Chapter 3: Turmoil and Chaos
♯
“—So close, huh.”
The May Interacademy Tournament《Astral》, second day, first half.
Just like yesterday, as I was advancing to expand our bases, a faint whisper suddenly reached my ears.
The voice, of course, belonged to Kagaya-san. …However, her words were so brief that I couldn’t quite grasp what she meant, so I tapped my earpiece and prompted, “What’s that?”
“Mhm. Well… you see, there’s a member from another team in the direction you guys are heading right now. Judging by the color, probably the Fifteenth Ward? If you keep going, I bet you’ll spot them in less than ten minutes.”
Kagaya-san said this with a slightly cautious tone. …I see, our first encounter with another team, huh. If we’re expanding east while they’re spreading west, it’s inevitable that we’d clash eventually. Considering that the positions of the “bases” we’re all aiming for are the same for every team, it’s only natural that our paths would overlap to some extent.
After a small cough, Kagaya-san continued through the earpiece.
“As for their forces—first off, they’ve got a full team of five. Their spell card count is 73, and their area covers 85 tiles. Eimei’s spell count is 60, so they’ve got a slight edge in terms of firepower.”
“……”
I mulled over Kagaya-san’s information, quietly sinking into thought. Same number of members, but we’re slightly behind in other resources. Still, since Eimei has three 6-star rankers, our pure “combat ability” should at least be close to even.
If that’s the case, it’s not like we can’t fight—sure, teamwork’s a concern, but winning would let us expand our area significantly and give us an edge in the【Commander】rivalry with Enomoto.
Laying out the factors one by one like this, the benefits of avoiding combat actually seemed fewer. We were heading east in the first place because it was the most efficient for collecting bases. Changing our route would inevitably lower that efficiency.
And so,
“—Everyone, listen up for a sec.”
Acting as if I’d gathered the info myself, I decided to share what I’d just heard with my teammates. The moment I mentioned that another team’s members were closing in—aside from Himeji, who’d been listening to Kagaya-san’s transmission—Enomoto and Asamiya’s expressions stiffened slightly. As for Akizuki, she broke into a sly grin, as if thrilled at the prospect of finally getting to fight.
“Ehehe… ♡ Hey, Hiroto-kun, which team’s the foolhardy bunch daring to pick a fight with the invincible Eimei Academy led by this Noa-chan?”
“The academy from the Fifteenth Ward. They ranked fourteenth last year. Well, they probably haven’t noticed us yet, and even if they do, it’s not guaranteed we’ll end up fighting.”
“Ehh? But if our paths cross, fighting’s the only option, right?”
“Not necessarily. There’s a command for a conditional truce agreement, and as long as our interests align, teaming up or letting each other pass is totally viable. Especially early on, when usable spells are limited. Both sides might not be able to finish the other off, and we’d just end up wearing each other down for nothing.”
“Ugh, yeah, that’d be the worst. So, Shino, you’re saying you’d rather avoid fighting and slip by somehow?”
“Hm…”
I didn’t answer Asamiya’s question right away, instead stealing a glance at Enomoto. As usual, he was just observing me, sizing me up, without saying anything in particular.
Not that it mattered, but still.
“…No, to be honest, I think fighting’s the better call. The《Duel》is still in its early stages, but battles with other teams are only going to get more intense from here. And since the winning team can take all of the loser’s area, it’s basically a snowball effect that’ll rapidly widen the gap. If we can’t keep up, we’re done for.”
“Ehehe, that’s our Hiroto-kun♪ We’ve gotta gently teach those Fifteenth Ward folks what happens when they get in our way… ♡”
“Yeah. …But for now, we observe. We don’t know what kind of strategy their academy is using for the《Duel》, so it’s not too late to engage after we see how they move. Of course, we’ll need to prepare for a counterattack in the meantime.”
“I see. So, we create a situation where we can claim ‘we’re open to cooperation,’ but if it comes to a fight, we switch to an all-out assault.”
“Exactly.”
I nodded, a smirk tugging at my lips. In simple terms, it’s the “leave it to them” approach. If they propose negotiations, we might entertain them depending on the terms, but if it’s a fight, we crush them with full force. Thorough preparation beforehand is absolutely essential for that.
Turning my gaze back to the team, I continued in a calm tone.
“There are a few things we can do at this point, but two are non-negotiable: setting up《Traps》and distributing our spells.”
“Yes, precisely, Master.”
Himeji, standing beside me, gave a small nod in agreement.
“As we confirmed in yesterday’s test run, the cooldown for using a《Trap》spell is ‘five times the action value per card consumed.’ Even the weakest《Trap》incurs a significant cooldown, so setting them during combat is a bit unrealistic.”
“Right. Unlike instant spells like《Sword Flash》or《Gunfire》,《Traps》are meant to be placed on the field in advance for delayed activation. You can set them up precisely or just scatter them around, and it’ll still make a big difference.”
“Indeed.《Astral》has friendly fire—meaning allies can take combat damage—but it’s explicitly stated that《Traps》won’t activate unless an enemy player steps on them, so we should set as many as possible. …That said, spell distribution is arguably the more critical matter.”
Himeji said this, letting her silver hair sway lightly. I nodded in agreement and crossed my arms.
“As I mentioned earlier, especially early on, resource scarcity is our biggest enemy. We’re bound to run short on cards. For example, Eimei’s current spell count is 60, but only eight are《Sword Flash》, and seven each are《Magic Cannon》and《Gunfire》. That’s a bit shaky for taking down a team of five.”
“True. According to《Astral》’s rules, standard attack spells deal one LP’s worth of damage. Since players start with 5 LP, we’re simply short on damage as is. In other words, we need to account for type advantages and weaknesses… correct?”
Himeji supplemented my point perfectly, her clear blue eyes fixed on me.
