination by justice, isn’t that something to celebrate? Besides,
whether we call it domination or not, the desire to stand at the top
is a common ambition, don’t you think? Especially for students of Academy Island.”
“Sure. But don’t you think that’s something you should achieve on your own,
not have someone else hand to you? I lost to Shinohara and had my Seven-Star seat taken.
So, I’m trying to defeat him to take it back… that’s all. I don’t want anyone else’s baggage dragged into this.”
With undeniable force, Sarasa declares, and this time, Saeki falls silent.
…It was mostly a bluff driven by momentum, but it seems to have worked well enough.
If she owes this to a certain someone skilled at acting, it’s a bit… no, quite irritating.
“…I see. I understand your position clearly.”
As she thinks this, Saeki, standing before her, quietly takes out his device.
“I had hoped to settle this amicably for the sake of the future, but since we’re getting nowhere,
I’ll have to take you by force. Sponsor-exclusive skill 《Hostage Exchange》—
it forcibly swaps the faction of one member of our faction with a player I touch with this device.”
Saying this, Saeki closes the distance to Sarasa with a friendly smile.
Sarasa, along with Misaki, steps back slowly, but her back soon hits a wall—or rather, a pure white door.
(Please, make it in time… No, hurry up already!!)
A wish akin to a prayer flashes through her mind in that instant.
“—Sorry, 《Empress》. It took a bit to shake off Ishizaki’s guy.”
A low, gravelly voice echoes through the room—immediately after, Sarasa and Misaki’s bodies
vanish from Saeki’s view. No, of course, it’s not teleportation or anything like that;
the door they were pressing against simply opened, causing them to lose their support.
As Sarasa and Misaki fall with a ““Ouch!?”” and land on their rears,
he silently passes by them and lightly taps Saeki’s device.
“!? You’re…”
“So, now I’m part of your faction, huh? …Don’t take it personally, Saeki.
For me, as long as Ouka wins, I’m fine with anything, but our ace apparently doesn’t want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you.”
“…I see. As expected of Saionji-san, such guts to face the Reaper.”
“Obviously. She’s been above me for two years, you know? You think I’d flinch at someone like you now?
By the way, I’m Ouka’s Six-Star. Always compared to 《Empress》 and called second-best or whatever.
If you’ve got a problem with that, I’m ready to take you on… So, what’s it gonna be?”
The delinquent blond boy, Fujishiro Keiya, throws out a threatening question.
Faced with the intimidating aura of Ouka’s ultimate weapon, Saeki pauses to think for a moment
but soon seems to reach a conclusion.
“Understood. …Very well, in terms of strength alone, you’ll do fine.
However, this means the 《Countdown》 we placed on your group naturally won’t be lifted…
Additionally, with the 《Hostage Exchange》 earlier, Kanade, who moved to the Kingdom faction,
and Ako, who was already there, will act as external collaborators for the Angel faction. You’ll allow that, yes?”
“…Sure, of course. Traveling with someone who’ll definitely betray us is the last thing we want.”
“Good. I’m pleased we could make a fine deal—well then, see you both upstairs.”
As if losing interest entirely, Saeki abruptly ends the conversation and turns on his heel.
Leaving the room with him are the newly restructured Angel faction members…
Akutsu Miyabi, Fujishiro Keiya, and Kururugi Senri—the three of them.
With a lineup that could practically claim to be the ‘strongest,’ plus two from the Kingdom faction
dragged along as external collaborators or whatever, it’s overwhelming.
And to think he hasn’t even used the Reaper’s power yet—what a hopeless situation.
“…Haa.”
With a short buzz, the front door closes, and the moment Saeki and his group vanish from sight,
Sarasa, still sitting on the floor, finally lets out the breath she’d been holding.
…It feels like she burned through a whole day’s worth of focus in one go.
She’ll need a break to recover her energy.
“Ugh… What do we do now, Sarasa-san…?”
Misaki, sitting up and peering at her, looks anxious.
The fact that her fighting spirit hasn’t dimmed at all after that exchange
proves she’s a ‘big shot’ in her own way.
(And… Misaki staying with me is a stroke of luck for me.)
Watching Misaki’s pink hair sway nearby, Sarasa quietly mutters to herself.
…That’s right. It was a terrible encounter, but the outcome somehow avoided the worst.
Because she—Amanezka’s dark horse—has an ability no one else would’ve even considered.
So, Sarasa chooses to meet Misaki’s anxious gaze head-on.
“Listen, Misaki. The Angel faction will probably head straight up from here.
