Chapter 451 - A Little Chit-Chat in the Intermission
The Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy, having triumphed on the first day of the Beltoria Regional Qualifiers, entered the venue with high spirits once again. Today, the venue has changed, and the terrain of the battle arena is a matter of great concern. However, the specifics of the battlefield are typically only revealed just before the match.
The military training grounds used for Magic Doll battles are vast, and the Federation decides which section to use for each match, keeping the information confidential until the last moment. In poor weather, the arena can become smaller, and the spectator seats can be moved using magic. Sometimes, the first-choice arena might be deemed unusable on the day of the match, which is a reasonable justification for keeping the details hidden.
The most practical way for participating schools to get an idea of the terrain is to watch the matches before theirs. Unless your school is in the first match of the day, you can usually observe the previous match to gauge the arena.
However, in the finals, the layout remains a mystery until the very last moment. Therefore, our school's strategy is not to conduct pre-match investigations, aiming to adapt to any situation.
Winning the immediate match is crucial, but our ultimate goal is to advance to the finals. Building strength with that end in mind is essential. While I have this philosophy, I admit that either approach can work. From next year onward, the team can choose their preferred method.
Yesterday’s arena was a flat grassland, but what will we face today? I imagine it will be quite different. A change of scenery would be more interesting, and I hope the Federation sets up a more visually appealing arena.
Even if the Federation’s staff leaks some information to certain schools, it won’t be a decisive advantage. Weaker teams must use every trick to stay in the game, and the champions must rise to the challenge to prove their worth. I have no complaints about that.
Today, the third round of the qualifiers features four matches, followed by the final among the winners. Our school is in the fourth match, so we arrived a bit later today, ensuring the team had plenty of rest.
The young ladies lined up before me look in top form, both physically and mentally.
"Then, Sensei, we’re off."
Hermira, with a determined expression, speaks for the team. Everyone understands the importance of this match.
Only four schools from the Beltoria qualifiers advance to the main tournament. So, making it to the finals means a spot in the next stage is secured. In a sense, the final match is a formality.
Many schools prioritize keeping their strategies hidden during the qualifiers, focusing on the main tournament. This is a sensible approach, as the goal is to win the finals, not just the qualifiers.
Every school goes all out in the third round, the first match of the day. Winning this match means advancing to the main tournament. The difference between elimination in the qualifiers and advancing to the finals is significant, so the stakes are high.
"I’ll say the same thing: don’t hold back. Win with flair. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Unlike other schools, our goal is to win, even in the qualifiers.
But first, we need to win this third round. Losing here means it’s all over. Focus on the immediate goal and give it everything.
After sending off the team, I move to the officials' seating area. I don’t care about the assorted crowd around me, but they can’t ignore me.
The Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy, despite its recent poor performance, was once a formidable force. A prestigious school that attracts students from wealthy merchants, nobles, and even royalty, it has always been a target of both respect and envy. Defeating such a school must taste especially sweet.
The opportunity to face and defeat a high-born opponent is rare, and many would prefer if we stayed weak. But that changes this year.
The Federation’s staff understands this. The rumors and practice matches aside, most people likely watched our performance yesterday. They now recognize the true strength of the Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy and the role of its Advisor, me.
"Is it alright if I sit here?"
I nod in response to the young woman who seems to have a matronly air. She probably aspires to be a high-ranking official someday.
The venue is fuller today, with the finals at stake, and the officials' seating area is also quite crowded. It wouldn’t be polite to refuse her.
"You’re the Advisor of the Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy’s Magic Doll Club, correct?"
She has more courage than most who approached me yesterday. I don’t usually invite conversation, but I can respect her boldness.
"I’m Yukareed Evilbanshee. And you are?"
Today, I’m not in my clandestine persona but an official representative of the Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy. I introduce myself openly.
"I apologize. I’m Elle Lanchester, Advisor of the Saint Metria Academy’s Magic Doll Club."
Lanchester-sensei. I doubt we’ll meet again, and I’ll probably forget her in a few days. But the name of her school sounds familiar.
"The Saint Metria Academy? From yesterday?"
"Yes. We lost to your school in the second round yesterday."
The match is still fresh in my mind. But what does she want?
"I understand that the Saint Metria Academy’s Magic Doll Club is relatively new. I’d be happy to share some insights if you’d like to watch the match together. Your thoughts would be valuable, Evilbanshee-sensei."
"Sure, no problem."
I might seem aloof, but I appreciate a confident and respectful attitude. This could be a pleasant conversation to fill the time before our school’s match.
"First, what are your thoughts on yesterday’s second round?"
Of course, she’s curious about her opponent.
Yesterday’s match was a straightforward victory for us. We charged straight at the opponent’s tower, routed them, and then split to take out the other teams. It was brute force, not much of a strategy.
"The overwhelming victory was an objective fact. I don’t think any strategy could have changed the outcome, but a more resilient defense might have been possible. However, this is just hindsight."
"I’d like to hear your thoughts, Evilbanshee-sensei. What could have been done to put up a better fight?"
Analyzing a loss is necessary, even if it’s uncomfortable.
"Yesterday’s match was a testament to the skill difference. But if I had to suggest something, it would be to take the initiative. Waiting for the attack is risky. Your school couldn’t win a one-on-one confrontation, so you needed to create a multi-on-one situation. You had to move faster than the Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy."
"Move faster? But we were already in a defensive position."
"Defensive tactics can backfire. The key is speed. Yesterday’s opponent made the mistake of thinking they could hold out and gain time by fortifying their position. They were wrong. If they had understood the need for speed, the match might have been different."
"Indeed, that’s true."
If the other schools could coordinate, they might have had a chance. But without that, there was little hope.
"To stand a chance, you needed to go all out from the start. Use every available resource, including magic devices, to restrain the Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy. This might have altered the outcome, though it’s easy to say in hindsight. Making such decisions on the spot is difficult."
"However, I understand that you typically provide such guidance to your students. Could your students have managed it?"
"Perhaps. We’ll see in the next match."
The arena announcements began, introducing the schools for the third round.
"Unlike yesterday’s plain, today’s training ground has a river. Do you plan to incorporate it into your strategy?"
Today’s arena is diverse, with a river, a forest, and a small hill. The south side is lower, and a wide river runs diagonally across the field. The central area is a dense forest with large rocks scattered throughout.
The river and forest will make it harder to see the Magic Dolls, so the camera-equipped magic devices will be crucial.
"We don’t investigate the arena beforehand. It’s more spontaneous. I don’t interfere with the strategy. I leave it entirely to the team. As the Advisor, I can only watch from the stands. They need to adapt on the fly, and pre-planning can sometimes cause confusion."
The team has been trained to adapt to various terrains, thanks to the guidance of a seasoned field commander. They are well-prepared.
"So, you don’t get involved in the strategy at all? For every match?"
She seems surprised. Is that unusual?
"I’m not sure about other schools, but that’s our approach. Pre-planning can fall apart if the opponent does something unexpected. We train the team to adjust and reformulate strategies on the spot. In the real match, things rarely go as planned."
"True, but as an Advisor, most would expect you to be involved. But here we go, the match is starting."
The Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy’s team is stationed at the southern tower, waiting for the match to begin. The green bibs they wear contrast with the terrain.
The northern side is higher, giving the southern tower a disadvantage. But if there were any foul play, it’s the underdog’s struggle, and we, as champions, must rise to the challenge.
"Thank you for waiting. The Beltoria Regional Qualifiers, Third Round, Fourth Match, is about to begin—"
The announcement echoes, and the match begins.