She’s right. In this《Duel》, the three roles—【Soldier】,【Mage】, and【Spy】—form a rock-paper-scissors dynamic with《Sword Flash》,《Magic Cannon》, and《Gunfire》. For instance, a【Soldier】excels at《Sword Flash》(double damage dealt) but is weak to《Gunfire》(double damage taken). Leveraging these modifiers could significantly reduce our spell consumption.
Yes, that’s correct. Correct, but—
“…No, that’s not enough.”
Shaking my head quietly, I voiced my objection. Meeting the puzzled gazes, mostly from Asamiya, I continued in a more serious tone.
“Role and spell matchups are important, sure, but there’s something even more critical here. Listen up—the【Commander】. We have to take down the【Commander】first, or we’re not even in the game.”
—Yes, exactly. That’s the deal.
It’s obvious when you think about it. In this《Duel》, as long as the【Commander】is alive, the entire team gets a buff: a -1 modifier to action values and +1 to max LP. That means shorter cooldowns and boosted health. Naturally, whether the【Commander】is still standing could easily affect how many spells it takes to defeat an enemy. In other words, the【Commander】is undeniably the top priority target.
“…But, Shinohara.”
At that moment, Enomoto, who’d been silent, slowly raised his head.
“We don’t know which of their members holds which role, do we?”
“Yeah. I tried checking with an ability, but that info seems to be in a restricted domain. We’ll have to figure it out by observing them directly.”
“Hmm… I see. So, a chance to prove our worth as【Commanders】, then.”
Enomoto muttered with a faintly provocative tone, and I responded with a grin to show my agreement. …Indeed, with both teams’ forces evenly matched and neither having ample weapons, the leaders’ strategies will make all the difference. If I want Enomoto to “acknowledge” me, I can’t afford to screw this up and humiliate myself.
So… I’d better confirm one thing now. To use that ability effectively, it’d be a pain if one of those was nearby.
I glanced at the scattered pillars, muttering to myself inwardly.
With that, we began our “preparations” to face our first battle.
♯
“Hey, everyone from Eimei Academy. Nice to meet you.”
About ten minutes later—
As Kagaya-san predicted, we came face-to-face with students from another ward.
Not that we were lined up waiting for them or anything. Himeji and I stood at the frontline tile, with Akizuki and Asamiya positioned at our right and left rear, and Enomoto holding the back tile—a diamond-shaped formation.
The enemy team from the Fifteenth Ward had a slightly different setup. A single, cheerful-looking male student stood at the front, with two pairs—a male and a female in each—standing on the tiles behind him. While our footing was dyed a vibrant green, the area ahead was a deep navy blue. This was the boundary between our teams. Due to the base placements, a distorted neutral zone separated us.
The guy standing in front of me followed his greeting with a friendly smile and a small bow.
“We’re from Academy Island’s Fifteenth Ward. I won’t bother introducing the whole team, but I’m the leader, Yuikawa Kanade. I didn’t expect the first team we’d run into would be yours—Shinohara Hiroto-kun’s academy—but maybe that’s a stroke of luck?”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Well, about that.”
Yuikawa responded to my question with a quick nod, shrugging slightly and raising both hands in a gesture of surrender—a sign of no resistance.
“The thing is, we’re not here to pick a fight. Since our areas are adjacent, we’d love to build a good relationship with you guys.”
“A good relationship, huh. …Cut to the chase, I’m not in the mood for games.”
“Got it. In that case, what we’re after is ‘negotiation’… or, more bluntly, a ‘truce agreement.’ To be honest, we’re not aiming for the championship. Slipping into the top five would be more than enough for us. We’d rather avoid conflict with any team if we can. After all, Ibara was only ranked fourteenth last year—a small fry. We’re not in a position to aim too high.”
Yuikawa laid out their situation in a somewhat languid tone. Then, spreading his arms again, he offered a negotiation with a bright smile.
“You probably already know, but this《Duel》has a《Temporary Pact》command. In simple terms, it lets you ‘form contracts’ with other teams. The terms can be anything—like, say,【Eimei Academy and Ibara Academy won’t invade each other’s areas】. You can set penalties for breaking the pact, so it’s not just a verbal promise—it’s something you have to follow. …What do you think? Not having to watch your back in this free-for-all is a pretty big deal, no?”
“…I see.”
I rolled Yuikawa’s terms around in my head, quietly weighing them.
It wasn’t a bad deal. As he said,《Astral》is a battle royale. With enemies on all sides, you have to stay vigilant in every direction. In that context, securing safety in even one direction is incredibly valuable.
The issue is whether he’s serious about this—or rather, what he’s really plotting.
Serious or not—to put it more bluntly, what’s this guy scheming? Sure, the《Temporary Pact》command allows for temporary truces or alliances, but that only works if both sides’ interests align. They want to cooperate because our areas are adjacent? Really? Even if they’re not aiming for the top, wouldn’t the standard move be to take out a troublesome nearby team before they can fully build up their strength?
“……”
“…Hmm, no good? Or is a proposal from a weak team not even worth considering?”
Yuikawa scratched his cheek with his index finger, tossing out a self-deprecating jab.
I looked into his eyes again and shook my head slightly.
“I didn’t say that. …One question: if I agree to your negotiation, does that mean we’ll each proceed in opposite directions?”
“Yeah, that’s the idea. We won’t mess with each other’s areas. Attacking is out of the question.”
“And the duration?”
“For now, until the second half of tomorrow ends, maybe? We’ll treat it as a trial run, and if it goes well, we could extend it to the end. From our perspective, we’d be fine letting Eimei take the win for a one-two finish.”
I see. If that’s the case, it does make sense… maybe.
Nodding internally at Yuikawa’s words, I agreed to his terms with the condition that we could set the penalty details. I stepped forward into the neutral tile, projecting my terminal’s screen. It was close enough for Yuikawa’s《Sword Flash》to reach, but with Himeji on guard beside me, I wasn’t worried about a sneak attack.
“Uh…?”