They’ve finished building their faction, so all that’s left is to conquer.
If we run into them again, they definitely won’t let us off.”
“? But, Sarasa-san, with your high protagonist power, don’t you have an emergency evasion ability…?”
“Idiot, that was obviously a bluff.”
Sarasa chuckles. This 《Duel Game》 is full of tough opponents—she had no room for such luxuries.
“And, thinking about it, heading to the fourth floor right now is too dangerous.
But continuing to explore this floor is also a bad move. We don’t know exactly
when the 《No-Linger Restriction》 will activate, so we can’t afford unnecessary risks. Plus…”
At that, Sarasa suddenly glances down at her device.
“I think we’re missing something. …If we keep going like this, we won’t have what we need
to break through the top floor. Don’t you think it’s weird? It’s not like this is some
incomprehensible dungeon that changes structure every time you enter,
yet the elevators only go up. Elevators, mind you! That means 《The Tower of Lore》
is harder to explore the lower you go, unlike a normal dungeon.”
“Oh… So, does that mean I get to shine!? Am I the real protagonist!?”
“Exactly. Because you have the 《Descent》 ability to make elevators go downward…
meaning we’re the only ones among the four factions who can move ‘down.’
And if the top floor requires something specific to conquer, it doesn’t matter
how fast the Angel faction gets there. They’ll just have to wait.”
So… because Saeki Kaoru’s reckless charge will surely be stopped by Shinohara,
as per their agreement, Sarasa will gather everything needed to escape 《The Tower of Lore》.
“Let’s go, Misaki. —To the first floor!”
♯
【《The Tower of Lore》 Third Floor D-1: Demon Faction VS Revolutionary Faction: Battle Commences】
【Third Floor Conquest EXP Requirement: 9000】
【Demon Faction—Minami Shizuku. Avatar: Tono Konohana. Total EXP: 13,500】
【Revolutionary Faction—Minakami Mari. Avatar: Himeji Shirayuki. Total EXP: 9,800】
—《SFIA Sphere》 Final Battle 《The Tower of Lore》 Third Floor.
The battle between our Revolutionary Faction and the Demon Faction began
with us at a slight disadvantage.
The situation—or rather, the adversity—faced by Minakami, the summoner, and Himeji, her avatar,
hasn’t changed much since yesterday. While we’ve consciously boosted our total EXP stats,
Minakami’s Chaos Value remains at 0, so she hasn’t acquired a single combat skill yet.
On top of that, we’re up against that Minami Shizuku.
“《Numeric Control》 and 《Recycle》… activate together.”
Spoken in a calm tone, two familiar abilities.
It’s the combo ability she used in the semifinals of the fourth phase—
《Numeric Control》 combined with 《Recycle》 to create a semi-infinite engine.
Built on a delicate balance where each supports the other,
it delivers effects several times stronger than standard enhancement abilities.
With such powerful support, the Demon Faction’s total EXP was rewritten as follows:
【Revolutionary Faction—Avatar: Himeji Shirayuki. Cumulative EXP: 9,800】
【Demon Faction—Avatar: Tono Konohana. Modified Total EXP: 13,500 → 66,200】
【Status Update: Avatar Himeji Shirayuki has both hands restrained】
【Condition Update (Tono Konohana): Takes no damage while airborne】
【Condition Update (Himeji Shirayuki): Cannot attack the opposing avatar】
“…Hmph. The trick to winning battles is to level up and hit hard… that’s all.”
(!? EXP 66,200… Eighth-floor equivalent!? This girl’s as ridiculous as ever!)
Seeing the instantly updated status and conditions, I grit my teeth inwardly.
…The gap in total EXP stats is glaring. It’s like I’ve swapped places with Ishizaki, and the despair is palpable.
But—this battle isn’t one where we can find a winning path by fighting fair.
As discussed in yesterday’s strategy meeting, unless Minami defects to our side,
the Revolutionary Faction has no chance of victory. The faction’s member cap is four,
but with Fuka and Sumire currently “temporarily withdrawn,” a transfer is possible.
Thus, the issue is “how to successfully recruit her.”
(《The Tower of Lore》 is a 《Duel Game》 where faction members can always be swapped…
so, if you want to poach someone, the most straightforward way is to make them think
‘this faction is stronger.’)
I try to think as calmly as possible. Since transfers are possible,
proving we’re the faction closer to victory will naturally draw others to us. The logic checks out.
(But… Minami’s mindset is different. She just loves fighting strong opponents.
Sure, she’s obsessed with winning, but what’s more important to her is that her opponent is ‘properly strong.’
