I stepped onto the stage alongside Rekka and Liesha-san. The arena wasn't exactly massive, but it was about half the size of a standard school yard.
The opposition was perfectly balanced: Mikiya as the vanguard, Saionji-san in the mid-guard, and Misuzu-san as the rearguard. However, "balanced" was an understatement. Misuzu-san could double as a front-liner using her bare-handed brawling style, and Saionji-san was a master of the blade. With her EX-rank mana, she was a hybrid powerhouse capable of dominating any position.
While they couldn't quite match Mikiya's raw talent as a pure vanguard, the fact that both women could hold the front line at such a high level was terrifying. It was a party with absolutely no openings.
On our side, Rekka and Liesha-san took the front, while I stayed back in the rearguard. If someone like me tried to step up, I'd be crushed in a heartbeat. It was just common sense.
Purely on stats, we were outmatched. Mikiya and Rekka were a wash, but while Liesha-san had the edge over Saionji-san, the gap between Misuzu-san and a "mob" like me was a canyon. If anyone else were in my shoes, this would have been a one-sided slaughter. But that's why I was going to exploit my ultimate weapon: the fact that I know everything about them.
"Match... start!" the referee shouted.
The moment the signal was given, Mikiya and Rekka charged, with Saionji-san and Liesha-san hot on their heels.
"Power Enhance!¹"
The buffs from Misuzu-san and me collided in mid-air. I used to struggle with targeting two people at once, but after all that grinding for materials, my control had sharpened significantly.
Clang!
Rekka and Mikiya's blades locked, grinding together in a shower of sparks. Rekka was technically stronger in terms of raw stats; the fact that they were at a stalemate meant Misuzu-san's buff potency was higher than mine. I expected nothing less - she was incredible.
"Speed Enhance!²"
I kept the buffs flowing. Since Misuzu-san had me beat on raw output, I had to win on strategy and timing. This was where I truly came alive.
"See if you can keep up with this, Rekka! Afterimage Array!³" Mikiya shouted.
"Tch... Mikiya's clones?!" Rekka growled.
"Heh, the afterim - "
"Rekka, dead ahead!" I yelled.
"Got it! Hah!"
Mikiya barely managed to retreat after Rekka's massive swing nearly took his head off. Saionji-san tried to capitalize on the opening, but Liesha blocked her path.
"Not on my watch, Saionji-san! Flash!" Liesha-san cried.
"Guh... Liesha-san!"
Liesha wasn't about to let her through. She obstructed the path to Rekka instantly, her blade moving in a blur of defensive slashes.
"I'm with you, Saionji-san!" Misuzu-san called out.
"Thank you, Doumeki-san!"
Liesha parried Saionji-san's graceful, dance-like swordsmanship and Misuzu-san's ferocious barrage with just a single hand. It was breathtaking - the Sword Saint⁴ title wasn't just for show. One piece of advice would be enough for her.
"Liesha-san! Saionji-san is a southpaw - her left hand is the real threat! And Misuzu-san's left-hand strikes are a fraction of a second slower than her right!"
"Understood, Sakaki-kun! Haaaa!"
"Wait, what?! You saw through that in a second - kyaah!" Misuzu-san cried.
Misuzu-san was the first to fall, her rhythm broken as she was sent tumbling back.
"To see through my hidden hand so easily... fine! But try blocking this, Liesha-san! Sword Dance: Cherry Blossom Profusion!⁵"
"That's your right hand," Liesha said. "Which means the real blow is coming from there."
"What?!"
"Break! Abyssal Heavenly Slashes!⁶"
"Kahah!"
Just as Misuzu-san tried to scramble up, Saionji-san was sent flying straight into her. They ended up in a tangled heap on the floor. It looked painful - total cliché, I know. Meanwhile, Rekka was holding his own.
"You're wide open, Mikiya! I've got Reo in my corner!"