As I operated the terminal, I noticed the《Temporary Pact》was already active, with the contract terms Yuikawa mentioned displayed on the screen. Below that was a field to set the penalty for violations, along with the prompt【Do you accept the above contract?】flashing between【Yes/No】options. Presumably, the contract would finalize once both sides selected【Yes】.
I entered “area forfeiture” as the penalty, while Yuikawa smiled cheerfully in front of me.
“Man, I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to have your cooperation. Talk about a great start. Until tomorrow—or hopefully until the end—let’s do our best together, yeah?”
“Hm? Yeah, I’m not here to get chummy, but do your best to be useful—”
And then.
“…Huh?”
The instant I was about to finalize the《Temporary Pact》, a faint whistling sound grazed my ear. Frowning in confusion, I heard a soft scream from the girl standing behind Yuikawa to his left. Reflexively activating Sight Mode in her direction, I saw a crystal-like LP display hovering above her head, one segment shattered into pieces.
Wha—what…!? What just happened!?
Half-panicking but keeping my composure outwardly, I turned around—and there was Asamiya, her face 30% more serious than usual. Unlike Akizuki or Enomoto beside her, she was the only one in a combat stance, terminal at the ready. …No doubt, she was the one who fired. Right as the negotiation with Ibara was about to conclude, she used a《Magic Cannon》spell, as if deliberately sabotaging it.
Naturally, then.
“Ahh—this is unfortunate. Negotiation’s off, huh.”
With a bright smile still plastered on his face, Yuikawa activated《Sword Flash》and said this in an almost gleeful tone.
♯
Cooldown system—《Astral》’s game mechanics are a bit unique. Every action incurs a “cooldown” based on the player’s action value, and this plays a far more critical role in combat than during exploration.
You can’t just move recklessly…
Exactly. Using a single spell or ability triggers a few seconds of cooldown, so careless attacks leave you wide open.
To counter this, “covering cooldowns” with teammates is absolutely essential. While one person is in cooldown, another steps in to cover. In other words,《Astral》’s combat revolves around pairs or more.
“…Tch…!”
The current battle made that abundantly clear.
Himeji and I were facing Yuikawa, the leader-like guy, and a petite girl peeking cautiously from behind him. Meanwhile, Asamiya, who’d charged deep into the enemy’s navy-blue area, was being countered by another male-female pair plus the injured girl, with Enomoto providing support from a distance. Akizuki, whose【Spy】role isn’t suited for direct combat, was likely lurking somewhere with a《Stealth》spell, ready to assist either group.
In terms of apparent danger, Asamiya, who’d rushed solo into the enemy’s area, was in the worst spot. Being in their territory likely gave her a penalty to her action value. Even with her《Lightning Strike》ability making her action value top-tier among participants, she was struggling to keep up with the spell exchanges.
On top of that, her complete lack of coordination with Enomoto, her support, was a major issue.
“Damn it… Don’t charge in recklessly, Nanase!《Astral》’s friendly fire means attacks can hit allies too! Do you want to die by my spells!?”
“No way, idiot Shinji! Just aim properly so you don’t hit me!”
“I’m saying your erratic movements are making it impossible to aim…!”
Enomoto, a【Mage】who excels at long-range attacks and support, was being disrupted by his own ally, Asamiya, and could barely use his spells. Conversely, Asamiya ignored his protests, diving even deeper into the enemy’s lines.
“No way I’ll let you…!”
Of course, Ibara’s team wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip, launching a barrage of spells timed to exploit her cooldowns—but Asamiya dodged them physically by rolling into the adjacent tile, then countered with a《Sword Flash》spell.
“Sei! …See? I’m totally fine on my own. Shinji’s just in the way, so hurry up and go help Shino and Yukirin!”
“Fine!? Like hell! And anyway, Nanase—damn it, she’s not even listening, that idiot. Sorry, Shinohara, I’m going after Nanase. You handle things here!”
Without so much as a glance my way, Enomoto, clearly shaken, rushed into the navy-blue area after Asamiya. …Their bad chemistry was on full display, but, well, those two are a near-top-tier 6-star duo. Their combat prowess is exceptional, so I could leave that side to them. For now, we needed to focus on defeating the enemies in front of us.
“Phew…”
Yuikawa let out a quiet breath, his gaze following Enomoto’s retreating back.
“A sneak attack, huh… Was that your call?”
“Who knows? I’ll let you imagine that one.”
“Pretty composed, aren’t you? As expected of Academy Island’s strongest. …But you made one mistake.”
Yuikawa said this, a slight smirk playing on his lips. He brushed his hair back dramatically and continued.
“You probably already know, but in early-game skirmishes, identifying the enemy’s roles is the key to victory. If you don’t know their roles, you risk wasting precious attack spells. And the most critical role to pinpoint is the【Commander】—taking them out weakens the entire enemy team’s stats. It’s a high-priority target, but normally, you can’t tell who the【Commander】is.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“But this situation isn’t normal. …That maid of yours, during the negotiation and even now, she’s been fixated on you. Always ready to step in if something happens. Isn’t that a bit odd? You’re a 7-star, with the strongest ability and the highest action value. There’s no reason to guard you that closely.”
“……”
“There’s only one reason—because you’re the【Commander】, Shinohara Hiroto-kun. And the maid’s probably a【Guardian】, right?”
…Nailed it, damn.
I mentally gave a small nod of praise to Yuikawa, who was smugly laying out his deduction. He’s right. He’s completely seen through our role composition.
While I stayed silent on the surface, Yuikawa’s grin widened as he pressed on.
“That’s why I said it was a mistake. You shouldn’t have let that info slip so easily. No matter how much of a 7-star legend you are, if it’s just a【Commander】and a【Guardian】here, wiping you out isn’t that hard. In fact, if the【Soldier】and【Mage】over there wrap up quickly, they’ll join us, and you’re done.”
He spoke with relaxed confidence, slowly closing the distance alongside the girl next to him. In response, I backed away bit by bit, still shielded by Himeji.