You could say she participates in 《Duel Games》 just to fight strong people.)
It’s something we talked about on the first floor. Minami’s motivations differ slightly from other players.
And she doesn’t get serious against opponents she deems unimportant.
This combo ability was only used against Saionji in the fourth-phase semifinals.
The fact that she didn’t hold it back means Minami is either wary of or has high expectations for Minakami.
So, lowering the hand I’d raised to my mouth, I step forward slightly with a fearless grin.
Noticing the movement keenly, Minami tilts her head curiously.
“…What? You’re joining in, in the flesh, with a lightning strike…?”
“Nah, that’s not it. …Hey, Minami, let me tell you something good.
Actually, our Minakami has registered an ultra-enhanced ability specifically for countering 《Hexagram》.
It’s the ‘optimal solution’ she crafted through her own research and tweaks…
With its restrictions, it’s way stronger than your combo.”
“Eh? N-no, that’s not true, Senpai. It wasn’t just me; Enomoto-senpai helped a lot—”
“Hmm… So, you’re saying Minakami-chan is better than me? …Cheating?”
“I was never into you to begin with. …But yeah, that’s irrelevant to this battle.
You’re not 《Hexagram》, so you won’t get to taste Minakami’s full power. Too bad, huh.”
“…Minakami-chan’s full power…”
Taking my provocation, Minami lowers her gaze slightly and mutters softly.
Fuka and Sumire, watching from the sidelines, tilt their heads, confused by the exchange,
but as long as Minami gets the point, that’s enough. For someone who prioritizes something over victory,
these words will definitely move her.
“Hm… I can’t ignore that.”
And then, in her usual calm tone, Minami suddenly shifts her body’s direction.
She starts walking quietly, then stops in front of Yanagi Soma, who’s sitting by the wall.
“Stare…”
“…Huh? W-what’s up? Got something to say?”
“Yeah… Can you lend me that? Don’t worry… Just for a bit. I’ll return it soon… Probably.”
“!? H-hey, wait—!”
Before Yanagi can resist, Minami deftly snatches it with one hand.
Yes—what she took was the 《Hexagram》 emblem pinned to Yanagi’s uniform chest.
Minami fumbles to attach the silver hexagon-shaped emblem to her own uniform.
“Hehe. Now I’m 《Hexagram》 too… A hero of justice. Does it suit me?”
Returning to face us with a smug look, I clench my fist inwardly. …Exactly as planned.
I was certain that if I told her Minakami’s power was “incomplete,” Minami would move
to make her unleash that power. And she did.
Rather, the one caught off guard, eyes wide, is Minakami herself.
“W-what’s going on, Minami-senpai!? Doing something like giving aid to the enemy…
And stealing is a crime, a bad thing! Please give it back to Soma-senpai!”
“As expected of Minakami-chan… Such a good girl. But I didn’t steal…
I’m just borrowing it for a bit. Besides, if the enemy gets stronger, shouldn’t you send them some salt…?
I’m the type who wants to play every game on the highest difficulty. Probably a masochist… Take note.”
“…Don’t say that while looking at me.”
She teases me all the time but turns out she’s the submissive one, huh? That’s what I’d think.
“Anyway… You’re sure about this, Minami? If you wear that emblem,
you’re officially part of 《Hexagram》 now. Minakami’s ability will activate without issue.”
“Good. I want it to… Minakami-chan’s true strength shouldn’t be just this.”
“Tch…”
Faced with Minami’s straightforward blue eyes, Minakami clenches her fist tightly.
Then, with her flowing black hair swirling, she lifts her face decisively.
“Understood. Then, I’ll take you up on that—《Single-Point Breakthrough》!!”
A declaration filled with resolve and determination—at the same moment,
Minakami’s device begins emitting a brilliant light. The ultra-enhanced ability
《Single-Point Breakthrough》, designed specifically against 《Hexagram》.
With Minami borrowing Yanagi’s emblem to meet the activation condition,
Minakami’s “secret weapon” instantly rewrites Himeji’s total EXP stats.
【Demon Faction—Avatar: Tono Konohana. Modified Total EXP: 66,200】
【Revolutionary Faction—Avatar: Himeji Shirayuki. Modified Total EXP: 9,800 → 95,700】
【Condition Update (Tono Konohana): Takes no damage while airborne】
【Condition Update (Himeji Shirayuki): Takes no damage while standing on the ground】
“Mmm… Unexpectedly surpassed…”
Seeing the updated display, Minami’s sleepy expression flickers with faint surprise and delight.
