Otori Magic Academy, battlefield (indoor training ground).
It is several times larger than a normal high school gymnasium, has three tiers of spectator seats, and the amount of magic operators in the place can also be adjusted… Also, there are many autobots (automatic training dolls) installed in that place, which was continuously expanded with accumulated donations.
To explain how the autobots work, first of all, you have to know that terminal or information access devices in this world are classified into magic devices. As long as you attach a small console for communication (in a frame different from slots), you can make a window screen appear in front of you, chat with your friends, call, email, and even surf the internet.
That mini console can be connected with this battlefield to change things on the screen such as changing the terrain or making the autobots appear. And the object which makes these things possible is a huge magic device called a constructor magic device. In short, it is like a computing unit that specializes in magic operators. By the way, this device is also installed in the Sanjou family’s villa, and sometimes creates an anti-magic barrier on the wall.
Since it uses a special console or connects quite complicated lines, even though its concept is the same as a portable magic device, its intended use is different. Basically, constructor magic devices are mostly used to set up anti-magic barriers. If you want it to be able to handle more things, you have to prepare more money and scale.
That was natural. That thing can even create sandboxes, fill it with seawater, and even control the gravity… All in all, you can see the awesomeness of the constructor magic devices installed in the battlefield.
There are six of such battlefields at Otori Magic Academy. Three small ones in each of the three dormitories and three large ones on the premises of the academy.
Those battlefields can be used freely as long as you have the permission of the teacher and have an appropriate score. And if you are a student of the academy, you are not prohibited from entering, so even I, who has zero score, is allowed to enter when the occasional training battle is held.
And now, Lapis and I could see Tsukiori and Rei standing side by side on the battle line in the center.
Under my eyes, Rei in her uniform spun a silver spear and stopped it under her arm.
“Are you okay with the standard rule?”
Seeing that beautiful figure, a group of girls with red faces are fangirling over her.
Did you know that the daughter of the Sanjou Family entered the Otori Magic Academy… such a rumor has been heard many times, and the story gradually became hot.
Within a few days of entering the school, Rei seems to have gained numerous fans due to her exceptional appearance, to the point that those girls began enthusiastically trading photos (bromide) that they took sneakily with each other (Yes, peeping photos).
On the other hand, Hiiro-kun, the son of the distinguish Sanjou Family, was despised by the girls in the academy and received a wonderful evaluation as a fucking bastard who likes to justify himself to others (that’s good~ ^_^).
By the way, speaking of Tsukiori who was challenged to a duel…
“Anything is fine. How about the way you can win easily?”
She threw the Right Night Hunt… the longsword-shaped magic device, spun it, and caught it with composure.
Of course, the girls are also sent feverish gazes toward Tsukiori. And with moistened eyes, those girls keep whispering something, likely about her. I’m not bragging about this, but it was clear that held romantic feelings toward Tsukiori. Most likely, that natural gigolo MC has unknowingly made them fall for her.
“Hiiro, what is the standard?”
By the way, the surrounding seats are empty. And Lapis, who keeps sitting next to me despite noticing that, asked.
“In a duel… or should I say a training match, if they just normally fight, there is a possibility of them killing each other with magic, right? That’s why they have to determine the rules in advance.”
“And one of those rules is the standard?”
“That’s right. Standard is a rule that is generally applied in training matches. Basically, the one who removes the triple anti-magic barriers deployed by the constructor magic device earlier than their opponent is the winner.”
“In other words, the ones who hit the opponent three times first win?”
“Yes. You can basically use anything as long as you reach the victory condition. And if the opponent gives up or admits defeat, the match will also end at that point, of course, with the defeat of the one who gives up.”
Lapis nodded with great interest and glanced at me.
“I now understand the rules, but… is it fine not to stop them?”
“…”
To be honest, I am hesitant whether to stop them or not.
If it’s the game, the group for the orientation camp for the MC will be two heroines who have more favorability toward the MC at that time. In other words, the ones who held the most favorability toward Tsukiori right now are me and Ophelia. And that was really unexpected for me, and it’s so inconvenient that I’m about to vomit.
The most preferable routes right now are me OUT and Lapis or Rei IN, or me and Ojou OUT and Lapis and Rei IN. Yet, to think she ended up being in the same group with a rotten man who got sandwiched by Yuri, and not with the two main heroines, what a despairing situation.
If this continues, at worst, the contact between Tsukiori and the heroines might be delayed. Because originally, even this 『duel event』 should have been occurred with Lapis.