"Then let's see you break this, Rekka! Cocytus Wall!⁷"
A fortress of ice erupted around Mikiya. But it was a waste of mana.
"Rekka! Pivot right and sweep the ground! Low and hard!" I shouted.
"On it, Reo! Hah!"
The ice wall shattered instantly. Every construct has a load-bearing point where the mana is most concentrated. Just like a house, if you take out the pillar, the roof comes down. You don't need to break the whole wall - just the part that matters.
"Found an opening! Power Breaker!⁸"
Mikiya caught the blow on his sword but was sent skidding across the stage to join the girls. Before I realized it, Rekka and Liesha-san were standing right beside me. Guarding me.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"Haa... haa... Saionji, Doumeki. It's like I thought," Mikiya panted. "Reo is the key."
"Yes... this match has certainly made that clear," Saionji-san replied.
"Yeah," Misuzu-san agreed. "With Reo there, Rekka and Liesha-san are performing at a hundred and twenty percent. If we're going to win, we have to take out Reo first!"
Three sets of eyes locked onto me. A thrill ran down my spine - the kind of shiver you get before a big hunt. My favorite characters, the people I practically worshipped, were finally looking at me as an enemy. But they weren't looking at a "mob."
They were looking at me. And it felt like a surge of pure, unfiltered joy.
"Todoroki-kun," Liesha-san whispered.
"I know, Liesha-san," Rekka replied. "They're coming for Reo, right?"
"Exactly. I won't let them lay a single finger on Sakaki-kun."
"You bet! ssu!"
They stepped forward, shielding me. I was getting actual goosebumps. If we weren't in public, I'd probably be doing a victory dance. Okay, time to get serious.
"Rekka, Liesha-san."
"Yeah?"
"What is it?"
"I have a plan. Lean in."
I gave them a quick briefing. A support strategy that only I could pull off.
"Let's go, Reo! Afterimage Array!" Mikiya yelled.
"Coming for you, Reo-san! Cherry Blossom: Lotus Formation!" Saionji-san called.
"Here we go! Double Cast: Power Enhance and Speed Enhance!" Misuzu-san cried.
They all charged at once. But sorry, guys - I saw this coming a mile away.
"Magic Canceller: Enhance!⁹"
"No way! You timed a counter-spell that perfectly?!" Misuzu-san gasped.
I did know, Misuzu-san. I could see your mana flux. And I'm not done yet. You're too surprised to block the follow-up.
"Double Cast: Power Down and Speed Down!¹⁰"
"Gugh! Why... why do I feel so heavy?!" Mikiya groaned.
"Is this... Reo-san's debuff?"
The buffs they expected were gone, replaced by a crushing weight. Normally, their high mana would resist a debuff, but I timed it for the exact micro-second their guard dropped from the shock of the cancellation. Rekka and Liesha-san had already warned them that my debuffs were a nightmare. There was no way the Hero's party was walking through that unscathed.
"Rekka, Liesha-san! Now!"
"Got it, Reo! Take this! Ragna Breaker!¹¹"
"I see it, Sakaki-kun! I won't miss! Heavenly Demon Dragon Slash!¹²"
A devastating one-two punch of high-tier skills. To think I'd see the moves meant for late-game bosses being used right here!
"Tch... Rekka... I'll give you this one," Mikiya wheezed. "We lose. But... don't you forget... you only won because of Reo. You're something else, Reo..."
Mikiya collapsed. Rekka ran over to him.
"Heh, I know that better than anyone, Mikiya. Next time, it's my turn to carry."
Rekka whispered something else to him, but they were too far away for me to hear.
"Oww... you two are way too strong," Misuzu-san whined. "And Reo-san, that was totally cheating!"
"Yeah! Reo, you're such a sneak!" Saionji-san added.
"Hey, give me a break!" I replied.
I didn't know how to respond to the girls as they sat there pouting. Sure, I know everything about you guys and your moves, but still...
