Chapter 435 - Remember the Basic Rules of Magic Doll Combat!
The morning light streams through the bus window, illuminating my upper body brightly. The warmth of the sun, felt even in the cool bus, is pleasantly soothing.
The breeze tousles my half-up hair, tickling my nape in a delightful way. I find myself feeling a little silly in my formal attire, but not at all bothered. It's a nice change of pace.
“I’m really looking forward to the joint practice today,” someone says.
“Yeah, I’m interested in how the other schools train. It’s a different kind of excitement from the matches,” another adds.
“Remember, what was the strategy you talked about yesterday?”
“Not sure. The president said she’d decide after seeing the opponents.”
“Man, I can’t wait for the match.”
“Definitely, it’s getting me pumped up.”
The enthusiasm of the club members is as bright as the sunlight pouring in. The high spirits in the early morning made me feel a bit giddy.
The day is bright, and our moods are as clear as the sky. Our bus moves from the hotel, and we arrive at the prestigious Solonton Royal Academy.
The imposing stone buildings stand grandly on the vast grounds, surrounded by neatly lined trees and meticulously maintained lawns, exuding the academy’s high standards.
It’s always a fresh and exciting experience to visit new places like this. Especially schools, which are not usually open to outsiders, feel even more special.
The school, nestled in a cleared forest area, is incredibly quiet, with no signs of civilization nearby. While it might be a bit inconvenient for transportation, the environment seems quite pleasant.
This school, unlike our all-girls academy, has boys. Some of their gazes are less than pleasant, but I don’t care much about their meaning. They can’t do anything anyway, and I doubt I’ll ever see them again.
Undeterred by the curious glances, we alight from the bus and proceed with poised, ladylike steps.
Guided by a student, we enter the gym-like practice area. The high ceiling, polished floor, and neatly arranged stands exude a sense of costly, dedicated space. No wonder, given the reputation of the Royal Academy.
We head to the dressing room in the rear, quickly setting down our bags to prepare our magic dolls. One of the best things about magic doll combat is that the human operators don’t move, so there’s no need for a change of clothes. No need to worry about external peeping Toms.
In our neat gray uniforms, the members complete their preparations and wait. Today, I’m here as the advisor, a friend of the Headmistress. I must maintain at least a formal appearance to avoid any embarrassment. I don’t hide my heterochromia behind tinted glasses and won’t allow a single wrinkle in my demure attire.
I’ve chosen a shiny white blouse with a ribbon tie, matching the school’s designated bow ribbon. The bottom is a striking royal blue long skirt. This combination alone asserts a certain level of elegance. With a few accessories and makeup to enhance my natural beauty, I’m sure I have no flaws left. Perfect.
As an advisor at an elite girls' school, there’s no room for embarrassment. At least, not in appearance. I hope.
“Honestly, doesn’t this feel like a fraud?” the troublemaker with curly hair says, scrutinizing me from head to toe.
“Quiet.”
My brief, sharp retort and a playful nudge at Edith’s cheek lighten the tense atmosphere. The tension briefly eases, but it’s quickly tightened again by the president’s handclap.
“It’s time. Everyone, remember to act with pride as students of Saint Emeralda. Let’s go to the discussion with Evilbanshee-sensei and Edith.”
The primary goal of this invitation is to exchange opinions on the new rules. The discussion isn’t just complaints but an exchange to deepen understanding of effective strategies under the new rules.
Having all the club members from both schools together would make it unwieldy, so the discussion will be held by a few representatives, while the others engage in joint practice.
The joint practice, led by Vice-President Mildree, involves many participants, while President Hermira, the scheming Edith, and I, the advisor, will attend the discussion.
While practice matches with other schools are rare, the opportunity to exchange opinions and joint practice is even more so. Both are stimulating and beneficial, and our members are keen on it. It’s a great opportunity.
The second purpose of the practice match is to apply what we learn from the discussion and test various strategies.
We’ll probably conduct the matches in an experimental manner, revealing our tactics to each other. I’ve heard that the school even has an outdoor training ground in the woods, a unique benefit of the Royal Academy’s vast campus.
Exiting the dressing room, we find a student waiting at the door down the hall. She’s a student of the Solonton Royal Academy’s Magic Doll Club.
Dressed in a water-blue blouse and navy skirt, she has a refined, beautiful appearance. She waves enthusiastically, her semi-long hair swaying. She seems lively and cheerful, different in temperament from the ladylike Hermira, but not unpleasant.
She’s probably here to guide us to the discussion, while the joint practice will be elsewhere. The three of us follow the cheerful smile of the girl.
President Hermira leads the way with a dignified stride, followed by the smirking Edith. I enter last, scanning the surroundings. The meeting begins in a spartan conference room with only a middle-aged woman present, likely the club’s advisor. Adding the enthusiastic girl who closed the door, we’re now three against two.
“Thank you for coming all the way here,” the advisor greets us warmly. Her voice and expression are kind, giving no negative impressions.
She could be an excellent actress if there are any ulterior motives related to the Magic Doll Federation.
Formalities completed, we get straight to the point.
“First, let’s go over the major rule changes. These apply equally to Solonton and Beliza, so we’ll go through them in order. There are seven in total!”
The energetic girl, who’s the president, points to a large poster on the wall with a pointer. The rules are summarized clearly.
While I, Hermira, and the others are already familiar with the rules, it’s good to align our understanding with the other side. Miscommunication could lead to misunderstandings during the discussion.
“The first change: the number of participants has increased from twenty-five to fifty. Each team can now consist of up to fifty members.”
This doubling has made it challenging for Saint Emeralda, which only has twenty-five members. We’re still a few short of the quota and finding more isn’t easy.
However, for Solonton Royal Academy, which has over a hundred members, this change is a welcome one.
