Episode 15:
The day of the class competition had finally arrived. Right from the first round, we were set to face off against Goose’s team. Given that we had all been pushed hard during the training camp, our morale was high as we approached the big day.
The training grounds within the academy’s premises were filled with temporary tents, each representing a different team.
We received identification tags to distinguish our teams. Shaitan and I, who weren’t in the tent, headed to our tent together.”
“Hmm…? Isn’t that Goose over there?” Shaitan quietly pointed out someone sneaking away from our team.
I suddenly had a bad feeling and rushed into our tent, swinging open the tent flap to find my teammates collapsed on the ground. Only Elsha seemed fine, huddled on the floor and trembling.
“Elsha! What happened?” I asked urgently.
“L-Luciel said we shouldn’t drink the water… But nobody believed him… Those who drank the water collapsed…”
“Water… I see.”
Given the circumstances, there was only one person who could have done this. Goose.
This was originally supposed to be an event where I, as an ally, was supposed to carry out a plan to make Goose, my teammate, lose by poisoning my own team. In the original story, even with this handicap, the protagonist Goose would win the battle. If he lost, it would be game over, and you’d have to start over. The protagonist always wins, that’s the story.
But here, Goose had poisoned us instead.
Seeing my friends writhing in pain on the ground, I was overwhelmed with the urge to confront Goose, but there were more pressing matters at hand. The class competition was like a festival, but it also played a role in evaluating the students. Winning the tournament would elevate our class, but losing would lower our ranking.
The poison Goose had used was of a type that couldn’t be healed by magic. To wait for everyone to recover, I had no choice but to try to negotiate a delay in the match start time with the professors.
“Shaitan, Elsha, take care of everyone here. I’m going to talk to the professors and see if we can negotiate a change in the match schedule.”
“Alright.”
“Understood.”
With their blessings, I left the tent and headed out to negotiate with the professors.
—
“Why can’t you agree to the change? Why?” I pleaded with the professors, who were responsible for the class competition’s organization, to consider changing the match schedule due to our teammates’ poor health. However, they flatly rejected my request with a simple “It’s not possible.”
“That’s the rule, my lad. It’s part of the training to prepare your condition for the big day. Those who are unfit on the important day won’t be of any use in a real crisis. And it was you who made the suggestion,” the professors explained.
I was taken aback. Had the past Viper planned this all along to betray Goose? It seemed like there was a well-thought-out plan behind this. I never expected to be tormented by my past self’s legacy.
“But what about the last-minute health issues… It’s poison! We’ve been poisoned!” I argued desperately.
The professor shook his head. “Even if you’re unwell, everyone else is in the same situation. We can’t make exceptions. Besides, poison, intrigue, manipulation, they’re all valid strategies. It doesn’t violate the rules.”
“Rules…” I muttered.
The professors’ Spartan teaching style was showing through. “I understand,” I conceded. Time was running out. I hurried back to our tent.
—
When I returned to the tent, most of the team members were struggling to sit up against the walls. Only Irio still seemed unable to get up.
“How’s everyone?” I asked Elsha.
Elsha shook her head slightly. “Getting up is a struggle for everyone. Irio drank a lot, and he still can’t get up. Everyone… we’re not in the condition for combat…”
“I-Irio… It’s okay… We can’t fight like this… We’ll get back at Goose some other time,” I comforted him, stroking his head.
Irio, still facing the ceiling, covered his eyes with his arms, hiding his tears. “It’s not okay… I’m here on a scholarship because my family is poor. If we forfeit this match, we’ll be demoted. My scholarship will be cut, and I won’t be able to stay here anymore…”
“Is that true!?”
The rule was simple: Seven people standing in the arena. That was it. We needed to meet that condition and defeat Goose.
“No, it’s not over. Shaitan, Elsha, help me carry them one by one,” I declared.
“Are you serious!? Everyone can’t stand!”
“Spirits, it’s your turn,” Elsha said as she understood my intention and summoned a spirit.
It appeared to be an earth spirit, resembling a golem-like earth doll. The earth doll gently lifted people one by one.
Irio, who I had forcefully awakened, was carried on my back.
“Irio… This isn’t goodbye… Don’t say that. We’re going to win. Together,” I assured him, recalling a certain strategy video from ‘Goose’s Chronicles’ in my mind.
