I stepped inside the massive tent, wondering exactly what "Super-Spacetime Sniping Action" entailed. There were quite a few people already gathered inside.
Large numbers generated by some sort of Phantom Magic floated in mid-air, displaying a countdown: 5 minutes until start. It seemed this attraction operated on a fixed schedule. That meant everyone currently in the tent would probably be participating together.
As I was thinking that, a staff member made the rounds and handed me an L-shaped piece of wood. I stared at it, puzzled. What was I supposed to do with this? I assumed they’d explain once the time came.
"Shiro-san, you know what this 'Shateki' game is like, right? What do we do with this wood?"
"Who knows?"
"...Eh? Wait, what?"
"Standard Shateki doesn't utilize such items. However, what you're holding is meant to be a gun—or a close approximation of one—from your world. Since Kuro created this Magic Tool based on the fragmented information I provided, you might find it a bit jarring, but as Shateki involves firearms, this is likely a substitute."
"I see, that makes sense..."
It was true that festival target practice usually involved cork guns. Looking at it now, the wood did have the vague shape of a firearm... though it felt more like a handgun than a rifle.
"By the way, what is the normal version of Shateki like?"
"...I'd really like my reliable lover, Shiro-san, to teach me..."
"I-I’d really like my reliable lover, Shiro-san, to teach me~"
"Very well. Since you’ve gone that far, I shall explain."
"Ah, thank you."
"Essentially, Shateki is a competitive PvP sport. Ten people engage in combat within a designated arena, shooting Magic Bullets at Special Crystals attached to each other’s bodies. There are various nuanced rules, but each participant has five crystals. You’re eliminated if all five are hit or if the impact of the bullets renders you unconscious. The last one standing wins."
I see. So it was basically a battle royale. I imagined there were restrictions on the power and speed of the bullets, though. But as I suspected, this shared absolutely zero resemblance to the festival games I knew back home!
"The restrictions are placed on the guns rather than the bullets themselves," Shiro-san continued. "Each weapon must have a Magic Crystal attached; creating Magic Bullets using one's own Magic Power is strictly forbidden. Since the Magic Crystal Standards and the quantity one can carry are fixed, it effectively caps the available energy. You can technically recharge a crystal with your own power, but since their purity is restricted to below fifty percent, the process is quite slow."
"I get it. So you have to balance things like destructive power and muzzle velocity against consumption within a limited pool of energy. That sounds like it would allow for a lot of tactical variety. You could go for high-powered shots that can't be fired quickly, or a hail of weak, rapid-fire bullets."
Since they were using Magic Crystals, they could probably engrave Magic Formulas onto them, allowing for bullets that curved or split. Of course, that would consume significantly more Magic Power. It seemed like it would involve quite a bit of strategy.
"I heard that Shateki involves aerial combat, though. Is that true?"
"Since the field is restricted in size, those who can utilize verticality as well as the horizontal plane have the advantage. While you can't use your own power for offense, hovering and flight are permitted."
"I see, I see. Thank you for telling me... It sounds like it would be fun to watch, but it seems a bit too difficult for me to actually do."
"Kaito-san, I have a proposal," Shiro-san said. "Shall we have a contest after all?"
"Eh? No, I still don't really know what the Adjusted Version entails..."
"It is fine. I have already figured it out."
She likely used Future Sight or something similar to learn the details of the Adjusted Version before making the offer. I didn't think Shiro-san was the type to enjoy simply crushing me one-sidedly, so I assumed there must be some chance for me to win.
"No, under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for you to defeat me, Kaito-san."
"Well, I suppose that's true."
"Therefore, I shall apply two handicaps. First, I can only hit as many targets as you do. Second, I am forbidden from scoring more than fifty points on any single target."
"Hmm?"
"You may give me your answer after you hear the explanation once the event begins. As for the stakes... the loser must grant the winner 'any one request.'"
"..."
It was the ultimate cliché for a bet, which only made me more curious. The fact that she was suggesting it meant she wanted something from me—something she thought I might turn down if she asked normally. I wasn't sure what to think, but Shiro-san looked so genuinely pleased, the corners of her mouth twitching upward, that I didn't think it would end badly.
Serious-senpai: "Wait, what is that Natural God up to?"
???: "1. Flirting. 2. Flirting. 3. Flirting... It's bound to be one of those."
Serious-senpai: "...One of those? There’s only one choice there!"