The Surefire Victory Strategy
The sound of the server pouring tea into cups echoed through the vast space. Aside from that, not a single whisper of conversation could be heard.
"Ah, thank you."
"...No problem."
Noah, blissfully oblivious to the mood, thanked the server, who—quick on the uptake—hurried away. In the end, it was I who broke the silence.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Oh, Stella said we should talk, so we came. She raved about how good this place is, but I've never been before."
"Yeah?"
I shot Stella a look at her words, silently asking why she'd dragged Noah all the way here. She met my gaze with a what're-you-gonna-do-about-it expression, let out a light sigh, and finally spoke.
"I wanted to talk about teaming up with Noah."
"Teaming up?"
"...You still don't know? They posted it on the bulletin board today. The midterms are gonna be 3v3 team battles."
"...What?"
I had no idea. I'd never even gone near the bulletin board. Hell, I didn't even know where it was. Dinua, realizing the exam required finding teammates on your own, began trembling visibly. For someone without a single friend like her, group assignments were anything but welcome.
"Looks like someone's got it real easy. No time to check announcements when you're off on a date with a girl, huh?"
"D-Date?"
"...No, she's just a friend and a senior."
"Oh? A friend and a senior."
Stella eyed Dinua with clear interest. Spotting the red hair and ribbon, Dinua seemed to grasp her identity and spoke in a slightly quivering voice.
"...Greetings, Lady of House Iritz. I am—"
"Ah, cut it out. This is the academy—what's with the formalities? Speak casually, senpai."
"R-Really?"
"She said casually."
"I-I'm more comfortable this way..."
Dinua stuck to her formal speech to the end as she introduced herself again to Stella.
"Dinua Erebos, second-year... Nice to meet you."
"Erebos...? That Erebos Count family?"
"Y-Yeah. That's right."
Stella, clearly familiar with Dinua's house, pressed her with questions, and Dinua replied in that odd mix of casual and formal. So this is how nobles talk, I thought, leaving the two aristocrats to it and chatting idly with Noah instead. Talking with her was incredibly relaxing. She was a commoner, and mentally, so was I.
"Noah, you teaming with Stella?"
"Yeah!"
"Come to my side. I'll carry harder."
"Eh, umm... But I already promised Stella..."
"What's the big deal?"
"B-But..."
I grinned and downed the tea the server had poured. The warm liquid soothed my throat, calming my mind and body. Just as I was savoring it like a proper noble, Stella shattered the peace, pointing accusingly at me.
"Who're you trying to poach? Noah's already decided to team with me!"
"Y-Yeah!"
"She seemed pretty hesitant for someone who's decided."
"...Noah, is that true?"
"N-No! I never said that..."
Sowing discord between them, I turned to Senior Dinua. She looked deeply uncomfortable, glaring at me restlessly like a dog desperate to pee. Time to ask her too—I proposed teaming up.
"Senior, wanna team with me?"
"H-Huh?"
"It's a team battle. Me and you would be unstoppable."
"Y-You think?"
"That won't fly."
Just as a historic alliance formed between me and Senior Dinua, Stella butted in. I frowned slightly at her.
"Why not?"
"A second-year joining a first-year exam? Come on."
"...Fair point."
"Plus, there are conditions for this team battle."
"Conditions?"
"Every team must include a 1-star, 2-star, and 3-star summoner."
Requiring 1~3-star summons in a 3v3 basically meant teams of one each. Without that rule, 3-star summoners would just band together and crush everyone. No wonder Stella targeted Noah—a 1-star summoner. There were plenty of 1-stars, but few useful ones for her.
"Huh. Too bad."
But I wasn't too bothered. A 3v3? One strong leader could sweep it anyway. With me on 3-star duty, I'd demolish anyone. Stella scoffed at my confidence, utterly incredulous.
"You have no clue what a 3v3 team battle is, do you?"
"One person wins everything, right?"
"That's a leader duel. This is a team battle. If the two before you lose, you forfeit without even fighting."
