第１３００堀：調査成果 (Part1)
A clang echoed as a large shield met another. A powerful shockwave erupted.
"Whoa, amazing," Agil murmured beside me, a wry smile on his face. He was a general, yes, but not the type to clash swords directly. His strength lay in casting magic from the rear.
Today, we were supporting Comet's team on their survey mission in the Great Forest, so we weren't participating in the matches. Instead, we were working while watching the broadcast. Yuki-san had arranged this, perhaps out of consideration, so we wouldn't be bored or feel left out.
"I... I don't understand what's happening..." Nilea stammered, her voice trembling.
"Hiiro pushed Stasia back," Wazufi added, also visibly shaken.
From my perspective, however, it was unfolding much as I expected. Seraria moved to support Stasia, who had been overpowered by Hiiro, but Riel intervened. Then, Doryu and Viria, pursued by Doryu's pursuers, Touri and Kaya, charged into the fray, throwing the match into utter chaos. Samantha and Cleena, along with the Kagura and Mikos duo, unleashed a barrage of spells from a distance. It was as if they had coordinated, dividing the area between wide-range magic and a hail of projectiles.
"Ah, it looks like they've judged close combat to be disadvantageous and are focusing on ranged attacks," Agil observed.
"That's likely. I would do the same. They said this team was random, but it seems rather biased," I replied.
"Perhaps they're paired with people they're relatively close to. Otherwise, coordinating on the fly would be difficult," Agil mused.
"Ah, I see. Riel and Hiiro are good friends, and Seraria and Stasia are both princesses. Hmm? Then what about Bicks and Fiora?"
"This match was Bicks's request, and he wanted to fight Fiora, so perhaps that's why," I explained.
"Wow. Their techniques, and then a one-on-one match after learning each other's moves. Yeah, I can kind of understand that."
"Yuki-san does have that kind of side to her."
Of course, it would all be for naught if they lost before that. But that's a matter for individual matches later.
"And Bicks and Fiora have stopped moving," Agil noted.
"Haha, they probably aren't used to diving into that kind of melee," I chuckled.
The two of them were frozen, unsure how to act amidst the fierce battle unfolding before them. They could easily get caught up and knocked out. I understood that feeling...
"Oh, Milly and Ratz are starting to move," Agil said.
"Indeed."
As they remained stationary, the two ranged attackers began to move. Though they seemed surprised, Milly was a scout type, and Ratz could throw spears. Milly could use crossbows and bows, and Ratz had plenty of throwing spears in his item box. If they kept their distance, they would be targeted. While neither was as specialized in shooting as Eris, Yuki-san had greatly improved their accuracy. Direct hits on Bicks and Fiora, who were leveling up, might not be feasible, but...
"They've just barely noticed and are desperately guarding," Agil commented.
"They're so focused on defense, they have no room to spare," I added.
Attacked by what was almost a surprise, they were concentrating on deflecting the incoming arrows and spears, unable to see their surroundings. They didn't even have the luxury of considering the power of the attacks. Were they too afraid of being hit? Bicks wore a dress armor, and Fiora a simple knight's armor. While normal armor might be pierced by Milly and Ratz's attacks, their equipment was far from ordinary. Therefore, they could have chosen to ignore hits to non-vital areas and further increase their distance, or charge in. Their inability to make that decision was a sign of their lack of composure.
"Still, with cameras from so many angles, you can really see their movements clearly," Agil said.
"Yes. You can see how everyone is moving, which is a great learning experience for us," I replied.
The cameras Yuki-san had prepared for the broadcast offered five different angles: from the east, west, north, and south, as well as from above. This meant the overhead camera allowed us to instantly see everyone's position.
"Labiriss and Shera are hiding quite well," Agil observed.
"It's hard to tell if they're subtly participating in the melee or not," I replied.
Labiriss and Shera had joined the fray, but only enough to avoid becoming targets. Their occasional spells and attacks were not significant enough to warrant attention. With everyone else focused on the serious attackers, the two were largely ignored. In a way, they were maneuvering quite skillfully.
"But no one seems to have a decisive blow. No one is going all out," Agil noted.
"Yes, because the openings would be too large. Now, who will make the move..." I trailed off. The first person to act would likely be the immediate target. In other words, they would have a high chance of losing. Who would take that risk...
Just then, Hiiro unleashed a full-powered shield bash on Stasia. Since she was at a disadvantage in terms of physique, she needed to pour all her magic and shield boosts into the attack, and the power was immense. The shockwave spread, momentarily freezing the members caught in the melee. Of course, Stasia, who took the direct hit, was sent flying with considerable force despite her heavy armor, and she was left rigid.
Riel seized the opportunity, emerging from behind Hiiro and grabbing the rigid Stasia, then throwing her. While her armor's defensive capabilities were high, the weight wasn't a significant issue with magic boosts, so she was quickly flung out of the arena. Was being frozen the cause of her defeat? Then, as other members rushed towards Hiiro, who was rigid after unleashing such a powerful attack, Riel kicked off her large shield in a somersault, retreating.
"Wow, Riel, you're amazing!"
"So agile. Very Riel-like," Agil commented. She bounced around like a cat. I never expected Stasia to be the first to be eliminated. Seraria, now alone, seemed to be calmly maintaining her distance.
As we were enjoying the match like this...
"This is Comet. Can you hear me, Monitoring Room? Are you engrossed in the match?" Comet's voice came through.
"Yes. This is the Monitoring Room. We're watching the match, but we're also keeping an eye on you," Agil replied.
I glanced at the monitor and noticed they were not in the planned location.
"So, what's the reason for deviating from the path?" I asked.
"Ah, we found what appears to be Haviar's remains? Or perhaps her ashes. We found something that looked like it, guided by her."
"I see. And Haviar?"