The first match of the Main Tournament had begun.
Since we had secured a seed, we would be spectating from the sidelines for a while. We weren’t scheduled to compete until the second round, after the first-round matches were all decided. This was a significant advantage, as it allowed us to observe nearly every other team's tactics beforehand.
A Siege Battle is split between attacking and defending sides.
The attackers win if they seize a flag placed within the castle and carry it to a designated location outside. The defenders win if they successfully protect the flag until time runs out.
The order of attack and defense is determined by a coin toss, and each match is a best-of-three system. Ideally, we wanted to secure two consecutive wins to end things quickly.
If the matches dragged on and went to a third round, the pressure would mount. Each round lasted one hour. While a match could be decided in as little as two hours, a full three rounds would significantly increase the duration. That meant more fatigue would accumulate.
Given the grueling schedule and the single-elimination tournament format, every team would likely aim to settle their matches as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, the defenders are free to place the flag wherever they wish. They are given a ten-minute preparation phase to install the flag within the Ancient Castle and can even set up Delay Magic to hinder the opposition.
It’s impossible to say whether the attackers or defenders have the definitive advantage; it entirely depends on the team's composition.
As for our team, we were equipped to handle either role.
Our most powerful asset in this scenario was undoubtedly Amelia’s Butterfly Effect. If the opponent tried to escape with the flag, she could simply ensure they never made it out. Conversely, if we were attacking, she could ensure our successful escape.
By manipulating causality in such a way, the battle would become trivial.
The problem, however, was Amelia’s limit.
The Main Tournament involved several matches in quick succession, leaving little time for a proper recovery interval. If possible, I wanted her to save that power for the Finals, but it remained to be seen if we could make it that far without it.
"It’s finally starting," Amelia remarked.
"Even I am starting to feel a bit nervous..." Ariane admitted.
"Now then. Let’s see what they’re capable of."
The three of us watched the proceedings from the Colosseum stands. This particular match featured a team of three from Diom Magic Academy against three from Mercrose Magic Academy.
I had been observing them since the Qualifiers, and the specialized traits of their respective academies were on full display. Diom Magic Academy focused on close-quarters combat, while Mercrose Magic Academy specialized in complex sorcery.
At first glance, the Diom team might seem to have the upper hand with their physical prowess, but the Mercrose team held the advantage when it came to defense. It was difficult to judge which side would prevail. There was simply no telling how the match would unfold.
Because they faced the prospect of three consecutive rounds, both teams were clearly looking for an early win.
Once the teams lined up, the coin toss determined the initial roles. The Diom Magic Academy side won the toss and chose their side.
They chose to attack.
"They chose to attack. Just as I expected," I noted.
"Yes, it seems so," Amelia agreed.
"It makes sense, given that their academy specializes in melee combat," Ariane added.
With that, the match officially began. The three of us watched the contest intently, following every move until the very end.
◇
"That’s that, then," I said.
"True. But that was rather unexpected..." Amelia murmured.
"It seems that specializing in close-quarters combat isn't a guaranteed path to victory," Ariane observed.
Indeed. The Mercrose Magic Academy side was on the verge of claiming victory.
Mercrose had been assigned to defend in the first round, attack in the second, and defend again in the third. They had skillfully utilized Delay Magic to construct an impenetrable defensive line. The defeat of the Diom side, who were unable to dismantle that defense, was now a foregone conclusion.
As the remaining time dipped below one minute, a loud siren echoed through the venue.
The first round of the Main Tournament had concluded successfully.
Watching the match had been incredibly educational. We hadn't been permitted to scout the Ancient Castle beforehand, meaning every team would only learn its internal layout after the first match was over.
I mentally reconstructed the castle’s layout into a three-dimensional model based on the monitor footage, then sketched the details into my notebook.
"Hey, Ray. What did you think of that—wait, what is that? Your notes?" Amelia asked.
"Hm? Oh, I was just mapping out the structure of the Ancient Castle."
"Wait... you can actually do that?" Ariane asked, her face mirrored by Amelia’s look of bewilderment. I answered her honestly.
"I couldn't see every single corner during the match, but I’ve grasped the general layout. I’ll likely have it fully mapped out after I watch one more match. I'm truly grateful for our seed; it lets us spend time preparing while observing the other matches."
"..."
"What’s wrong?" I asked.
Both of them stared at me, their mouths agape in stunned silence.
"I knew you were extraordinary, Ray, but this is moving past 'impressive' and into something else entirely..." Amelia said.
"Y-Yes... to understand a three-dimensional structure so thoroughly just from fragmentary monitor footage... your spatial awareness is terrifying," Ariane added.
"Well, my Master put me through a lot of training. I'm just glad I can put those skills to use."
Through my experiences in the Far East Campaign, I had acquired a rare level of spatial awareness. It was an ability my Master had helped me develop further after recognizing my latent talent, and it was also a core component of my Anti-Material Field.
"Anyway, I’ve mostly got the hang of it. All that’s left is to build a strategy for the actual match."
"If it’s your strategy, Ray, I'm sure it'll be perfect!" Amelia cheered.
"I agree!" Ariane chimed in.
I appreciated the praise, but I felt the need to caution them. My word wasn't law. I had made plenty of mistakes in the past, and there was no guarantee I wouldn't make more in the future.
"No, that’s not necessarily true. I’ve made many mistakes before. If either of you has an opinion, please don’t hesitate to speak up. My plans are only proposals."
"...Right. I understand," Amelia said.
"Understood. You really are a wonderful person, Ray," Ariane said warmly.
"Do you think so?"
"Yes. I truly do."
Suddenly, Amelia narrowed her eyes at Ariane. It was an interrogating, searching look—as if she were accusing her of something.
"Ariane? Don't tell me..."
"T-That was a perfectly normal thing to say! Amelia, you're overthinking things!"
"But I still haven't heard the full story about when you stayed at Ray's family home. I’ve only heard the bare bones of it, you know?"
"T-That! N-Nothing happened at all, I tell you!"
"You're acting awfully suspicious for someone who has nothing to hide..."
Amelia and Ariane began bickering between themselves. I didn't interject, though I could clearly hear Amelia pressing Ariane for details.
I caught snippets of their conversation: "I don't want Ariane becoming a rival too..." "T-That’s not it! Really! I am the Fighting Maiden!" "But your face is so red..." "You're imagining things!"
While they argued, I turned my thoughts back to the upcoming matches.
To ensure we won the tournament, we needed to finish our matches as quickly as possible. Winning two rounds straight would secure the match immediately. However, if we dropped even a single round, we would be forced to fight until the very end.
If that happened in every match leading up to the Finals, the fatigue would be overwhelming. Accumulated exhaustion could easily lead to a mistake and, ultimately, defeat. That meant we had to be even more cautious here than we were in the Qualifiers.
Having come this far, it was only natural to aim for the championship.
But standing in our way was the team led by Lucas Forst. Evi and Albert were formidable in their own right, and they had clearly been training intensely. Albert’s growth, in particular, was staggering. He had become a balanced fighter, capable in both magic and melee. If we were to face them, I knew I would need to find a way to deal with Albert first.
Of course, the opposition likely knew that as well.
I wondered what kind of match it would be... but as I considered various tactics, I felt certain of one thing: it would be an incredible battle.