At any rate—after the back-and-forth of enhancement abilities, both avatars’ conditions are finally set.
Next is skill selection, but as usual, Minakami can only choose default skills.
Plus, the draw result is “second move.” No matter how we play, we’ll have to survive the first five minutes.
“So… Can you handle it, Minakami?”
“Yes, I’m fine, Shinohara-senpai. With these conditions…!”
Turning to me with a composed nod, Minakami moves fluidly to select a “defense” skill on her device.
At the same time, Yanagi, who’d been watching her every move, lets out a small “Hah…” and a faint smirk—
In that instant,
“No, you can’t!!!!”
“Eh? …Wah!?”
I can’t help but widen my eyes at the scene unfolding before me.
And no wonder—Sumire, who’d been quietly observing the battle, suddenly lets out a scream-like shout,
leaps to the center of the room, kicks off the floor, and tackles Minakami in a soft embrace.
Thanks to Sumire’s light weight, they don’t tumble over, but she’s pressing her face tightly into Minakami’s chest.
“You mustn’t, you mustn’t! You can’t do that, Mari!”
“H-hey, um, uh… I think you’re the one doing something wrong, Sumire-senpai!”
“No, no! I’m not doing anything wrong! Listen, Mari—what you were about to do just now,
that’s your forbidden action!!”
“““…What?”””
At Sumire’s bombshell statement, nearly everyone in the room lets out a stunned reaction.
Pure surprise, followed by confusion. In short, it makes no sense.
Among them, Fuka, maintaining some composure, presses a finger to her forehead with a “Haa…”
“Hey, Sumire? Can I ask one thing? How did you know that?”
“It’s simple! I’ve been staring at Soma’s face the whole time.
And, and? The moment Mari tried to select a skill, I felt intense malice from Soma!
Mari’s forbidden action must be ‘choosing a defensive skill’!”
“Got it… Okay, I understand, but why’d you just blurt it out?
We’re in the middle of betraying Shinohara-kun and setting a trap for them.”
“…Oh!”
As if struck by lightning, Sumire’s eyes widen, and she hurriedly pulls away from Minakami,
scurrying back to Fuka’s side. …So, she didn’t think it through and just spilled it.
Glancing at Yanagi, his face is pale as a sheet.
At any rate—Fuka claps her hands together with an apologetic look.
“Sorry for interrupting the match. I told her to hold back during the 《Duel Game》.”
“Please forgive me, please forgive me! But he’s such a wonderful person!”
Sumire keeps sending sparkling glances at Minakami even while showing remorse.
She might’ve just saved her, in a way.
(But… that ‘forbidden action’ is the worst. It’s great we identified it early,
but under 《The Tower of Lore》’s rules, progressing in battle without choosing defensive skills
is absolutely impossible. Continuing will deplete Minakami’s count,
and surrendering will let the enemy drain our faction’s EXP to the limit…)
It’s a brutal binary choice. With the rule of alternating offense and defense every five minutes,
as long as we keep fighting Minami, Minakami will be forced to choose “defense” repeatedly.
That could lead to her count running out right here. While I’d rather avoid being exploited
by Fuka or the Demon Faction, losing Minakami means we have no future against 《Hexagram》.
So,
“—I… I surrender.”
Clenching her fist tightly, Minakami mutters those words while slightly bowing her head.
Seeing this, Fuka gives a relieved smile and nods once.
“Okay. This means half of the Revolutionary Faction’s EXP transfers to the Demon Faction.
Normally, we’d add a penalty and call it done, but as Yanagi mentioned earlier,
our ‘temporary withdrawal’ is about to expire. So, next, the Revolutionary Faction can issue a battle challenge—”
“…? No, sorry, that’s not possible…”
In that moment, Minami’s sleepy voice interrupts Fuka’s line.
Swaying her blue hair, she opens her device and projects the faction info at the top.
【Player: Minami Shizuku. Affiliation: Revolutionary Faction】
“…Huh?”
“Just now, my faction transfer request was approved… With you two withdrawn,
the Revolutionary Faction had an open slot. I slipped in… Effective use of dead space.”
“But… why?”
“? No reason. In that battle… if it had continued, I probably would’ve lost.
I saw Stalker-san trying something… I was only saved by 《Hexagram》’s ability.
So, the Revolutionary Faction has two players who could beat me… That’s impressive.”
“Well, maybe. …But don’t you want to fight strong opponents?
Wouldn’t you have a better shot staying in a different faction?”
