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Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Saturday arrived, and I headed to the Colosseum early in the morning with Alfe and Hom in tow.

I wanted to get a good look at the actual venue for Zersteller, and get used to the atmosphere. Despite the fact that there was still over an hour until the exhibition match began, a large crowd had already gathered.

Apparently, the tickets had sold out quickly—at the now-shuttered outdoor ticket booth, a sign reading “Sold Out” hung prominently.

To help ease the congestion, they had already started letting spectators into the arena seats. But even beyond the entry line, plenty of people milled about. It looked like even those without tickets had shown up just to watch the live feed on the giant screen mounted outside the Colosseum.

“There’s so many people… I’m starting to feel nervous,” Alfe said, clearly overwhelmed by the crowd, tightening her grip on my hand to avoid getting separated. I gave her hand a firm squeeze in return, and grasped Hom’s hand as well. Walking three across like this was a bit awkward in such a crowd, but there was no helping it.

“So this is where Zersteller will be held,” Hom remarked.
“Yeah. We might as well head inside now and get a feel for the venue.”

Judging by my height, I wasn’t likely to gain anything from lingering outside, surrounded by taller university students and adults. The giant screen had already been broadcasting the arena for a while, and even in the brief glimpses of the seats, I could see that they were already filling up fast.

“There’s no sign of any Mecha Soldiers,” Hom noted.
“Right. But since it’s an exhibition match, the machines they’ll show are probably famous ones.”

I had hoped to at least catch a glimpse of the Mecha Soldiers while they were still at rest, but I supposed I couldn’t afford to be picky.

“Senior Melua said the ace team from Canalford Military University, Burning Blaze, would be participating,” Alfe shared.
“I heard from Lady Farah that they’re a popular and powerful team who won the early-season university league. They’re known for their crimson Löwe,” Hom added.

While I had been completely preoccupied with Mecha Soldier development, it seemed Alfe and Hom had taken the time to do some research.

“Burning Blaze is a three-person team made up of Nile, Heath, and Amelie,”Alfe continued, telling me about the participants as we waited in line at the entrance. Since this was an exhibition match, I wondered if it was going to be a face-off between ace teams from different universities.

“Do you think their opponent is another ace team?”
“Nope, apparently not. Senior Melua said it’s a surprise for the day, so we won’t find out until the match starts…”

Come to think of it, the Professor also mentioned that a highly skilled operator would be appearing and that it would be worth studying their technique—but never clarified who it would be. The ticket didn’t say anything either. For that matter, I wondered whether anyone else in this crowd even knew who the opponent was.

“Alrighty! Tickets, please!”

As I mused over the possibilities, we were suddenly greeted by a cheerful voice from overhead. We had reached the front of the line before I realized it.

“Ah, here’s ours…”

I handed the receptionist the ticket Professor had given us. There was only one ticket, so I glanced at her nervously, wondering if it would really be okay. As I looked up, our eyes met.

“Hehe, no need to worry. You’re all headed for the VIP section. I just wasn’t expecting such adorable students to show up with a VIP pass—it was a nice surprise.”

She returned the ticket, now stamped for entry, with a bright smile. I had been told it was a private room, but I hadn’t realized that meant VIP seating, so I was just as surprised as she was.

“Maybe the Professor had a VIP ticket because he’s a teacher?”
“Hmm, hard to say. If that’s the case, you’d think Mr. Tanutanu would be here too…”

Alfe and I whispered to each other as we followed the attendant through the hall. The so-called VIP Room was a private viewing box with glass panels at the front and back—spacious and clearly designed for comfort. I glanced around at the other adults already seated, but didn’t recognize a single face.

“Huh…? That’s odd…”

Alfe murmured to herself as she scanned the audience, just as I had.

“What’s wrong, Alfe?”
“Well, Senior Melua said she’d be watching from a premium seat too¹, so I figured it might be here… but I don’t see her.”
“The VIP rooms are arranged on both sides of the arena, surrounding the stage,” the attendant chimed in, apparently overhearing our conversation. “She may be seated on the opposite side.”

That made sense—one of the highlights of this circular colosseum was the panoramic view from all angles, including the VIP sections that circled the battlefield.

As I thought about that, I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock, and the door to our room opened. We were ushered inside.

The private viewing room was positioned directly in front of the giant display screen that enhanced the experience of watching the match from up close. From this spot, we’d be able to see the action in impressive detail.

“Ehehe, this chair’s so soft and comfy!”

Alfe, already seated, rested both hands on the table with a happy grin. The cushioned chairs and table made the whole setup feel very homey and inviting.

“I understand the chairs, but why is there a table as well?”

Tilting her head curiously, Hom walked toward the front-facing glass panel.

“It’s probably so people can eat and drink while they watch,” I replied.

I took a seat and, like Hom, looked down at the arena below. The stage itself was still empty, but the spectator stands were almost completely packed. Merchants carrying baskets and wooden crates wove through the aisles, selling food and drinks with practiced ease.

“It kind of feels… like a grown-up world.”
“Yeah. We’re pretty lucky to get to watch from a place like this.”

There were plenty of university students in the crowd, but the majority seemed to be adults. If we’d been in the general seating area, I doubt I would’ve been able to watch the match in peace—unless we managed to snag a front-row seat. Once the battle heated up, people would probably be on their feet, cheering and waving. And with my height, just having someone in front of me would’ve been enough to block the whole view.

1. Robinxen: Oh it’s definitely them, I had a hunch at first but this settles it. The premium seat she means must be the cockpit.

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