At that moment—
“H-Hiroto-kun, Hiroto-kun!”
“…Akizuki? What’s up?”
“Mya-chan’s in a bit of trouble! She got caught in a《Trap》in the enemy area and is surrounded by three of them… The president’s doing a good job distracting them, but they’re starting to get pushed back!”
“…Got it. Then go support them and buy as much time as you can. Don’t worry about conserving spells.”
“O-Okay… Got it!”
Akizuki’s voice carried an unusual urgency. I wanted to believe her presence would prevent an immediate collapse, but they were in enemy territory, where longer cooldowns applied. They might not hold out for long.
“……”
The worst-case scenario flashed through my mind, making me feel an involuntary rush of anxiety—but in this situation, my thoughts were growing sharper. I quietly brought my right hand to my mouth, turning things over in my head.
…Why did Asamiya suddenly attack in the first place?
That was the first question that hit me. Launching an assault that all but destroyed a nearly finalized negotiation. But if there was some legitimate reason for it—if there was something about the enemy that prompted her to act—the girl she targeted was likely a【Mage】or【Spy】, adept at long-range attack spells. Given that the《Magic Cannon》dealt only 1 damage, she probably wasn’t the【Commander】.
Next, the cheerful guy I was facing, Yuikawa Kanade. He was clearly the team’s leader, but he likely wasn’t the【Commander】either. As he himself noted, the【Commander】is someone you absolutely can’t afford to lose. In that case, stepping forward alone during negotiations, even as a bluff, was far too bold.
In fact,
Yuikawa called it a “mistake” that I acted in a way that revealed I’m the【Commander】… but that’s not really the case.
A faint smirk crept onto my face as I thought this.
Sure, identifying the enemy’s【Commander】is a critical task that can drastically shift your strategy. But that’s only for your own team. It doesn’t matter if the enemy figures it out. In fact, if we can use that to our advantage—if letting them know makes their moves more predictable—then we should actively let it slip.
When they saw us split into two groups, they split up too. At that point, Yuikawa knew Himeji and I were the【Commander】and【Guardian】—the roles they think they can “wipe out easily,” the least threatening ones.
His earlier words made that clear. Yuikawa was wary of the【Soldier】and【Mage】, and those two roles weren’t here. We’d split up deliberately to ensure that.
Yes—exactly. This was a decoy. A【Commander】and【Guardian】pair is often underestimated in terms of firepower. On the other hand, a combo of【Soldier】,【Mage】, and【Spy】is, frankly, a murder machine. If I were Yuikawa and had to split my team, deciding where to place the【Commander】would be a no-brainer.
Yeah—that’s right. That’s why she’s the【Commander】.
I glanced up briefly at the black-haired girl hiding behind Yuikawa, making my conclusion.
But… knowing who the【Commander】is doesn’t solve the problem of how to take her down. Even if her combat ability isn’t high, by the same logic, Yuikawa is likely a combat-oriented role—probably a【Soldier】or【Mage】—with an aggressive ability setup strong enough to take on Himeji and me alone. Dealing with him the usual way would be tough, but… I’d known that from the start.
“—Using《Barrier》.”
While shielded by Himeji, I continued retreating deeper into our area, luring them into a specific zone where we’d confirmed something during our preparations—keeping them just out of《Magic Cannon》range but not too far.
Seeing my movements, Yuikawa shrugged with a sigh.
“Heh… Pretty obvious, huh. It looked like you were moving randomly, but it’s clear now you were aiming for this spot. Probably set up some《Traps》, right?”
“Who knows? Why don’t you step on it and find out?”
“Pointless, 7-star. Our【Spy】is top-notch—《Clear Vision Lv5》. It grants the entire team the ability to see all《Traps》placed on the field.”
“…Huh.”
I grimaced inwardly at the blatant ability gap.
Yuikawa smirked slightly and began advancing slowly, his steps brimming with confidence, as if victory was assured. The girl followed timidly behind, keeping pace so as not to be left behind. She activated Sight Mode, likely to check the battlefield—then, in that instant.
“Ah…!”
The girl let out a faint gasp and froze. Her trembling shoulders and vacant stare suggested she saw something in Sight Mode. Her face gradually paled.
“Hm…?”
Yuikawa, noticing a moment later, glanced back at her while still keeping an eye on us.
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet now?”
“N-No, that’s not it. It’s… this…”
“……Huh?”
Realizing what she was implying, Yuikawa quickly swiped his right hand to access Sight Mode. I couldn’t see his display, but it should’ve shown something like this—
【Eimei Academy’s《Trap》has been activated.】
【Two target players are inflicted with a 30-second cooldown (cannot be dispelled with《Release》).】
The activation text for a《Trap》spell consuming five cards, triggering a “forced cooldown.”
Glaring at it with a furious expression, Yuikawa swung his arm down sharply.
“What the…!? This is nonsense! There wasn’t supposed to be a《Trap》on this tile!”
“Wasn’t? …No, that’s not quite right.”
Stepping forward to the previous tile, I flashed a smug grin.
“‘Wasn’t’ isn’t the same as ‘it looked like there wasn’t.’ Those are two different things. See, I’ve got an ability to manipulate visuals—or rather, to use video effects to trick opponents into seeing things.”
“—!? So that’s it… the ability you stole from Phoenix,《†Jet-Black Wings†》!!”
Yuikawa’s eyes widened as he let out a pained cry at my words.
Exactly. As he suspected, this spot was rigged with multiple《Traps》, and I’d lured them here to use them. To ensure they couldn’t avoid it, I forcibly altered their visual data with my Unique Star ability《†Jet-Black Wings†》, making them walk right into the《Trap》and sealing their actions spectacularly—
…That would’ve been cool, at least.
—Unfortunately, that was all a lie.
