So, he went to the nearest staff
member and told him what had happened in the previous competition.
「...I don't think he is lying. He
doesn't seem to be under the influence of any mental manipulation abilities」
Kaede's eyes shot through Chihiro,
and she paused for a moment as if she was assessing him.
「I understand. I will give a warning
and penalty to Ibusuki Kaname of Shibatsuru Academy. The contents are, let's
see――」
After exchanging a few words with another
staff member, Kaede handed down the following: "No weapons in the fourth
event" and "If there is excessive violence again, he/she will be
disqualified from the competition itself. In addition, the school will also be
asked to take some measures".
**a
「The third event was held in a closed
space, and it was impossible to monitor the competition completely because each
student moved separately. However, the rest of the events can be monitored. If
anything goes wrong, the staff will warn them on the spot」
「That seems a bit light. Izumi-kun,
what do you think?」
「Good enough. Thank you」
Chihiro thanked her sister, feeling a
bit uncomfortable using honorifics with her own sister.
Kaede smiled, nodded lightly, and
turned on her heel.
Considering the time it took to
accept the offer and the time it took to warn her, the interval was extended
long enough.
Now, Lucille pats Chihiro on the
shoulder and says.
「Then, let's hurry up and change our
clothes and have a strategy meeting. This outfit is too flimsy and hard to move
around in」
* * *
They take off their outfits and put
on their training wear only, and put on their gym clothes and jerseys again.
「We don't have to worry about hacking
in the next event, do we?」
Shibahou Academy members do not need
to use smartphones.
Also, other schools would not be able
to keep in touch with each other so much in a gun battle running around the
grounds.
「Then, should I borrow [Illusion]?」
Riko's [Illusion] is also useful, but
it depends on familiarity and imagination. If so, the simple effect of becoming
invisible to others is more stable.
Then, Hana decided to borrow Suzu's
ability, and everyone all moved to the ground.
「Whoa!」
「This is amazing」
The ground, which was lower than the
school building, had been completely transformed for the competition.
First of all, there were a total of
four spaces set aside for each school to take their positions. If two of the
four positions are connected by a line, they seem to intersect each other at
right angles.
There are also obstacles in various
parts of the field. There are triangular drums, brick walls wide enough for two
or three people to hide behind, pillars thick enough for one person to hide
behind, and simply piled up dirt on the ground.
The fourth event, paintball, is a gunfight
in which players shoot paintballs at each other with gas guns.
The players approach the enemy
position while making good use of obstacles and deal with any enemies they
encounter. The main objective of the game is to aim at the flag of the enemy
team somehow.
The audience seats were located above
the field, where Chihiro and his team members are now. Both the seats and the
obstacles on the field must have been made by the staff's
"Abilities".
Now, without going down to the
ground, Chihiro and his team have a strategy meeting with [Telepathy], looking
over the field.
『This way, it seems less likely to
become a melee』
『Yes. However, it seems to be
difficult to get a clear view of the field of play』
From the audience seats, the distance
is a little far, so they can't read detailed gestures and facial expressions.
And it will be a little difficult for Aika and the others to tell them the
status of the battle via [Telepathy].
Besides, this battle will almost
certainly require them to be on the lookout for "invisible enemies".
One of the focuses of the battle will
be how to overcome Saki's invisibility. Since this is a melee battle in the
open space, it is difficult to distinguish the enemy by sound as in the first
event. If he/she is targeted, they are almost out of the game.
**b
『But, we can use similar abilities』
In terms of stealth, Suzu's
[Cognitive Obstruction] can even be said to be better.
Since their trump cards are not the
type to cancel each other out, the one who cuts first almost always wins.
『Mishuku-san will be aiming for
Shibatsuru Academy... right?』
『Yes. We could destroy Shibaryuy first
and be at ease... but if they target us first, we'll be out of luck』
It's best to have Hana attack
Shibatsuru Academy's flag at full speed. Though she has to avoid getting hit by
stray bullets on the way to the enemy's position.
But if all goes well, it will be a
terribly short battle.
『Fortunately, they are girls, too.
Also, during the third event I was able to take a break and I'm in a good mood,
so I'm probably faster.
Speaking of fast, be careful of
Shibakkou Academy's Minamoto.
His fast movement can be a trump
card, though not as good as Saki's invisibility. Still, if he target Chihiro
and his team's flag with evasive maneuver, they cannot be sure that they can
intercept him.
In addition, there are still many
students whose abilities are not yet known.
There is a good possibility that they
have other deadly abilities. Although they cannot assume all of them, it is too
dangerous to take the challenge without preparation.
Anyway, they have to defend
themselves and attack precisely.
For a few seconds, Lucille thinks
silently and raises her finger.
『Plan A, the entire attack team,
including Hana, will aim at Shibatsuru Academy. Plan B, Hana is left to finish
Shibatsuru Academy and the rest will attack other schools at the same time. In
either case, at least one player must remain behind』
Chihiro and the other three members
were torn between the two plans.
Should they try to defeat Shibatsuru
Academy for sure, or should they take some risk and play a short game - trying
to win the game before the other schools have time to get ready?
『I prefer "A". That
Shirahama-san is not good if left unattended』
『I choose "A" too. There's
no need to gamble here』
『I'll go with "B". We'll
lose speed if we're all lined up. If we lose the competition, there's no way to
win』
『I'm "B" too. Ibusuki-san
and the others could be waiting for us with all of them』
If it becomes a group fight, Hana
might be out due to a misfire by one of teammates.
Therefore, it is better for Hana to
win the game by being quick and stealthy first, which will give them a better
chance of winning against Shibatsuru Academy.
『I think "B", too. I'd like
to settle this one by surprise if at all possible』
With this, Plan B is adopted by a
vote of two to three.
After discussing some more detailed
plans and preparing some tools, Chihiro and his team went down to the field.
They were gathered at the edge of the
field, and the staff-led briefing and preparations began.