“You know that, and yet… The fact that you’re preparing so thoroughly
means your opponent is that strong. So, I’ll probably have more fun joining you…
Plus, I want payback. In the fourth-phase semifinals and this final battle…
Every time I try to fight someone strong, 《Hexagram those guys》 get in the way.
Yes, I’m a vengeful woman… I want to pay them back double.”
“…I see. That’s a troublesome personality.”
“I know. …If I’m in the way, I’ll leave.”
Minami tilts her head provocatively (though expressionless), but of course, she’s not in the way.
In fact, it’s beyond expectations. I planned to show her Minakami’s strength,
make her acknowledge it as equal or greater, then guide her with words.
But Minami figured it out on her own.
So—with a fearless grin, I naturally turn my gaze to Fuka.
“A draw, huh, Fuka? You won the battle, but we’re taking Minami.
By the way, what’s your plan? There’s still one slot open in the Revolutionary Faction.”
“…I’m not shameless enough to take it that far. Without Minami-san, we can’t fight anymore,
so we’ll quietly withdraw… Yeah, maybe we’ll officially join the Demon Faction.
Originally, we planned to bring Shinohara-kun’s elimination as a gift, but…”
“Oh? If you thought I’d fall in a preliminary skirmish like this, that’s disappointing.”
“Yeah, you’re right. My evaluation of Shinohara-kun was still too soft.
But… don’t get too comfortable. I’ve seen your strength, but Toya-san is still far stronger.
The real fight starts now—the ones who’ll win in the end are us, 《Albion》.”
With that, Fuka turns her back to us. At the same time, both she and Sumire
seem to have submitted transfer requests to the Demon Faction.
With Yanagi and Minami gone, there are two open slots, so per the rules,
their requests will be approved in one minute.
Thus—the clash with the Demon Faction ends in a literal draw.
♭
《SFIA Sphere》 Final Battle 《The Tower of Lore》—Same time, Third Floor.
“…Oh? Soma’s eliminated, huh.”
Learning through Explorer Kururugi Senri’s 《Power Reconnaissance》 skill
that a 《Hexagram》 member has fallen, Saeki mutters in a tone that’s not particularly surprised.
He hadn’t placed much hope in that piece anyway. It’s no big deal if he’s gone…
Still, Saeki himself is currently the “Reaper,” and there’s no sign that
the 《No-Linger Restriction》 has activated yet. That means Yanagi was likely
expelled from the tower due to the 《Countdown》 effect.
“Soma’s forbidden action was 【Telling a non-《Hexagram》 player about forbidden actions】.”
Standing beside Saeki, Akutsu Miyabi says this with a faint sigh.
“It was a condition assumed to be nearly impossible to trigger…
Honestly, what a useless pawn. Probably got manipulated into talking by another player.”
“Perhaps. He’s supposed to avoid bold moves… Hmm.”
While speaking, Saeki opens his device to review the player data collected so far.
Gathered through the organization’s connections via less-than-clean channels,
it’s far more detailed than publicly available data.
His eyes linger on one entry.
“Seventh District Shinra High School, second year, Fuwa Sumire.
Possesses extremely high empathy, her gaze said to ‘read emotions’… huh.
If she’s sensitive to malice or hostility, she could easily read Soma’s expression.
She’s probably using an ability to assist with that too.”
“Right. If so, that’s bad news. If info about forbidden actions leaks,
Kaoru’s advantage weakens slightly. …What a troublesome bunch.
The moment we entered 《The Tower of Lore》, it’s like a swarm of detective-wannabe barbarians
started stirring outside… Of course, we’ve taken measures.”
“Yes, that’s not a good trend. We may need to make an example again.”
Nodding quietly in agreement with Akutsu’s words, Saeki
narrows his eyes with a bright smile.
“—Well then, shall we start the hunt?”
【《SFIA Sphere》 Final Battle 《The Tower of Lore》—Mid-Progress (Day 2, Midday)】
【Angel Faction—Akutsu Miyabi / Saeki Kaoru / Fujishiro Keiya / Kururugi Senri】
【Demon Faction—Kirigaya Toya / Fuwa Sumire / Fuwa Fuka / Kugasaki Seiran】
【Kingdom Faction—Saionji Sarasa / (Ishizaki Ako) / (Yuikawa Kanade) / Yumeno Misaki】
※Ishizaki Ako and Yuikawa Kanade are accompanying the Angel Faction
【Revolutionary Faction—Shinohara Hiroto / Minakami Mari / Minami Shizuku】
【Eliminated—Yanagi Soma】
