<h4>Chapter 230: The Battle''s Only Beginning</h4>


    Trantor: imperfectluck Editor: vb24


    There was the sound of gunfire as Seiji pressed down on the trigger.


    This scene seemed cool to the max!


    Some female audience members couldn’t help but exim in wonder.


    The scene momentarily paused on his dashing figure before changing to the Red Team members that he had just ambushed.


    There was a chorus of beeping sounds, indicating that they were taking damage continuously. The Red Team members, under heavy fire, started panicking.


    Two people were immediately eliminated.


    "Red #3 and #9 have ‘died.’ Please leave the field."


    By the time they finally reacted and started hiding and counterattacking, the Red Team had lost an additional member.


    "Cover me, Miyamoto-san!"


    Taking out three people was already an excellent result, but Seiji still wasn’t satisfied. He rushed out immediately after shouting, crouched down, and moved swiftly, utilizing the cover of the terrain to avoid being shot at.


    Kaho was concerned about his safety and unleashed a furious barrage with herser sniper rifle. While under pressure, her uracy was much higher than would normally be possible. She ensured that none of the enemy team yers dared to show themselves.


    Seiji used this chance to nk the enemy and begin an unexpected sweeping assault with hisser assault rifle!


    This scene was once again disyed on the big screens.


    The handsome boy heroically charging towards the enemy formation and "ying" two unprepared enemies seemed amazing.


    Quite a few spectators felt their blood beginning to boil passionately. It also caused many people to sign up for theser tag activity.


    ‘That was an incredibly fun ambush attack!’ Seiji felt extremely satisfied with his own performance, but he also knew that he had been rash, that he shouldn’t have rushed in like that.


    But it was just a game, so he wanted to y in a style that was fun for him!


    ‘Would it have been more immersive if I shouted ‘Justice rains from above’ or ‘It’s high noon?’’ Seiji wondered to himself.


    Seiji rejoined Kaho as he thought these things. They retreated back to their original positions to continue battling.


    The Red Team, now at a serious disadvantage, did their best to counterattack, but they were unable to overturn the situation.


    The Blue Team achieved victory!


    "We won," said Seiji.


    "And all six of us lived!" added Chiaki.


    "But the battle has only just begun," said Saki calmly.


    A moment of silence fell between them. Every member of Seiji’s team turned to look at the editor, who had said such a ssical line.


    Saki’s face reddened slightly from receiving all this attention, and she averted her gaze.


    ‘Editor Yoshizawa has a secret chuunibyou side to her…’ Seiji smiled and shot her a warm nce.


    Seiji’s entire team of six ‘survived!’ They all signed up to join the second round ofser tag.


    During the preparation time for the second round, the other participants started chatting with Seiji.


    Only then did he learn what had happened outside.


    His own performance had actually been disyed on the big screens for all the spectators to see… he was so embarrassed!


    He felt as if something was itching the inside of his body.


    He didn’t particrly hate it, but nor did he like it. It just felt awkward.


    His teammates allughed when they learned about this.


    Chiaki chuckled. "Isn’t it nice to be the action star of a live performance? If you continue to do well, your poprity will enjoy a huge boost~"


    "I don’t wanna be that popr," Seiji responded.


    "Hey, boy with ten thousand fans!"


    "Please don’t address me like that!"


    "Your first target is to increase the number of your fans to one hundred thousand!"


    "Stop making it sound like I want to be a popr inte star!"


    ''Although I have indeed streamed before,'' Seiji added in his head.


    While he retorted to Chiaki, Seiji approached by various participants. Some people even wanted to join his little team.


    Seiji politely rejected all such requests. He felt that it wasn’t wise to allow strangers to join his team.


    When all the new participants were decided, the two new Red and Blue Teams entered the gymnasium.


    During the prebat preparation time, Seiji was voted as the overallmander by everyone. After some consideration, he epted.


    "I rmend that everyone creates small teams with the friends that they came with and select team captains. During the battle, I’ll givemands to each team captain, while the team captains will decide how to specifically carry out our strategies."