"...Oh."
Still not getting it? Stella hammered it home again.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten our bet?"
"Ah."
That's when it hit me—the problem with team battles. Even if I was sure to win, I needed at least one other victory. If the first two lost, I'd auto-lose. Then I need to...
By now, kids were probably haggling over each other's value, selling themselves out. Paradoxically, at this moment, 1-star summoners—especially strong-fighting ones—held more worth than 2- or 3-stars.
"The notice went up this morning... Most teams are probably set by now?"
Smug as ever, Stella smirked down at me, convinced she'd won. And she wasn't wrong. I'd lost before it even started.
"Senior, please get me what I asked for somehow."
"Y-Yeah, got it..."
After parting with the others, I scoured for unpaired kids. But anyone with decent summons was taken. Leftovers were either summoner rejects who couldn't control their own or useless in combat.
We're screwed.
In PVP where you deploy multiple summons like in the game, synergy mattered. But in this world, where most had one or two? Raw stats ruled. No room for counters or tactics in 1v1s. And locals knew it too.
Even so, only scrubs left...
Fewer 2- and 3-stars meant I'd compete, but would any ragtag remnant have the drive to join for glory among prideful nobles?
"None..."
"None what?"
"Huh?"
Something soft shoved me hard. Frowning, I turned. Sheera stood there, beaming.
"Lose something?"
"...No."
"Phew, good. Oh! Ian, got a team yet?"
"Not yet."
"For real!? This must be fate. I couldn't find one either—team up?"
"Your summon's Bluebird."
Bluebird was a buffer. Useless solo, no matter the level. But Sheera kept smiling, tilting her head innocently.
"Yeah! So?"
"...Bluebird can't fight."
"Aha, you think that too, huh."
Giggling, she lunged close. I leaned back, but she grabbed my shoulder, yanked me in, and whispered.
Whisper whisper.
"...Like this."
"...That works?"
"If not, I've got other sure-wins."
"A sure-win for this exam?"
Impossible. But she laughed, thrilled at her secret.
"What is it?"
"Curious?"
"Yeah."
"Team with me, and I'll tell."
"...Sure-win, right?"
"Hey, don't you trust me? I stake my house on it. Sure-win."
Dubious, but I partied up. She dragged it out, saying she'd reveal only after official signup. Stuck, I grabbed a decent-looking leftover 2-star. He lit up ridiculously.
"M-Me...?"
"Whatever. Just breathe. Now, Sheera—sure-win first."
"Simple. I might not win, but... hey, you."
"Y-Yes!?"
"You're confident, right?"
"Y-Yeah... I'll do my best."
"Ian?"
"Obviously."
"Done."
"...Huh?"
"You two win, it's 2v1. Boom—sure-win."
I stared, dumbfounded. She grinned mischievously. Rushing to the office too late, I learned approved teams couldn't cancel. I trudged back.
"Hahaha! Hilarious face."
Should've known better than to trust her. I sighed in regret.
Surprisingly, Sheera wasn't entirely wrong. Mars, our teammate, proved it.
"Um... Sheera's not that off..."
"Yeah?"
"Condition's just one each of 1/2/3-star. No rule saying 1-stars fight 1-stars..."
"...Use Sheera as bait?"
"Eek, so mean."
Sheera fake-pouted. Mars panicked, but knowing her playfulness, I ignored it.
Not wrong.
Sheera loses for sure. Bad draw on paper... but pit her against opponent's 2- or 3-star?
Then our blade faces their 1-star. His summon's weak for 2-star, but crushes 1-stars.
...Sure-win?
Theoretically, yes. Big issue: opponent's order.
"How do we know their lineup?"
Unknown order ruined it. I could draw their 1-star.
Sheera raised her hand casually.
"Oh, I can find out."
"...You? How?"
"I'm Acacia."
She declared using her family's spies boldly. Laughable, but her win-lust shone.
"...Fine, let's do it."
We went all-in to win. Time passed, and exam day arrived.