Chapter 12
The list of the top 16 teams has been announced.
Interestingly, this is actually the first time I've known that our teams have names.
And the names are not ordinary at all.
- "The Four Limbs of Nothingness Buried in the Belly of the Snake Team"
For some reason, I felt a chill in my heart.
- "I don't know if this name is suitable for our team"
...?
- "The Number One Illusion Team in the World"
Individually, it might not seem so strange, but when their opponent happens to be "The Number One Illusion Team in the World but Not Really," it becomes quite peculiar.
There is one team that stands out purely from its length, giving the impression of being an easy target to eliminate -
"The Chaotic Black Flames of the Ever-changing Inconsistency Roast Pink Dumplings Escort Team"
...
As I accurately caught onto the two key words "black flames" and "dumplings," my mouth twitched, and I looked towards my two dear roommates with an inquisitive gaze.
"So, the team with the longest, most tongue-twisting, awkward, meaningless, and nonsensical name in the top 16 teams..."
They both glanced off to the side with a distracted look.
Hey, wait a minute...
Aiyia: "Ah, actually, it was originally called the Pink Dumpling Team."
Wakaka: "No, no, no, it was originally supposed to be called The Chaotic Black Flames of the Ever-changing Inconsistency."
Aiyia & Wakaka: "But she insisted, so we changed it to 'The Chaotic Black Flames of the Ever-changing Inconsistency Roast Pink Dumplings Escort Team'!"
Aiyia: "Oh... come to think of it, it was not a good idea that only the two of us decided the name. But because you were called by the principal at that time, they were in a hurry to have us come up with a name, so we discussed it..."
Wakaka: "And then we specifically added the words 'escort team' for Molly Ann sweetheart, so now it's called 'The Chaotic Black Flames of the Ever-changing Inconsistency Roast Pink Dumplings Escort Team'."
"I dare not question the length restrictions set by the academy, but what exactly does adding 'escort team' express..."
"It expresses our determination to protect Molly Ann sweetheart with our lives."
"..."
I helplessly put my hand on my forehead, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a short and powerless team name.
"The White Lotus Team"
--------------- Divider ---------------
It's now 11 o'clock in the morning, and the third match of the quarter-finals is currently underway, between "The Chaotic Black Flames of the Ever-changing Inconsistency Roast Pink Dumplings Escort Team" and the "Three Arms and Ten Legs Team."
Three Arms and Ten Legs...?
I was wondering how I had missed such a bizarre name, but upon closer reflection, I realized that I had already lost consciousness when I saw our own team name.
So, our opponent is making their appearance -
We are about to face -
A tree with a little girl on it.
No, no, no.
I rubbed my eyes.
A little girl growing on a tree.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
I pinched my thigh hard.
After three painful pinches, it turned out to be a dream...
I eased my mind and took a deep breath, only to see two other hands pinching my thigh.
Aiyia and Wakaka, just like me, seemed relaxed, and in unison, they said -
"It doesn't hurt at all, it was indeed just a dream."
Me: "..."
Aiyia: "..."
Wakaka: "..."
Me: "No, no, no, isn't this strange!?"
Aiyia: "Even in the School of Balancing, it's still strange, right!?"
Wakaka: "What on earth is this!?"
A five-meter-tall giant tree had somehow moved to the opposite side, and at the strongest branch sat a sculpture-like little girl in a long dress.
As for why I felt she was growing on the tree, it was because the snow-white dress scattered along the tree's patterns from the little girl, gradually turning into the brown color of the tree trunk, and finally stuck to it, making it almost impossible to tell them apart.
The most eerie thing was that the little girl "flowed" down the trunk as if she were sliding down a slide, and stopped on the branch closest to us, giving us a slight smile -
"Samuel and Chet, please be gentle."
