Chapter 437 - Busy Days! The Continuous Practice Matches
The two-day practice with Solonton Royal Academy passed by in the blink of an eye.
There were many firsts for the club members, and we’re grateful to the hosts for inviting us. Of course, it wasn’t a one-sided benefit; we managed to show the Solonton Royal Academy the grit and determination of Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy. They probably thought, 'These girls are something else.'
The practice matches were skewed in favor of the other side, who are well-versed in battlefields. From the start, we knew that we’d be at a disadvantage, both in theory and in practice, compared to the Solonton Royal Academy.
But that didn’t matter. We greedily demanded more matches, even as their mana reserves dwindled, and our relentless pursuit was almost terrifying.
Perhaps more than any other school, Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy has always focused on fundamentals. Through rigorous training in mana perception and manipulation, combined with increasing our mana capacity and recovery, and building physical endurance to support our mental fortitude, the girls have developed a sustained combat capability that far outpaces others. This became evident when we compared notes with other schools.
With more than enough physical and magical energy, they relentlessly demanded one match after another.
“Why don’t we try that next?”
“Sure. But I also want to test the alternate version of the previous plan.”
“I want to try both. And Edith’s strategy, too.”
“We can do all of them. We still have time.”
“I’d like to redo the last one.”
“It did end more quickly than expected. Before moving on to the next plan, let’s do it one more time as a review.”
“What about the Solonton Royal Academy? Is this okay? Can we move on to the next one?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Alright, then. Let’s keep the same formation and initial positions.”
“Everyone, move!”
“Wait! Can we take a short break…?”
Without pausing for a moment, they pressed on, valuing every second. They had so many ideas—this, that, and the other—to test in the well-equipped training ground. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds.
Reflecting on it, these were truly productive days. Whether we won or lost in the current stage of our training, those results were just part of our evaluation. It’s the long-term progress that matters.
Testing theories, confirming practices, gaining experience, and internalizing them—this is what practice matches are all about. Our club members undoubtedly leveled up significantly during this opportunity. Even Solonton Royal Academy, though they might have found it tough at the time, will likely look back and see it was for the best.
The club members made the most of the two-day training, pushing themselves to the limit.
Improving, growing stronger, and being able to feel that progress makes even the toughest training enjoyable.
It was a highly fulfilling time. On the bus ride back, I felt proud watching the exhausted girls sleep.
After returning from the trip, we spent a few days consolidating what we had learned and identifying new challenges. Our foundational training has become more intensive, and the drills to enhance our teamwork have become more rigorous.
As magical techniques improve, one becomes more acutely aware of one’s own and others’ weaknesses. Especially when comparing ourselves to someone like Harriet, even a little improvement can’t lead to complacency.
I never go easy on them during practice, but the club president and vice-president handle this aspect well.
Being too strict can wear down even the most dedicated of the girls, so the club’s top performers offer praise and constructive criticism to keep everyone motivated.
In a team sport, mental support is crucial, and the president and vice-president understand this. This is something I can commend them for.
The girls, who are skilled in social graces, are also quite resilient and perceptive. As their advisor, I don’t have much to worry about.
One day, during our rigorous training routine, Hermira arrived late to the club room, which was unusual for her.
If there had been any trouble, I would have been concerned, so I asked her about it.
“I just stopped by the staff room, and the secretary gave me an invitation.”
“An invitation? For what?”
Hermira handed me the letter with a thoughtful expression.
I took the letter from the envelope and quickly skimmed through it.
“…Glams Academy.”
This was the school that had approached us for a practice match when we still used old magic dolls. There was a bit of history there.
During that match, their insincere attitude had infuriated me, and I had demonstrated my skills in a grand performance on our way out. The performance had been so impressive that I had obliterated the entire stage. I still remember the shock on their faces.
For them, that must have been an unfathomable act of defiance.
The invitation from Glams Academy was for another practice match. Given our history, it was surprising that they would extend such an invitation. The match would also include two other top schools, making it a highly competitive event.
With four schools participating, the format would be similar to the actual competition, which seemed very beneficial.
However, this couldn’t be a gesture of goodwill. The advisor from Glams Academy, a woman whose name and face I can barely recall, was also a member of the Magic Doll Federation. She had hinted at some underhanded dealings against Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy during my previous encounter with her.
There was definitely something more to this invitation.
Ignoring it might be the safer choice, but I’ve never backed down from a challenge. However, the decision isn’t mine to make.
The matches and scheduling are usually decided by the president and the members. I would leave this decision to them. Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility.
“What do you think, Sensei? I can’t read their intentions, but it’s a good opportunity. Personally, I’d like to accept it.”
“Sure, why not? If they have an ulterior motive, refusing would just make things more complicated. Facing them head-on could make their intentions clearer. You should decide what to do.”
“Understood. I’ll discuss it with Mildree and Edith later.”
As Hermira joined the practice, a communication came through her earpiece from Heidi.
“What’s up?”
“We’ve made more progress with our investigation. It’s almost too easy when dealing with amateurs.”
“True, people who live ordinary lives don’t expect to be investigated. Most are quite sloppy.”
“We’ve gathered enough leverage on everyone from the top to the bottom. Should we start using it now?”
The material Heidi and her team had gathered was ready to use at any time.
However, acting too soon might give the targets a chance to recover, even if the situation is hopeless. They might seek help, leading to additional problems.
It would be better to wait until they realize there’s no way out, which will likely be closer to the competition.
“Not yet. Glams Academy just invited us to a practice match. I want to see how they play.”
“Glams Academy, where Nathaniel Parker is the advisor. They must be planning something. Should we investigate them further?”
