Now that we had a team of four, we were ready to face the selection exam… or so I thought.
"I am the strongest being in the multiverse. But now is not the time to show my real strength."
"FUCK YOUUUU. I WILL BEAT YOU TO A PULP, GODDAMMIT."
Or so I thought. We were clearly not ready. Not when we had the weakest guy in the academy on our side.
"Attention, everyone! I believe you all have a team of four by now. If you don't, you will be assigned a random teammate."
The principal's voice echoed through the training grounds, pulling my attention back to the present. We were gathered in an expansive, open area, flanked by lush green fields on either side, dotted with trees. The grounds were divided into sections with several makeshift camps set up in rows. The atmosphere buzzed with energy, tension, and anticipation.
"Now, let's get to the selection exam. As you already know, it will be team-based. This exam will consist of three tests. You will be briefed about each test as you progress. The first test is called 'Two Truths and One Lie.' This is a mind game battle that will test your deception, deduction, and bluffing skills. There will be 825 matches over the span of five days. Each team will face another team, and out of the 1,750 teams present, only 850 will advance to the next test."
A mind game, huh? I wasn't really nervous about this. We had Amara-san and Yuri-san, who were both incredibly smart. And although we couldn't confirm Ryota-san's combat power, we knew for a fact that he was highly intelligent. The real problem would be the other two tests, which we knew nothing about.
"This test will consist of two rounds. Each team will present three statements, of which two will be truths and one will be a lie. Let's say Team A and Team B are competing. In the first round, Team A presents their three statements. Team B must deduce which statements are true and which one is false. Team B will be allowed to ask up to three questions about the statements. For each statement they fail to deduce, Team A will earn two points. If Team B correctly identifies the lie, they will earn two points per correct deduction. The team with the most points at the end wins. Simple as that."
This wasn't very complicated. We just had to present our statements in such a way that the opposing team couldn't deduce anything. The real challenge would be how we handled their questions.
As the principal finished his explanation, we received a notification on our devices. We were matched up against Kise Baku's team.
"Kise Baku, Kuroda Kenta, Yuki Karin, and Nagi Soichiro. We're matched up against those four, huh?" Amara-san mused, an eager glint in his eyes.
"Let's do our best, guys," Yuri-san added, her usual calmness giving way to a hint of excitement.
"Hmm," I nodded in agreement, already feeling the weight of the competition.
We made our way to the training grounds, where numerous tents were set up, each designated for two competing teams. The sound of distant clashes filled the air as other teams were already engaging in their battles.
"Let's go in," Ryota-san said, leading the way.
We stepped inside the tent assigned to us. To our surprise, our opponents were already seated, exuding an air of confidence.
"You guys arrived earlier than us, huh," Yuri-san remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"Got a problem with that?" snapped Karin-san, lashing out for no apparent reason.
"Now, now, let's not start a fight before the game begins," Nagi Soichiro, the most composed of the group, interjected. "We'll decide who goes first with a coin toss."
A referee sat nearby, overseeing the match. The tent was furnished with simple chairs and a table in the center, where the teams would face off.
"Yo, referee, can I see the coin you'll use?" Ryota-san asked, his tone casual but with a sharp edge.
"Um… sure, I guess," the referee replied, handing the coin to Ryota-san.
"2011… 25th October… hmm. Interesting date," Ryota-san muttered before tossing the coin to Baku-san.
"Hmph, whatever. Guys, inspect the coin quickly and give it back to the referee," Baku-san said dismissively, clearly eager to start.
"Alright, so heads or tails?"
"I choose heads," Baku-san said confidently.
"We'll go with tails, then," I replied.
"Alright, here we go…"
The coin was tossed into the air. Silence enveloped the tent, the anticipation palpable.
"It's heads. Baku-kun, what do you want to do?"
"We'll deduce in the first round."
"Alright. I won't interfere in the game unless there's cheating or violence. Komaru-kun, your team will be referred to as Team A, and Baku-kun's team as Team B. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah."
"Yup."
We both agreed. It was our team's turn to present our three statements. I decided to sit out since I wasn't as clever as the others.
"Alright, we present our three statements," Yuri-san began.
"Yuri-san fractured her leg when she was a child."
"Amara-san went bald five times in a row when he was 10."
"Ryota-san is allergic to cats."
"Team B may ask one question about each statement," the referee added.
In case you're wondering about the credibility of the statements, there's a rule: teams must provide evidence for the two truthful statements. We had already submitted our evidence to the referee.