It’s obvious when you think about it. Using《†Jet-Black Wings†》twice with my action value would rack up nearly a minute of cooldown. In contrast, a five-card《Trap》only inflicts 30 seconds of cooldown.
In other words,《†Jet-Black Wings†》was just a bluff.
I only used its fame to make them fall for it—I didn’t actually activate it.
But that raises another question: how did I trap them?
“Hiro-kyun, you’re really good at acting… I’m the one tampering with their terminals to show the《Trap》text, but I almost fell for it myself.”
…Right.
The truth is far more fundamental: there was never a《Trap》on that tile to begin with.《Company》simply interfered with their terminals, graying out the spell and ability menus. The《Trap》activation text was just a bit of extra flair we threw in—there was no actual cooldown.
Of course, a “lie” like this would be easily spotted by a third party watching the whole thing. It could even raise suspicions of cheating. …But that’s exactly why I lured them to this spot. Yuikawa thought I’d set《Traps》here for straightforward reasons, but that wasn’t it at all.
—It’s because there isn’t a single pillar here where《Libra》could set up a camera.
That’s the gist of it.
At the same time—grinning wickedly, I moved to the tile beside the girl and calmly raised my terminal. The spell I chose was, naturally,《Sword Flash》, with the shortest cooldown.
“See ya,【Commander】. If you’re gonna hate someone, hate that guy over there.”
“Ah—!”
With a single slash—no, two, synced with Himeji’s《Magic Cannon》(with a slight lag)—I shaved off her remaining 4 LP in an instant, and her body vanished from the AR world. Shortly after, Himeji coolly dispatched the shaken Yuikawa, who was reeling from the【Commander】’s elimination, and a faint sigh brushed my ear.
“—Haa…”
Confirming it was over, I slumped to the ground, breathing heavily.
Wiping sweat from my brow with my uniform’s hem, I tried to calm my racing heart. …This first battle had been utterly exhausting. The unique cooldown-based system, unlike turn-based games, left no moment to relax.
“……”
Taking advantage of the lack of cameras, I let out a gloomy sigh.
Himeji approached quietly and spoke in a gentle tone.
“Well done, Master—fufu, you were very cool.”
♯
Returning to our original position after the fight with Yuikawa’s team, I found that their side had already been dealt with.
Ibara’s members were long gone, leaving only Eimei’s three. As if to mark the battle’s end, the navy-blue area had been repainted in our vibrant green—but something seemed off.
“……”
At one of the blue, topless pillars scattered across the digital game field, Enomoto was cornering Asamiya, his hand pressed against it. It looked like a classic wall-slam, but Enomoto’s expression was dead serious, with no hint of playfulness.
“—Why did you pull that stunt, Nanase?”
A low voice spilled from Enomoto’s lips. Asamiya, her back pressed against the pillar, turned her face slightly away.
“Do you even realize what you did? This is a team game, not Nanase’s personal《Duel》. Your reckless actions put us all in danger.”
“……”
“Listen. I still haven’t acknowledged him, but right now, Shinohara is Eimei’s【Commander】. And Shinohara chose to negotiate with them. I don’t think that was a mistake. …But your unilateral action ruined it.”
“B-But we won, didn’t we…? And, like, you’re way too close…”
“That’s just results-based thinking, you idiot.《Astral》is a strategy simulation game. It’s not just about beating the enemy in front of you. Sure, as you said, we beat Ibara. On that alone, it’s a great outcome. But how much of a chance did we actually have? Who was covering you when you charged into their area without a plan? Who turned the tide by taking out their【Commander】?”
“…Hey, Enomoto, you don’t have to go that far—”
“No, let me speak, Shinohara. …This is how it was last year too. During last year’s May Tournament, we dragged each other down and lost miserably to a weaker team. I don’t want to repeat that mistake. We can’t repeat it. This isn’t a game—getting caught up in Nanase’s idiocy screws us all over.”
“……!”
The moment Enomoto finished, Asamiya swung her left hand, knocking his arm away. With red, teary eyes, she glared fiercely at him.
“…Tch… even though… I…”
“…Huh? Speak clearly, Nanase.”
“Shut up, you idiot Shinji! If you’re gonna say that, don’t ever talk to me again!”
Letting out a strangled shout, Asamiya flipped her uniform and turned her back on Enomoto. Without a single glance back, she ran off somewhere.
“Ah… uh, um… mmm…”
Akizuki was the most flustered by the scene, but she soon decided to chase after Asamiya. “Leave it to Noa-chan! ♡” she said with a (surprisingly sultry) wink before dashing off.
“……”
As for Enomoto, he stood motionless for a while. Then, as if exhaling pent-up breath, he slowly shook his head and turned to me.
“…Shinohara, was I wrong?”
“……”
His subdued voice still carried a hint of raw emotion.
Was he wrong? …Objectively, no. The outcome worked in our favor, but Asamiya’s actions went against my orders as【Commander】. It’s hard to believe she acted without reason, but in a team game, it was a clear negative. Enomoto’s words, on the other hand, held weight.
Still,
“I don’t think you were wrong. …But it doesn’t exactly feel right either.”
“…I see.”
Enomoto gave a heavy nod at my response.
Thus, despite emerging from our first battle with zero losses and a complete victory… the first half of《Astral》’s second day ended on a grim note.
♯
“Whoa…”
Shortly after the AR world temporarily closed with the end of the first half, we Eimei Academy members returned to the entrance of Shikishima Grand Hotel.
During this event, breakfast and dinner were provided buffet-style for all participants, but lunch was entirely free. Unlike the restful mornings and evenings, lunchtime was likely meant as a time for “individual strategy meetings.”
That’s how we spent yesterday, at least. …But this time, with Asamiya completely sulking, things weren’t so simple. As soon as we reached the hotel, she clasped her hands with a “Sorry!” and bolted to the girls’ room before we could stop her. Akizuki chased after her, and Enomoto vanished somewhere—leaving just Himeji and me standing there alone.