"Hehe, just accept it," Liesha said. "A loss is a loss."
"Haa... I knew Rekka-kun and Liesha-san were tough, but I didn't expect Reo-san to be the deciding factor," Saionji-san admitted. "I never thought I'd lose while teamed up with Hyouga-kun and Doumeki-san."
"Me neither! Man, I was going to give Rekka a piece of my mind, and now look at me."
"Ahaha, but you guys were great," I said. "Saionji-san, that mana-sword combo is deadly. Only Liesha-san could have parried that. And Misuzu-san, your buffs are actually stronger than mine. You're the ultimate support if you stay in the back. I think that was the mistake - if you'd focused on support from the rear, my debuffs probably wouldn't have landed."
"Ugh, stop hitting me with such sound logic, it hurts more than the fall," Misuzu-san groaned.
"Seriously," Saionji-san added. "Stop being so charming while you're pointing out our flaws, Reo-san."
"Huh? Charming?"
"Fufu. Well, let's save the review for later," Liesha said. "Todoroki-kun, your power control is still a mess, isn't it, Sakaki-kun?"
"Eh? Oh, yeah. I mean, Mikiya did pass out..."
"Whoa, hey! I was just standing here, why am I getting roasted?!" Rekka yelled.
Everyone laughed. Rekka stood there, the center of their attention. He really was the protagonist. We took our winner's points from the organizers and headed out.
Summary:
Reo's party engages in a mock battle against the Hero's party (Mikiya, Saionji, and Misuzu). Despite being physically outmatched, Reo uses his meta-knowledge of the characters' fighting styles and weaknesses to guide Rekka and Liesha. The battle ends in a decisive victory for Reo's team after he pulls off a high-level magic cancellation and debuff combo.
Trivia:
- Saionji-san is actually left-handed (southpaw), which is her 'hidden hand'.
- Reo can see the flow/flux of mana, allowing him to time 'Magic Canceller' perfectly.
- Liesha-san is a 'Sword Saint', a title that implies elite-tier combat status.
- Rekka's ending particle 'ssu' denotes his casual/delinquent-lite speech pattern.
- The skills used at the end are actually meant for late-game bosses
Character Insight:
Reo moves from being a background 'Mob' to being recognized as a threat by the main cast. Mikiya explicitly acknowledges that Reo was the reason they lost, marking a significant shift in how the world perceives the protagonist.
Behind the Scenes:
The author notes at the end discuss the removal of a toxic review that criticized the story's core premise, emphasizing the author's commitment to their vision.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Power Enhance: A basic strengthening buff.
2 ↩ Speed Enhance: A basic agility buff.
3 ↩ Afterimage Array (Zan'eijin): A skill that creates illusory clones.
4 ↩ Sword Saint (Kensei): A legendary title for masters of the blade.
5 ↩ Sword Dance: Cherry Blossom Profusion (Kenbu: Ouka Kenran): A high-rank sword technique.
6 ↩ Abyssal Heavenly Slashes (Tenma Renzan): Liesha's signature multi-hit skill.
7 ↩ Cocytus Wall: An ice-element defensive barrier.
8 ↩ Power Breaker: A heavy-hitting physical skill.
9 ↩ Magic Canceller: A high-level reactive skill that nullifies incoming spells.
10 ↩ Power Down / Speed Down: Debuff spells used to weaken physical attributes.
11 ↩ Ragna Breaker: Rekka's ultimate fire-based offensive skill.
12 ↩ Heavenly Demon Dragon Slash (Tenma Seiryuuzan): A combined holy/dragon element sword art.
Notes:
• Reo - Reincarnated HS dude who grinded 'Brave Fantasy' 100+ times, now a bland mob in the game world—black hair, Class E #6 by the back door, F-rank stats but plot meta-knowledge + magic flow reading to sideline-support heroes. Lil' bro to Saki & Taku, survives as background bro.