“The second change: matches are no longer one-on-one but involve four schools simultaneously. This is a significant shift.”
The shift to a Battle Royale format is bold. Each school’s approach can dramatically alter the match dynamics. This single change alone makes strategy formulation much more complex.
While today’s practice will be a workaround due to our numbers, it will still be valuable experience.
“The third change: the match venue has moved from the small indoor stage to a large outdoor training ground. With up to two hundred magic dolls from four schools, the change was necessary to accommodate the increased number of participants.”
Whether the increase in participants was the cause or the desire to use the knightly training grounds, it’s clear that this benefits the more established institutions.
For schools that can’t meet the quota, this change is particularly frustrating. It’s hard to see how smaller clubs would benefit from this, as smaller numbers rarely offer strategic advantages.
While this might be questionable for a student competition, it’s probably acceptable within certain limits.
The energetic girl continues, “Fourth, to adapt to the larger venue, far-seeing magic items were distributed to the operators. This is a significant change.”
Previously, we could control our dolls on the small stage with our eyes. Now, with the larger venue, it’s impossible to keep tabs on everything visually. Operators will position themselves on raised platforms to get a broader view, using the provided glasses to see at a distance.
While the glasses are a practical but rudimentary solution, they’re the most cost-effective. The skill to operate effectively even without visual confirmation will be crucial, and the students will need time to adapt.
“The fifth change: the win/loss criteria have changed. Instead of a total annihilation, the match ends if the Flagship Machine is defeated. Otherwise, the team with the most surviving dolls at the end of the time limit wins. If the surviving numbers are the same, the team with the most dolls defeated wins. If there are multiple first-place teams, it goes to overtime.”
The criteria differ by region, but in Beliza and Solonton, only the winner from the regional tournament advances. Any lower and you’re out.
Surviving the Flagship Machine is paramount, but reducing the enemy’s numbers is also crucial. Teams under the quota must be aggressive to avoid a time-over loss, and managing mana consumption is key if the match goes into overtime.
Whether to remain defensive, be aggressive, or wait for other teams to fight while fishing for opportunities, the strategies are varied. The timing to act and the factors to consider are numerous. It’s a complex decision-making process.
“The sixth change: a time limit has been introduced, set at forty-five minutes. Once the match starts, it runs without interruption until the end, with no breaks.”
This time limit is essential to manage mana usage and prevent matches from dragging on. It benefits the schedule for spectators and the teams waiting for their turn.
“The final change: each school can bring one magic item. It must be non-offensive and pass a pre-match inspection, but this is a significant rule change. That’s it for the major rule changes!”
The energetic girl concludes, taking a deep breath. She seems a bit tired from the effort.
“Thank you. The most concerning changes are the four-school matches and the magic items. While skill in operating the dolls is crucial, under the new rules, the strategy will be a decisive factor in winning.”
After the review, Hermira quickly highlights the key points.
“That’s right. Clubs with fewer members must focus on increasing their numbers to avoid a disadvantage. The use of far-seeing magic items is a new variable, and we’ll all need to get used to it. Strategy is paramount, but it’s also complex. We can’t afford to be careless, and the strategies must be flexible to adapt to changing situations. What do you think? Has your club already done scenario training for the real matches?”
Edith, smirking, continues the conversation with a probing question.
“Absolutely! The key is efficient information gathering and reconnaissance. That’s the foundation.”
“Exactly. Without a clear understanding of the situation, it’s hard to make a move. Unwary actions can lead to encirclement and loss of the advantage. Being caught off guard can be costly.”
“Initial moves and the number assigned to reconnaissance, followed by subsequent actions. While we expect standard tactics to emerge, it will take time. Or perhaps the stronger clubs have already figured it out?”
Hermira and Edith nod in agreement.
As the new rules solidify, each club will develop its own theories. These theories become established because they are widely recognized as the best practices. The challenge is to apply these theories flexibly and add unique elements to win.
Honestly, the level of strategy required is overwhelming. It’s almost as complex as a military advisor’s planning. I’m not sure if I could provide effective advice on strategy. I doubt any club has an advisor skilled in this area.
“The status of other top clubs is a concern. Of course, it’s important to think for ourselves, but learning the theory from specialized instructors can be valuable. We do this, and I suspect others do too. Saint Emeralda does this as well, right?”
Hermira and Edith seem satisfied with this.
Indeed, the Royal Academy has the kind of connections to the military that could lead to valuable insights. While the self-effort of the less-informed is admirable, it’s inefficient.
Saint Emeralda has also made arrangements, though the schedule is still to be confirmed. Relying solely on my brain-based power plays isn’t enough to ensure future success.
Understanding adult motivations, this seems to provide former knights with new employment opportunities, likely a strategic move.
“…Agreed. While the pre-match discussion is good, revealing our strategies in the actual match might be more interesting.”
“Especially with the magic items we can bring. It’s more exciting to go into battle blind and reveal them in combat. Why don’t we save the discussion for tomorrow and start the match? What do you think, sensei?”
This isn’t a time to assert my preferences. As the invited party, we should respect the hosts.
I avoid a direct answer to Edith’s question and turn to the middle-aged woman, who nods with a serene smile. Fine, I’ll leave it to the students.
“You and the Solonton students can decide how to proceed.”
Our school needs both theory and practical experience. While theory is important, learning from actual combat will be more effective. Besides, this isn’t about winning or losing; it’s a chance to experiment and learn.
We reviewed the rules of magic doll combat. While I’m worried about the matches, I’d rather keep things simple if possible. The complexity is daunting, and I’d rather avoid unnecessary complications.
Still, it’s startling to realize that it’s been over fifty chapters since we last reviewed the new rules. Time truly flies.