“No, it’s just a practice match. Whatever happens, it’s fine.”
Challenges, complications, and the unexpected can be valuable experiences for the club members. They won’t be in danger, and facing adversity can be beneficial. I’m actually quite intrigued to see what they’ll do.
If they have a plan, I might as well go along with it. Letting them succeed could make them overconfident.
“Alright, we’ll pause our investigation of the Magic Doll Federation for now.”
“Yes, we can act when the time is right. Till then, we’ll keep an eye on the top brass of the Federation.”
Threatening the top officials of the Magic Doll Federation to ensure fair play in the student competitions is a necessary step. Even if it seems strange for us to do this, Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy could face disqualification if we don’t.
Nathaniel Parker had hinted at some foul play, and I intend to stop it. I don’t know his exact plans, but I will prevent them.
However, this won’t be enough to bring about the club’s resurgence. We must still win with our own strength.
The underhanded tactics we use now will have meaning for the next advisor. I want the next advisor to have a chance to become a Federation official, and having the Federation officials on our side will be beneficial.
If possible, replacing the head of the Federation with someone from Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy could be a good move.
It’s important to think ahead, beyond immediate concerns.
Money and connections are crucial, but decisions and actions are what make the difference. That’s our strength.
A few days later.
Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy accepted the invitation from Glams Academy and traveled to the training ground just outside Beltoria.
This training ground is one of many owned by the Berliza Knights. There’s no malice in the location itself, and the Federation and the knights have no ties that would allow such deeds.
My mana detection confirms there’s no issue with the site.
The real concern is their strategy. I can imagine a few possibilities, but I’m curious to see what they’ll try.
We were the last of the four schools to arrive at the meeting point. The presidents of the other three schools ignored Hermira’s attempt to greet them and quickly drew lots to determine our starting positions. The advisors and chaperones were nowhere to be seen, which is fine, but it shows we’re not well-liked.
I wasn’t expecting such a cold reception, even for a practice match.
“They’re not even bothering with pleasantries. It saves us the trouble of smiling politely.”
“It’s written in the invitation. We know the schedule, but they’re still jerks!”
Hermira and Mildree’s comments reflected their frustration. The other members were also ready for a fight.
“Alright, let’s get ready.”
Today, we have external judges with proper credentials, rather than representatives from the participating schools. The judges will monitor rule violations, while the timing and magic doll hit detections are automated by magic devices. While it’s possible to tamper with the devices, it’s highly unlikely. Even if we tried to bribe the judges, the actual competition is monitored by multiple camera-type devices, making blatant cheating impossible.
The start time of the first match is set, and it will begin whether we’re ready or not. The only fixed times are the start, preparation, and teardown periods.
Being late will put us at a disadvantage, but that’s part of the game. We just need to be thorough.
Regardless of the circumstances, wasting an opportunity to compete is foolish.
We moved to the eastern tower, our assigned position, and equipped our magic dolls with blue bibs.
The members immediately started evaluating the terrain and the positions of the other towers from the top of the tower.
The training ground is about the same size as the one at Solonton Royal Academy, or slightly larger. There are fewer trees and rocks, and no water puddles, but there are artificial stone walls providing plenty of hiding spots. The walls may obscure the dolls’ movements.
From the tower, even with a far-seeing magic item, it might be difficult to see the battle clearly. It’s not an ideal battlefield for a magic doll match.
“Should we focus on a defensive stance this time?”
“Sure. What’s your reasoning?”
“I want to assess their intentions. Given our past experiences, they’re unlikely to be friendly. They’ll probably use malicious tactics. I want to experience that directly.”
Facing their attacks is valuable experience, but we can’t just let them do as they please.
“What do you think they’ll try? You must have some ideas.”
A curly-haired girl near the president spoke up.
“If I were them, I’d crush this insolent opponent so they can never stand again. Repeatedly.”
“So, the three schools will line up and pound us relentlessly? That’s a bit much for a practice match, especially for a school they invited. It’s ridiculous.”
It’s a straightforward strategy, easy to execute with three schools coordinating. It would be an effective way to get back at us. But it’s also interesting. There’s value in experiencing a disadvantageous situation.
“Simple brute force can be effective. It’s a good test of our resilience. As long as you’re prepared, go for it.”
Given their initial attitudes, the three schools are likely collaborating, and they’re not even trying to hide it.
Today’s matches are scheduled to start in the afternoon, with a minimum of six matches. If the matches finish quickly, we’ll try to fit in as many as possible before sunset.
If we’re overwhelmed by a relentless attack from three schools, it would be understandable to feel angry and disheartened. It could also lead to over-cautious behavior in future matches.
However, coordinating with enemy teams is something we need to prepare for in a battle royale. We should have a plan in place.
Today’s matches can be seen as a training exercise for dealing with such situations. It’s a valuable opportunity.
Additionally, if we view these practice matches as part of the overall strategy, it might be wise to play along with their plans. We can learn from it and use the experience.
“Attention!”
Hermira clapped her hands and gathered everyone’s attention.
“Like we discussed, we’ll observe the first match. If the other three schools attack together, we’ll use a defensive formation to show our resilience.”
“What if it’s different from our expectations?”
“In that case, we’ll move to the western tower. It has fewer obstacles in our path. If they don’t attack, we’ll take the initiative.”
The priority is to assess their strategy, so we don’t have a detailed plan yet.
As soon as our magic dolls were lined up behind the stone walls, the light magic signal for the start was activated.
My role now is to observe. I’ll watch and see how they perform.
We quickly returned from Solonton and started our practice matches again.
Stay tuned for the next chapter: 'A Reckoning with Malice.'