Lavishly decorated booths are scattered about, and a sea of students in various attires bustles about.
The excited voices of students and the sounds of athletes warming up mingle together and echo throughout the grounds.
The stadium, filled with a vibrant palette of colors, unfolds in a single glance.
This is, without a doubt, the greatest and largest festival in Kivotos.
And the opening address for that festival now rings out.
"Kekeke!! Well then, from this moment on! I declare the start of the Gehenna Cup Kourin Taisai!"
"""Waaaaah!!!"""
A roar of cheers so loud it's meaningless to distinguish which direction it's coming from. It was an auditory signal that succinctly showed the prestige of this festival.
"And it's also the stage where we'll be active today!"
Along with the opening ceremony, The Farm arrived at the Kourin Taisai. We were a little late from packing up our equipment.
"President, are you really going to do this?"
"What's the point of questioning it now, S?"
"A is right. We've already come this far, haven't we?"
Somehow, everyone has reached the stage of resignation.
Doesn't matter.
"Haaaam, you must be from The Farm, correct?"
"Yes. It's been a while, Natsume Iroha-san."
"Makoto-senpai is up to her strange antics again... What a pain... Follow me. I'll guide you to the waiting room."
The one guiding us now is Natsume Iroha. Like me, Arin, and Sarin, she's a third-year middle school student and serves as the voice of reason in the Pandemonium Society.
Her laziness is a drawback if you could call it one, but the list of personalities in the Pandemonium Society is just too unique.
"You can wait here..."
The place Iroha led us to was a rather large tent. Since Makoto was in charge, I was expecting a simple mat on the ground, but it seems things weren't that disorganized.
"Oh! Where is this tent from?!"
"Makoto-senpai had laid out a mat, but the Prefect Team Leader called her crazy and installed this with her own money..."
...
I should consider investing in the Prefect Team later.
Once we finished unpacking our things, Iroha began to read from a checklist.
"Participating group: The Farm. Number of participants: four. Farm Owner, A, S, W. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
Only the four of us are participating in this Kourin Taisai. I didn't want to make the busy employees come out on a weekend to promote the company, and when I asked if anyone wanted to participate, no one volunteered.
Of course, I made it so that employees who don't belong to a school but want to watch the festival can get in using The Farm's name. They should enjoy what they can.
"Participating event... Undecided? What is this..."
"You'll see in a little bit."
"You must have cooked something up with Makoto-senpai again... Understood. Well then, do your best."
With those words, Iroha exited the tent. There must be a lot of participating teams, so for her to personally guide us is special treatment.
"By the way, President, what do you mean by 'undecided'?"
"Ah, that?"
Two weeks ago, when I told Makoto we would participate in the Kourin Taisai, she made a proposal.
She said that participating in too many events would diminish our prestige, so we should enter just one event and win it all. From our perspective, since we were just planning a short promotion, we naturally said okay. Staying too long could lead to our masks coming off or our identities being revealed for other reasons.
I heard that Makoto's side would decide on an appropriate event for us...
"What could it be. A triathlon?"
"With your kinetic vision, President, shouldn't an obstacle course be a cakewalk?"
"That's true. In fact, with this lineup, we could probably win most events."
"As W said, I don't think there's much need to worry."
Whatever it is, it just needs to be over quickly, attract as much attention as possible, and be less intense. In fact, Makoto said she would give us the very first time slot.
What? What if we end up fighting? C'mon. No matter how much of a blockhead Makoto is rumored to be within The Farm, surely she's not that clueless...
"Alright! This special event is the 「Team Tournament」! Kekeke, I want to see all you champions hit, get hit, and fight with all your might!!!"
"...President?"
"That crazy bitch."
Makoto's declaration, lightly leaping over my assumptions, echoed throughout the stadium. Is she serious? She's going to start a gunfight here?
No way, it's just the name of the event, right...
"The rules are simple! Each team sends out one person at a time! The first team to retire three members of the opposing team by any means necessary wins! Kekeke!! Isn't this true entertainment—"
Makoto's noisy speech came to an end when someone cut the microphone cord. They cut it off quickly. The real madhouse is just getting started.