I heard those two don’t get along, but…
I nearly let out a sigh. …They’re incredibly strong individually but tough to handle. Tatara had warned me about that, and seeing it firsthand, I got it. Even in the recent battle, their struggles stemmed almost entirely from “lack of coordination.” They fought poorly because they had zero interest in working together, but according to《Libra》’s broadcast, their individual strengths completely overwhelmed the enemy. And that was against a team full of 4- and 5-star players.
Teamwork’s the worst, but… can they still fight somehow?
Reflecting on the Ibara battle, I felt a mix of unease and reluctant relief.
And… right then.
“—Oh?”
A painfully familiar voice briefly brushed my ear from behind. Grimacing instinctively, I turned around slowly with exaggerated flair. Himeji, twisting her body at the same time, joined me in facing the girl with luxurious red hair head-on.
A split-second of eye contact.
Following her first words, the one to speak was her—Saionji Sarasa.
“Fufu… First time seeing you at this event, Shinohara. It looks like your team’s not all here—could it be you’re barely even communicating?”
“Coming out of nowhere with a greeting, huh, Saionji? Sorry, but I’m not so high-handed as to control my team’s lunch break just because I’m on it. Unlike a certain lofty leader-sama.”
“Oh? I’m not forcing anyone. It’s simply a matter of whether a leader is respected or not. …Fufu. Well, expecting that from someone who just transferred might be a bit unfair.”
“Nah, if we’re talking about that, your team’s all girls, isn’t it? Ha, the great《Empress》-sama, only admired by her own gender?”
“Ouka’s member selection is entirely system-based. Of course, there are standards, but no one’s personal whims are involved. …If anything, I’m more worried about you secretly checking out the girls.”
Saionji crossed her arms, close enough to touch, flashing a teasing smirk. I shoved one hand in my pocket, raising the corner of my mouth in response. Naturally, we drew some glances bickering at the hotel entrance, but I was used to this level of attention.
“Hm…”
As the verbal sparring settled, I shifted the topic slightly.
“So, how’s the《Duel》going for you, ojousama? Got a plan to beat us yet?”
“What, you think I’d just tell you? It’s a secret, a secret. We’re seriously aiming for the championship this time. …That said, you guys seem to be doing pretty well yourselves.”
“Thanks to you. Because of you, I’m stuck in this lousy side event. If I lose, you get replaced by the《Doppelgänger》… I’d get killed by your fans if I didn’t take this seriously, right?”
“…True. I won’t say I don’t feel a bit guilty about that…”
Saionji brought her right hand to her mouth at my words. Then, lifting her ruby eyes slightly, she chose her words carefully—switching to her “public” tone.
“Honestly, I’m a bit underwhelmed.”
“Underwhelmed? The《Empress》-sama thinks this fight’s too low-level?”
“Can you stop painting me as some queen bee? I’m actually pretty nice to everyone but you. …No, what I mean is the《Doppelgänger》. They were hyping themselves up so much before the event, but now that it’s started, they haven’t done anything. Yesterday and today, they’re just quietly expanding their area. Since it’s just one person, their efficiency’s pretty bad too… So, I’m saying it’s a bit of a letdown.”
Saionji shrugged lightly, her arms loosely crossed under her chest.
Well… I couldn’t entirely disagree. In the last《Ward Selection Battle》, Kurahashi Mikado or Akizuki Noa would’ve already made their move by now. But this《Doppelgänger》? Nothing. It’s almost eerie.
“……”
“…Fufu.”
Saionji let out a refined chuckle, watching me fall silent with a serious expression.
“Still, maybe it’s a stroke of luck for you?”
“Luck?”
“Yes. If I’d realized the《Doppelgänger》was a real threat, I would’ve ignored efficiency and marched into Eimei’s area to take you out first. You’re lucky to have a bit more time, hmm?”
“…Y’know, I’m starting to think the《Doppelgänger》might be the real one.”
“How rude. You of all people should know which Saionji Sarasa is the real one. …Anyway, that’s the deal with the《Doppelgänger》. You’d better expand your area so Ouka gets stronger when you’re absorbed. If you lose to anyone but me, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. But if I accidentally swallow up Ouka’s red area in the process, don’t complain, okay?”
“Funny joke.”
“That’s my honest plan.”
We traded barbs at close range until the end, then simultaneously looked away, wrapping up the long exchange. It’s almost a ritual at this point. Maybe that’s why Himeji doesn’t bother stepping in anymore. I’ve even got enough composure to notice Saionji’s surprisingly long eyelashes.
But—well, that aside.
A fake that hasn’t made a move yet… It’s definitely concerning. But there’s nothing I can do about it either way.
Outwardly sporting a cocky grin, I muttered to myself inwardly. …Last night and this morning, no one was at Seijo Academy’s table. The《Doppelgänger》only appears as Saionji Sarasa in the footage, so their real appearance is unknown—making it basically impossible to track them down. It feels like we’re constantly on the back foot, but until they make a move, there’s nothing we can do.
…Right.
At that moment, I had no idea it was already closing in.
♯
—May Interacademy Tournament《Astral》, second day, second half.
After a two-hour lunch break, Asamiya’s mood had improved somewhat. She still refused to talk to Enomoto, but she was following《Duel》-related orders normally.
Eimei’s current status: we held 184 tiles, with eleven bases and a total spell count of 147 cards. Absorbing Ibara’s area earlier had given us a massive resource advantage compared to a few hours ago. In terms of my rivalry with Enomoto, taking down their【Commander】was a huge step forward.
Ideally, we’d keep this momentum—er, rather, engage in as many battles as possible before other teams could build up their strength. Unfortunately,《Company》’s scouting range didn’t pick up any other teams, so we returned to expanding our area.
“—Hey, Hiroto-kun.”
Suddenly, Akizuki turned to me with an upward glance and spoke.
“Noa was thinking… our area’s gotten pretty big, so maybe it’s time to start defending our bases?”