    This would give them an overall sense of teamwork and cooperation while also allowing each team their own freedom. It seemed appropriate to him.


    Most people agreed with his idea, so it was settled.


    What about the ones on their team that were by themselves, or the ones from the previous round whose friends had ‘died’ inbat?


    Seiji had these people join other teams or make their own teams. For the few that were uncooperative, he could only let them act on their own.


    Preparation time ended.


    The second round… well, it was the second round for Seiji and his team, began just like this.


    "Team #2 and my Team #1 will guard the front entrance, while Team #3 shall attack from the right wing, and Team #4 shall attack from the left wing! The other teams should stand by and await orders."


    "Our left wing’s attack has met with difficulty? Team #4, retreat! Team #5, take their ce."


    "The enemy’s frontal assault is too fierce—Team #2 retreat immediately! My Team #1 will cover you and retreat afterwards."


    "Team #3’s assault has been sessful. Team #6 please immediately reinforce them and defeat all enemies there!"


    Under Seiji’s overallmand, the Blue Team advanced in an orderly fashion. Although it couldn’t be said that they all performed excellently, it was more than sufficient to deal with the Red Team, where everyone was obviously disorganized with no leadership.


    In this round, the Blue Team members had lots of fun. In the end, only six of their members ‘died’ by the time they defeated all twenty of the Red Team members.


    Seiji’s entire team ‘survived’ again!


    Now that they had ‘survived’ for two rounds already, they only needed to ‘survive’ one more round in order to receive the greatest prize: a two-day, three-night voucher to an onsen hotel!


    That’s right—the legendary outdoor bath, an onsen!


    This type of hotel would often appear in anime and manga. There would always be ssical bathing scenes, mixed-gender bathing, or peeking… cough, at any rate, interesting scenes like that.


    Seiji was stunned for a full three seconds when he found out that the final prize for ‘surviving’ three rounds was such a prize.


    ‘Isn’t this type of voucher a prize typically found as part of a lottery in the market district? Why is it the highest prize for aser tag game!?’


    Cough cough, thisment had some problems.


    Always drawing the grand prize in a market district’s lottery was the special ability of the main character… no, it should be said that it was the will of the universe. It couldn’t bepared to reality.


    At any rate, Seiji felt that something was off about it, but when he saw that everyone else treated it normally, he figured that he had probably just seen too much anime and read too many mangas.


    "The second round was really easy. If we ‘survive’ just one more round like this, all of us will receive hotel vouchers," said Chiaki. "Why don''t we all find a time to go together if that happens?"


    All of them going together to an onsen hotel? Seiji instantly imagined various possibilities.


    He only had one word for it: excellent!


    ‘Excellent suggestion, Chiaki. As expected of my friend that knows me so well!’ he said in his soul.


    The tomboy’s suggestion was greeted with unanimous approval from everyone.


    Seiji’s response was obvious, and Mika naturally agreed as well. Mayuzumi indicated that she could make some free time in her schedule, and Saki mentioned that she had some paid vacation days saved up. As for Kaho… she agreed while stuttering somewhat.


    To be honest, she had almost fainted.


    Going on a trip with Harano-san! A trip!! A trip!!!!


    Although it was with a group of people, it was still a chance to be together with him!


    ‘Going together with him to an onsen hotel for two days and three nights… Gods, am I dreaming?’


    Kaho was dazed; she felt as if her body was floating, as if she could shoot up into the air.


    No, she couldn’t fly; she couldn’t go to the next world yet!


    She forced herself to regain her senses and hardened her resolution.


    Although they all agreed to go, they still hadn’t finished the third round yet. They had to ‘survive’ in order to absolutely obtain the voucher and realize this beautiful dream!


    ‘I can’t be overconfident. I have to give it my all for victory,’ chanted Kaho in her mind.


    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Seiji and the others, a certain girl with a fearsome nickname was currently waiting for the start of the next round in the enemy team.


    "Not bad, Junior, but it all ends here."


    The sniper rifle in her hands glinted sharply.