Gazes that seemed to say, "You knew this was going to happen," were directed at me.
"That, even I had no prior agreement on."
"It would seem so. You must have a plan, President. The problem is, our identities could be revealed..."
"Come to think of it, it's not such a bad idea. The presence of a strong student, in a way, signifies the strength of the academy itself. It could be a stage for various opportunities, like a pride battle between rivals like Gehenna and Trinity, or for smaller academies to make a name for themselves."
"I don't think that student president is a person capable of thinking that far ahead..."
"Weren't we here to promote our guns anyway? Then this is great! Let's go and shoot them all up!!"
Well, we have to participate anyway, and it's not a bad opportunity to show off the power of our weapons, but...
"I'm against it. If our identities are revealed, it could cause problems for the 'Harvest' later on."
"What is this 'Harvest' you keep talking about?"
"It's my hidden card."
In any case, the high return is real. The problem is that it's also high risk. A shame, but I guess we'll have to participate in the triathlon for now.
What's the event schedule? We should still be able to sign up.
Just then, the broadcast resumed.
"Yes. This is Amau Ako, taking over as the temporary announcer. Hah, that tanuki is up to her nonsense again..."
Is that the Prefect Team leader's subordinate I saw last time? Her outfit was unique, so I remember her.
"Well then, the first event. Hah, we will now begin the Team Tournament."
Good, that's the first event. Fights like that take a long time. If I apply in the meantime...
"Round one, blue corner! Millennium's C&C! Their opponent is..."
"Uh... President?"
"Why are you making me anxious again?"
...Wait a minute.
Whatever it is, it just needs to be over quickly, attract as much attention as possible, and be less intense. In fact, Makoto said she would give us the very first time slot.
"Ah, shit."
"Red corner! ...The arms factory, The Farm?"
And that's how we ended up participating in the Team Tournament. This is bullshit.
"...In that sense, for today only, I will not be a maid of Millennium, but will participate in this event as a single student."
The declaration of resolve from C&C's leader, the one who is Neru's senpai, just ended. I'm already pissed about having to participate because of Makoto, but why did our opponent have to be them?
"Hey, it's happening, it's happening."
"Masks? Why are they wearing masks?"
"Maybe their boss told them to. That's how it is for the grunts."
"Poor things."
"Is it okay for a company that's been around for less than a year to do this?"
Why are their reactions like that?
I should mention this now. The fact that the president and all the directors are students has not yet been made public. There's no benefit to it being known, and the key figures in The Farm don't really engage in public activities.
I need to make this clear on this occasion.
As C&C stepped down, the announcer, Ako, signaled for us to come up.
My directors and I walked up to the stage one by one, and I took the microphone.
"Ah."
With the single word I uttered to test the mic, the vast stadium fell silent. Geez, I didn't expect to get this much attention. Below the stage, Chronos reporters are lined up. I guess that's natural for the biggest festival.
I'm a little nervous. About as nervous as when I picked a fight with my sister about my height. If I screw this up, how...
...Whatever. Me, myself, and I. Think positively. Weren't we here to get attention in the first place?
Even if things go a little sideways, as long as the result is good, that's all that matters.
Steeling my resolve, I began my advertisement disguised as a declaration of intent.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am the Farm Owner, holding the position of president at the arms factory, 'The Farm'. I must inform you that, for unavoidable reasons, I cannot disclose my real name."
The reporters rushed forward as if my words were a starting gun.
"Did you just say you are the president?"
"Which academy do you belong to?"
"What is the reason for The Farm's participation?"
"For now, as a participant in Gehenna's Kourin Taisai, I will only take questions as such. Let's discuss detailed questions at a press conference to be held later."
As I drew a clear line, some reporters looked disappointed, while others seemed to be planning to twist even my last statement. Good. The start is okay.
"All members of The Farm are students, and our participation was agreed upon in advance with the Gehenna Student Council President. Furthermore, we decided to participate to take this opportunity to show that we are not a company that simply buys and sells goods like other companies, but one that directly communicates and coexists with you, the students."