“Hm? Yeah… you’re right.”
I nodded slightly at Akizuki’s suggestion.
Base defense—first off, in《Astral》, enemy bases can be neutralized using the support spell《Neutralize》. Since a team’s area is tied to their bases, losing one naturally shrinks their territory.
There are several ways to prevent this, but the most standard is the【Guardian】’s《Barrier》. By placing a《Barrier》on a base’s tile, you can block《Neutralize》. One《Barrier》counters one《Neutralize》, so repeated uses could still break through, but《Neutralize》on an enemy base has a long cooldown. Catching up to counterattack shouldn’t be too hard.
After thinking it through, I shook my head and continued.
“It’s the second half of day two, so frequent battles wouldn’t be surprising. And when that happens, some teams will definitely try to capitalize on the chaos. We’ve set minimal《Traps》for now, but defending bases during combat is tough. Solidifying our defenses before things heat up isn’t a bad idea.”
“Right~! And while we’re at it, why not add a ton more《Traps》? Like, anyone who messes with our bases is not getting away!”
“Ehehe, Mya-chan’s a genius♪ Alright, Noa’s gonna go all out too! ♡”
Akizuki’s face lit up at Asamiya’s suggestion, her smile practically melting. …The conversation was a bit grim, but the plan itself was fine. After all, defending a base is relatively more valuable than capturing one. It’s far better than just attacking.
“……”
Enomoto, still affected by his clash with Asamiya, stood a bit apart but didn’t object to the discussion. He seemed to have no complaints.
Just as I was about to refocus on the《Duel》—
“…Please wait, Master.”
Suddenly, Himeji, right beside me, stopped me with a slightly firm tone. Turning to her, I saw her staring at her terminal, completely still. The unusual atmosphere made not just Akizuki and Asamiya but even Enomoto catch their breath.
Himeji slowly looked up, her clear blue eyes meeting mine as she spoke.
“I just received a notification—something rather strange seems to be happening.”
—What Himeji was looking at was a live broadcast of the event by《Libra》.
《Astral》has a “voting system” that allows audience participation, so the《Duel》’s events are streamed live on《Libra》’s official Island Tube channel. To avoid disadvantaging teams, the footage and audio are carefully edited, but the high production quality still delivers a strong sense of immersion. As a tournament gathering top players from each ward, it naturally draws significant attention.
I’d been watching it occasionally for reference, but… something was off. The channel was buzzing far more than usual. Until this morning, the stream had about 30,000 viewers (still a lot), but now it was easily over 100,000. The comments were flying by so fast they were impossible to read.
Something had definitely happened.
“……”
Despite a sharp sense of unease, I kept a cool exterior and gave Himeji a small nod. The viewer spike started about twenty minutes ago. Himeji, responding to my signal, set the seek bar to just before that point and projected the screen for everyone to see.
“…I’ll play it, then?”
“Yeah… Alright, I’m ready. Let’s see what happened with our own eyes.”
“Ehehe, so exciting… ♡”
Asamiya swallowed hard, while Akizuki sneakily intertwined her fingers with mine. Himeji, giving her a sidelong glance, tapped the play button through her glove.
Instantly—the screen filled with a cyberworld game field identical to ours. Its position relative to Eimei was unclear, but since Kagaya-san’s scouting hadn’t detected it, it wasn’t nearby. At the center stood five students in chic uniforms—three boys, two girls.
“—Tokoyo Academy. Academy Island’s Eighteenth Ward, ranked thirteenth last year.”
Himeji, spotting their emblem, leaned in and whispered so only I could hear. Without further elaboration, it seemed they weren’t a ward with particularly notable players.
That aside—from what I could see in the footage, they were playing the《Duel》quite solidly. They advanced toward the nearest base while staying vigilant, expanding their lavender area. It was a standard strategy most teams likely used.
“—Hey, everyone!”
At that moment, one of them turned around and called out. A guy with a carefree smile, he gestured lightly as he made a suggestion.
“We just had another spell supply time, right? Our team slots are filling up, so how about we redistribute our spells now?”
“Redistribution… Sounds good.”
“Yeah. I’m a【Mage】, so I’d like to stock up on《Magic Cannon》.”
“Hm…?”
Watching their exchange, I tilted my head slightly, a faint question forming. …There’s no audio processing from《Libra》. Normally, this kind of info would be censored to avoid giving teams a disadvantage, but this time it was completely unfiltered.
That meant Tokoyo Academy wasn’t disadvantaged by this footage being public—in other words, they’d already been wiped out.
In just a few minutes from here…?
“—Alright, let’s put all our personal spells back into the team slots for now~.”
Ignoring my unease, they began operating their terminals. I couldn’t see the exact number or types of spells, but they were resetting their hands and redistributing based on roles and playstyles.
“We had, like, twenty《Stealth》cards, right? I’d like a few extra.”
“Go for it. I’m fine with anything as long as I get《Release》.”
“Wait, we should discuss the distribution properly—”
And then.
“…Huh?”
The next moment, an incomprehensible change on the Island Tube screen made me let out a small sound. No, not just me—everyone’s jaws dropped in unison.
Because,
“““《Battle Start》…?”””
Yes, exactly—on the screen we were watching, a massive《Battle Start》cut-in appeared above Tokoyo Academy’s members. It was likely one of《Libra》’s visual effects, but its timing was clearly wrong. As proof, faint static and Kazami’s near-unfiltered voice leaked from the terminals, muttering, “What’s…?”
If even the staff assistants were this confused, it’s no wonder Tokoyo’s team was bewildered.
“Huh…? Hold on, what’s going on?”
“It says ‘Entered combat state,’ but… that only happens if another team attacks us or we attack them, right?”
“That’s how it works. But there’s no enemy team around, and none of us attacked—”
“—Didn’t get attacked, huh?”
In that instant.
One of the figures on screen—the guy who first spoke in the footage—said this with the same carefree smile. His expression was pure yet carried an unsettling depth. He put his hands behind his head and approached the other four leisurely, continuing.
