Chapter 18.1. Feedback Harassment

“That was cheating! You shot from outside the building!”
As the field returned outside through the transfer magic circle, Vice President Namese, who had been calm before the duel started, now came at me loudly.
“I haven’t left the designated field. Isn’t that right?”
“Yeah… According to the judgment AI, Kamiya hasn’t moved an inch from the starting point, let alone outside the building.”
President Domon is checking the contents of the duel from earlier on his terminal with a face like he had swallowed a bitter bug.
“S-Sorry… I… I…”
As the defeated, Hinoura-san’s voice trembles with a pale face.
“Anyway, why not check the replay video?”
The only calm person here, Mina, suggests.
Taking Mina’s words, President Domon obediently replays the footage recorded by each viewpoint camera and the fixed-point camera.
“””Huh?”””
The three members of the student council involuntarily raise their voices in surprise.
Mina barely suppresses her laughter.
On the screen, right after the duel started, it showed me lying against the wall on the spot.
The judgment AI’s conclusion that I hadn’t moved an inch was indeed accurate.
“Why…”
Naturally, Hinoura-san’s voice raises a question, but the video continues.
A particle cannon appears a little away from me, firing towards the upper floor.
Since there’s no specific target, it shoots in various directions.
After firing several shots, the screen shows me lying down while holding my hand to the particle cannon, stopping the fire momentarily.
Then, purple poisonous gas enters through the hole in the ceiling created when the particle cannon fired.
When I noticed that and pointed my hand toward the hole in the ceiling, the AI judgment announcement sounded.
“What happened in the end?”
“For the moment of conclusion, Hinoura-san’s fixed viewpoint is easy to understand.”
Following my suggestion, President Domon switches cameras and replays the footage again.
The screen shows Hinoura-san manipulating the airflow to rush the poison gas into the hole created by the particle cannon’s shot on the floor below.
Immediately after that, a musket gun, which I also use in my duel with Suo-senpai, appears overhead and shoots Hinoura-san in the head, causing her to collapse on the screen.
“How did you accurately determine my position?”
“Hey, Hinoura. It’s against the rules to inquire about someone else’s Soul Armor ability.”
“Oh…”
President Doon immediately judges Hinoura-san’s breach of manners.
“It’s fine. Hinoura-san’s position was revealed not because of my soul equipment ability but because of pure combat skill.”
“What do you mean…”
“The reason for Hinoura-san’s defeat is rushing to manipulate the airflow to control the poison gas. Since the airflow changes unnaturally, it’s easy to track the position of the spellcaster from there.”
“Oh… oh…”
Hinoura-san drops her shoulders heavily, unable to voice anything.
Most likely, Hinoura-san thought she could deduce my position from the trajectory of the particle cannon I fired early on, but instead, it revealed her own position.
“In short, this defeat was due to your mistake, Hinoura.”
With a cold voice, Vice President Nase says, causing Hinoura-san to tremble.
In this academy where power is everything, the treatment of losers is harsh.
“Oh, if it’s about mistakes, I think Vice President Nase made the biggest one~”
“Huh?! Me?”
To the unexpected words from me, Vice President Nase raises a bewildered voice.
“You said, ‘Kotocchi’s ability is unbeatable indoors~ If you think it’s dangerous, give up immediately, or you’ll regret it later~’ before the duel, right, Vice President Nase? Thanks to that, it became clear that Hinoura-san’s Soul Armor ability, which causes status abnormalities with area attacks, relies on gases that disperse outdoors.”
“W-What…”
This time, it was Vice President Nase’s turn to turn pale.
“Giving hints to the enemy before the fight is too much, Vice President Nase.”
“Ugh…”
With frustration, Vice President Nase can only bow her head towards the ground, clenching her teeth.
[Master. Isn’t it cruel to tell them the cause of their defeat in the feedback battle?]
[I want them to understand the harshness of the battlefield.]
[Seriously. I was boasting to them with a smug face, but the battle just now relied quite a bit on luck.]
[It could have been bad if Hinoura-san hadn’t made the blunder with adding airflow manipulation. Well, if it came to it, I was planning to shoot continuously from below with the anti-aircraft type.]
[That would have caused quite a stir as a way to settle the match.]
[It’s good to win without drawing attention.]
(Clapping)
Just as the conversation with Con ended,
“Excellent. We shall accept your victory.”
President Domon applauds and praises us.
“Thank you. So, could you take care of the follow-up for the two of us? Also, please partition the room.”
“I understand.”
Mina and I leave the arena. Leaving the bitter faced President Domon and the two girls on the verge of tears behind.
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