This is getting exciting!
A clever strategy devised by none other than our dear Charlotte. Taking a shortcut by smashing through the ceiling had Numbers pretty shaken up. The fact that it put Flay temporarily out of commission probably evens out the playing field.
But you rallied Johnny and the Knight Skeletons… I wonder what the verdict is. I glance over to see how Headmistress Theresia is reacting.
“…”
She’s gaping in amazement.
Now’s my chance to twist her arm. “What a brilliant surprise tactic! Don’t you think, Professor Luseiannel?”
“Setting aside busting through the floor to take a shortcut, I’d think adding members to your team is an illegal-ish move.”
Don’t throw them under the bus.
“It’s not. Those were summoned monsters, not team members. Using a magic weapon isn’t against the rules, is it?”
“Oh─is that how we’re playing it?”
“Playing it?” The headmistress glares at us.
“Hey, look at that! The prince and princess are in a jam!” Professor Tear smoothly switches to commentator mode again.
On the big screen, the Number 12 lady (what was her name?) is swinging some sort of whip. She’s deftly manipulating the middle and end of the whip to flog both siblings at once.
‘Gah!’
‘Ow?!’
Laius blocks with both arms, but Marianne takes a direct blow to the shoulder. The whip slices her school uniform, revealing a bright red welt on her porcelain skin.
‘Ah, I do apologize, Your Highness,’ scoffs Number 12. ‘But this is a formal battle. Your status shouldn’t hold me back, should it?’
‘O-Of course not. No need to have any reservations.’
Hmm. I guess Number 12 is an anti-authority advocate or something.
‘Ah-hahaha! Don’t mind if I do!’
Nope. She’s just a sadistic maniac. Come to think of it, so was Zara. What’s with the girls in Numbers, anyway?
We’d better hurry up and wipe them out. Otherwise, I’m worried they’ll be a bad influence on Char’s moral development. She’s pretty easily influenced.
Meanwhile, Number 12 is going to town with her swishing whip.
‘Who do you think you are?!’ Laius delivers a punch that thwacks the whip away.
‘Ugh! Prince Laius, you’re not my type at all!’
I think you’re better off that you’re not, Laius.
The brawny prince closes in for a boxing match.
Number 12 backs away as she lashes her weapon in an attempt to keep him at bay.
Marianne is inching in from behind her like a tiger.
They’re all dancing around, but they seem to be at a standoff.
Meanwhile, Iris and the hulky dude continue taking turns playing offense and defense. Number 4 counters Iris’s agile moves with stalwart defiance. He’s taking a lot of hits, but he manages to get back at her each time out of sheer determination. Looks like Iris is in a tight spot.
But by far the most entertaining battle is…
‘Wh-What’s with these monsters?!’
‘They keep reassembling every time we knock them apart!’
‘Ackgh! I’ve had enough of this!’
Commander Johnny and his boney army are giving Numbers a real ass-kicking.
I retrofitted them with magnetic barriers so that their bodies (bones) snap back together if they’re knocked apart. Sometimes, the wrong parts click into the wrong places, but there’s always someone there to piece them together. Looks like they’re pretty close to bringing their opponents to their knees.
And as for our Char… She’s intensely locking eyes with the rival leader Alexei.
They’re standing a little ways away from everyone else and gazing at each other. Is this a romantic moment? Can I go berserk on this jerk now?
Alexei breaks the silence. ‘What’s the matter? If you aren’t going to make the first move, do you mind if I get this duel started?’
‘I don’t mean to sound presumptuous, and it may even be audacious of me to say this but…’ Char’s eyes widen.
What, is his fly down or something?
‘I think that a showdown between the big leaders should start after the others have settled down!’
Good point. The girl has a knack for entertainment.
‘I’m hoping we could continue glaring at each other for the time being and give off a “first one to move loses” kind of vibe.’
‘That doesn’t benefit me in the least. Your summoned monsters are giving my team quite a bit of a headache. I’m looking to get this over with and go to their aid.’
‘The Knight Skeletons are instructed to exit when I cue them with the line, “Oh dear! We seem to be out of time!” I hope you don’t mind?’ She peers up at him with her doe eyes.
The standard response to this sort of question should be a loud and firm, “Not at all!”
But instead, Alexei utters, ‘Rather arrogant, don’t you think? Assuming everyone will act according to your script?’
What’d you say, jerkface?! I’ll come over there and kick your ass!
“Er, Shiva? Mr. Black Knight?” The sportscaster next to me peers over. “You’re giving off some pretty murderous vibes there. Let’s calm down, now.”
I can’t believe Professor Tear, of all people, is telling me to calm down.
Charlotte says, ‘My intention is to make the event more exciting. I certainly don’t take for granted that my team will win, and I don’t mean to be condescending─oh?!’
‘What the─?!’
A sudden mishap. The giant screen goes completely black.
No images, no sound. Nothing.
“Shiva, w-what’s going on…?” sputters Professor Tear.
“An accident seems to have occurred at the scene.”
I have my own surveillance barrier to keep an eye on Char and the gang that’s completely independent from the big screen. I know exactly what’s going on.
I turn to the headmistress. “Do you mind if I go?”
She doesn’t hesitate to say, “Yes, please do. Please ensure the students’ safety.”
Maybe she has an inkling of what’s going on, too?
Anyway, I’d better hurry─two funny-looking devils popped out of nowhere.