“Man, this is such a drag. It’s supposed to be my big debut, but there’s no thrill in hunting you guys. Are you even checking your situation with Sight Mode?”
“H-Hey, what’s with you…? What are you talking about?”
“Just check your status already.”
“……”
Urged by the grinning guy, Tokoyo’s members, still barely grasping the situation, swiped their right hands to activate Sight Mode. Instantly, their faces paled—it’s no surprise. All four of their displays were flashing the words “Action Disabled.”
The leader, recovering fastest, shouted in a trembling voice.
“A-Action Disabled!? A max-power《Trap》…!? You, when did you—!?”
“While you were all having your cozy little chat, obviously.《Traps》don’t activate instantly but trigger after a delay, so you don’t have to worry about cooldowns. That’s their strength. And in this《Duel》,《Traps》are treated as attack spells. The moment you got caught, we were forced into combat.”
“!! You… you betrayed us!?”
One of them, enraged by the explanation, took a big step forward. He fumbled with his terminal, trying to activate a spell—but.
“None left. Not a single one. …Forgot? You just put them all back into the team slots.”
“Wha… You planned that far!? No way, you’re not supposed to be that smart…!”
“Nah, nah, let the situation speak for itself. As you know, once combat starts, you can’t access team slots until it’s over. Meaning you can’t use a single spell in this fight.”
“““……”””
The team fell into stunned silence, despair washing over them. The guy smirked wickedly. Then, strolling toward them like he was on a walk, he activated《Sword Flash》and struck—wiping them all out with fluid, unresisted attacks.
Then, looking up at…《Libra》’s camera, he whispered.
“—Now, time for the reveal.”
In that moment, another anomaly erupted on screen. Static like a sandstorm enveloped him, rendering his form unrecognizable, as if the camera was being jammed.
When the static cleared, a completely different person stood there.
“…Fufu.”
“!?”
Luxurious red hair and bold, arrogant ruby eyes.
The former 7-star prodigy who went undefeated for an entire year—Saionji Sarasa.
She smirked at the camera for a moment before tapping the ground twice with her right foot, as if saying, “Look closely.” But I didn’t need the gesture to notice. The moment Tokoyo’s team vanished, the area’s color had changed—from their lavender to Seijo’s jet-black.
A dazzling, elegant, and utterly one-sided domination.
Having pulled off this feat single-handedly, she let out a composed chuckle and threw these words at the screen.
“Hey—shall we start the real game now?”
The footage cut to black.
“““……”””
A painful silence dominated the scene.
I’d been glued to《Libra》’s stream, unable to speak, and even after the footage ended, I couldn’t move for a while.
By the way, though the screen had gone dark, the audio wasn’t fully muted, and chaotic noise kept leaking through. Occasional shouts like “What’s going on, nya!?” suggested even《Libra》’s broadcast team was in disarray.
That’s how shocking, unexpected, and downright insane the scene was. …I mean, we just watched someone transform into another person on screen. It made no sense. I couldn’t begin to understand what happened—but the worst part was, I couldn’t entirely dismiss it either. Because she was a “fake” to begin with. From before the《Duel》started, she’d already managed to appear as Saionji Sarasa.
But… then why didn’t I notice?
I muttered to myself inwardly. …If I’d thought about it, even a little, I should’ve realized. The《Doppelgänger》can take Saionji Sarasa’s form. That means they’re manipulating visuals—projecting a different appearance on the screen.
And… if that’s true, Saionji isn’t the only one they can become. In the footage, in the AR world, they could impersonate anyone—
“…Hey, Enomoto.”
Having reached that conclusion, I raised my head, barely hiding my trembling and shock.
“You’re the type to memorize every player’s face and name, right? That guy just now—when did he become a fake?”
“…Hard to say. At the very least, there was no visible difference. I swear on my eyes and memory, he looked exactly the same as he did yesterday.”
Enomoto answered in a serious tone. …If even he couldn’t tell, it’s safe to say there’s no way to distinguish them by appearance.
“……”
Saionji Sarasa’s《Doppelgänger》—or rather, the《Unknown》who can become anyone.
Like a virus, it destroys teams from within.
Damn… damn it, this is way out of left field. Kurahashi, you’ve thrown this《Duel》into absolute chaos…!
Against this literal “demon” who’d finally shown its hand and plunged the《Duel》into pandemonium, I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth hard—
Tell me, Himeji-san
What’s the school ranking?
On Academy Island, rankings exist not only among students but also among the schools across all 20 wards. Our school, Eimei Academy in the Fourth Ward, was ranked 5th last year. This year, with the addition of our master, a Seven-Star, we’re drawing a lot of attention.
1st: Ouka Academy (Third Ward)
“The absolute champion, without a doubt. Last year, with the ‘Empress’ Sarasa Saionji-sama holding Six Stars, it’s no surprise they took this spot.”
2nd: Amanezaka Academy (Seventeenth Ward)
“A rapidly rising school district. There’s still a lot shrouded in mystery about them…?”
3rd: Shinra High School (Seventh Ward)
“A school with a highly belligerent culture, led by figures like Kiriya Touya-sama. I’d love to take a peek inside sometime.”
4th: Suisei Academy (Second Ward)
“A school that’s been consistently involved in the top ranks of the school leaderboard since the dawn of Academy Island. However, I don’t recall them having any particularly standout performances in event battles.”
5th: Eimei Academy (Fourth Ward)
“Our very own Eimei Academy. With the invincible and unparalleled master joining us, we can expect even greater things from this year’s rankings, can’t we?”
6th: Seijo Academy (Twelfth Ward)
9th: Tsuyuri Girls’ Institute (Sixteenth Ward)
10th: Otowa Academy (Eighth Ward)
13th: Tokoyo Academy (Eighteenth Ward)
14th: Ibara Academy (Fifteenth Ward)