Here, Lapis, who lost to Tsukiori, will begin to stick to her. Of course, the atmosphere between them was terrible at first, but they slowly began to like each other. That is why, to be honest, the fact that Rei was the one who challenged her was very unexpected for me.
However, this is also an opportunity… an event between Tsukiori and one of the heroines might become a connection between the two and a way to future Yuri. That is why I won’t stop them.
I believe these connections will turn into a bright hope!!
“If I win–”
While freely swinging her spear, generating wind noises, Rei smiled.
“–Please never approach Onii-sama again. And of course, I’ll have you exchange the group with me too.”
“Ah, you are, Hiiro-kun’s sister, huh.”
Tsukiori smiled while playing with the consoles.
“But, you sure are weak. Although your basic ability may be high… you’ve probably only trained like a geisha, right? You also have never experienced a real battle, right? Did you hurriedly bring out your toy because your beloved Onii-chan was about to be taken away from you?”
With a speed that couldn’t be followed with people’s eyes, Rei thrusts the tip of her spear to Tsukiori.
“Filthy… Onii-sama isn’t an existence that someone like you can approach.”
“Hiiro-kun.”
Tsukiori then waved at me in the audience seat.
“Your imouto-san might cry, is that okay?”
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“No. If you make her cry, I will cry too. Immediately. Absolutely. I’ll cry now.”
“That will be troubling.”
Tsukiori brushes up her beautiful hair.
“Because I want Hiiro-kun to always laugh happily.”
Why is this girl always trying to make someone fall…?
Suddenly, I felt that Lapis, who sat next to me, was staring at me with a funny look.
“How could Tsukiori be so fond of you…? You have a fiance, right? Is it fine leaving it like that…?”
“She is unpredictable, so I’m trying to figure out the timing to tell her that I have a fiance… I’m thinking of telling her after the orientation camp, but…”
“Eh… You have told Rei, right…?”
“Not yet. I’m also trying to figure out the timing with Snow.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“… What’s with that 『Eh』?”
I draw my face closer to Lapis, who looks away unnaturally.
“Oi, what’s with that unsettled look… Why did you look away… look at me…. I will not be angry… Come on, I will not be angry, so can you tell me what you have done…”
“… -ld her.”
“What?”
While looking away, Lapis apologetically murmured.
“I-I told Rei… that Hiiro has a fiance…”
Hearing that, I fell to my knees and a muffled voice leaked from my throat.
“W-what my sister… say…?”
“She said 『Is that so?』 while smiling… her eyes were not smiling, though…”
Ehe, ehen, eho, hoho, ehehehee (crying)
“S-sorry, Hiiro… She is from Hiiro’s family, after all… That’s why I thought you must have to report it first if you got engaged… Since I thought Rei already knew about it, I consulted many things with her… I’m really sorry… Please don’t cry…”
“I’m not crying (crying).”
“Y-you are crying…”
Leaving aside me, who was comforted by Lapis, at the battle line in the center, Tsukiori and Rei are glaring at each other right now.
“Onii-sama already has a fiancé, you know?”
Ah, she really knew!!
“I know.”
Why did Tsukiori also know about that?!
With that in mind, I looked back, and whispered to Lapis, who was desperately shrinking and curled her back.
“L-lapis… you, don’t tell me…?”
“B-because Tsukiori is always flirting with Hiiro… So, I said she can’t do that to someone who has a fiancé… and I lectured her… S-she didn’t seem to listen, though…”
“…. (Flashback)”
Then, I smiled at Lapis, who kept apologizing, with a crying face.
“It’s fine. My crisis management was just that bad. I didn’t say 『Don’t tell this to anyone』 to you, after all. Don’t worry, I can still do–”
“There is no way Onii-sama would dare to get a fiancé without consulting me first. You must have enticed Onii-sama to tell such a lie, right?”
“Ah, that’s the line I wanted to say to you. Did you work your shallow wit off because Hiiro-kun was about to be taken away from you?”
Ah~ ^_^ This is seriously bad~ ^_^
The two murderous intent increased, and they turned their magic devices toward each other.
“Get ready. I will defeat you on behalf of Onii-sama.”
“Good, I’ll help you treat your brother complex.”
Then, the referee autobot gave the signal to start the duel and–
“My bad. I take back what I said before. I think I will stop them.”
“Eh?! Wait, Hiiro?!”
— I jumped out to the battle line between the two.