The core of my declaration is this. A sense of kinship. I am a student, just like you. Don't be too harsh on me. We don't rip people off like other corporations. We even participate in events like this together. The president and directors, no less.
I have to show them this.
Now, here's a question. Which academy gives most students a sense of kinship or familiarity?
"The Farm has been busy due to a recent agreement with Valkyrie, but I, the president of The Farm, and all of our directors, promise to compete cleanly and with all our hearts, without any external ties. Thank you."
It's Valkyrie. The police are both distant and close. And since they're in charge of public security, it will also boost our positive image.
As expected, their name carries weight. Students and reporters alike all began to murmur.
"Hey, she said Valkyrie."
"Really? Those sparrows?"
"But why wasn't it announced?"
"She said it was recent. It's probably in discussion but not yet officially implemented."
On the surface, we will project the image of a verified, large corporation that has even extended its reach to the public authorities. Alright. Cut, right about here.
"Well then, we look forward to a good match. That is all. This was the Farm Owner."
As I gave a slight bow, Arin, Sarin, and Wakamo behind me followed suit. A round of applause erupted, and the sound of Chronos's camera shutters could be heard.
Done. With this, one of the objectives of participating in this Kourin Taisai, 'alleviating the aversion towards The Farm,' can be considered a success. A company run entirely by students, partnering with Valkyrie.
"Alright, let's go."
As we descended from the stage, C&C was already standing on the arena field that had been set up. Asuna waved with a smile, while Neru cocked her machine gun and held it up.
I gave a slight wave back, and Arin and Wakamo nodded in turn. As for Sarin...
"Wow!! It's been a while!"
Oh, for crying out loud.
It's a good thing I was holding the microphone. She almost committed auditory terrorism on everyone.
And so, in the middle of the arena, we stood facing C&C.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Iwashita Shima, leader of C&C. I look forward to a good match."
"I am the president of The Farm, the Farm Owner. Likewise."
We exchanged a light handshake, then led our respective teams to opposite ends of the field.
"Alright! Now that the teams have shaken hands, from now on! One person from each team, please step forward!"
So far, so good. Now, it's time to achieve the remaining objective.
The second objective for participating in the Kourin Taisai. To clearly demonstrate the performance of our company's weapons.
"Who from our team wants to go? The four of us are pretty similar in skill."
"My strengths lie in endurance. I am not suited for actual combat."
"I think it would be difficult for me as well. Unlike the others, it would be dangerous if my identity were to be revealed, wouldn't it?"
So that leaves me and Sarin. Who will the opposing team send out?
Just then, one person leisurely walked out onto the arena. Short stature, a flashy sukajan, and two assault rifles.
"Ah~ C&C's first combatant is the vice-leader, Mikamo Neru!"
"Alright! Who's my opponent!"
Neru laughed heartily and shouted towards our side. She's a tricky one.
Arin is good at enduring, not fighting. Sarin is a good fighter, but she's no match for the combat-experienced Neru. Wakamo is out of the question from the start. If she reveals even a hint of her identity while fighting, it's big trouble.
...Wait, does that mean I'm the only one who can go?
"Ah, shit."
No choice. I grabbed a baseball bat, a pistol, and some other miscellaneous weapons and climbed onto the arena.
"And her opponent is none other than the president of The Farm! The Farm Owner!"
"I didn't think you'd actually come out."
"Well, isn't this a great stage?"
"That it is. That bat, is that your weapon?"
"Yeah. I've decided to go with this."
"Hah! Everyone else is firing guns, and you're alone with a bat? You're getting greedy."
"And you talk too much. Come on. I won't run away for you like last time."
Hah?!
As if my words were a trigger, Neru immediately loaded her gun, and I also took my stance. Neru. The first time we met, I was completely outmatched and had no choice but to run.
My body is still the same, but now I have the advantage of gear. Come at me. I'll show you the close-quarters combat I learned from the Calamity Fox.
With such a sensational matchup from the very beginning, the audience seats were filled with cheers. But I couldn't hear them. It must be the same for Neru. Alright, then...
"Round 1! Begin!"
I'm counting on you for the advertisement this time, too, Millennium.