"I'll ask the first question," Kenta-san said, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Yuri-san. "Yuri-san, how and when did you fracture your leg?"
"I fractured my leg in middle school during a sports event," Yuri-san replied calmly.
"Hmm, you could very well be lying."
"Whatever you think."
"Alright, let me ask the second question," Karin-san said, turning to Amara-san. "Amara-san, did you receive any medical treatment when you went bald five times in a row at the age of 10?"
"No, I didn't receive any treatment," Amara-san answered nonchalantly.
"Interesting."
"Now I'll ask the final question," Nagi-san said, focusing on Ryota-san. "Ryota-san, did you have any severe reactions while being near a cat? If so, what were they?"
"When I was near my pet cat, I started sneezing uncontrollably."
"Very interesting indeed. Can we have some time to discuss?" Nagi-san asked the referee.
"Yes, but don't take too long," the referee warned.
After a brief, private discussion, Team B gave their answer.
"We believe all their statements are true," Kenta-san declared, his voice filled with certainty.
"Huh? Shouldn't there be a lie in our statements? Hey, referee, is this even allowed?" Yuri-san asked, surprised.
"There's no rule against it."
"About the first statement, it's likely true. Yuri-san mentioned it happened in middle school, and considering her rank is above 600 million, she must have had some combat power by then," Kenta-san explained.
That was a solid deduction—they got us there.
"The second statement seems unlikely. Going bald five times in a row at the age of 10 without medical treatment is rare. But why would they give us an obvious lie? It's to lower our guard, isn't it? So we think this statement is also true."
"Finally, the third statement is likely true. Ryota-san's face gave nothing away—no emotion or stress. If it were a lie, he would have shown some reaction."
At that moment, Ryota-san smirked.
"Enough talking. Hey, referee, tell us the results," he said confidently.
"Team B managed to deduce the first two statements correctly, but the third statement was a lie."
"Huh? Damn, we were too confident," Baku-san muttered, realizing their mistake.
"Of course. It should've been obvious. If I had an allergy, why would I have a pet cat in the first place?" Ryota-san pointed out with a grin.
"Ah, that's right. We failed to realize that," Baku-san admitted, defeated.
"Alright. Team B has 4 points, while Team A has 2 points. Now, Team B will give their statements," the referee announced.
"For our statements, here I go," Nagi-san began.
"Nagi's Trick allows him to memorize anything instantly."
"Karin does not know how to read."
"Kenta has a habit of not remembering what other people say."
"Komaru, let me ask all the questions," Ryota-san said confidently. Although his physical strength was questionable, his intelligence was something we all trusted. So I allowed him to take the lead.
"Hey, Team B, how about a bet? I won't ask a single question, but I will still deduce all your statements correctly. How about it?"
"Bah. That's ridiculous. I'll take that bet. There's no way you can pull that off," Baku-san replied confidently.
"We'll see. I'll bet 10 billion Cresos. If I win, you pay me 10 billion Cresos. If I lose, I'll pay you the same. What do you say, Baku-kun?"
Baku-san's eyes narrowed as he considered Ryota-san's proposal. The tension in the tent was palpable, each team member staring at the other in a silent battle of wills. Finally, with a smirk, Baku-san nodded.
"You've got yourself a deal. But when you lose, I hope you're ready to pay up," Baku-san replied, his voice dripping with confidence.
Ryota-san just grinned, leaning back in his chair. "We'll see."
The referee, clearly uneasy with the bet, glanced between the two teams before nodding. "Very well. Ryota-san, are you sure you won't ask any questions?"
"I'm sure," Ryota-san replied, his voice calm and composed. "I'll make my deductions now."
He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the faces of Team B. Each member seemed to have their own poker face, but Ryota-san's sharp gaze didn't waver.
"The first statement: Nagi's Trick allows him to memorize anything instantly. This is a lie."
"The second statement: Karin does not know how to read. This is true."
"The third statement: Kenta has a habit of not remembering what other people say. This is also true."
There was a stunned silence in the tent. Even the referee seemed momentarily at a loss for words. The members of Team B exchanged glances, their confidence visibly shaken.
"How… How did you…" Kenta-san stammered, clearly thrown off by Ryota-san's deductions.
Ryota-san chuckled softly. "It's simple, really. Remember when I took the coin and read a date? Yeah. That date was the same date I shouted just now."
So that is what the date was about. Everything slowly made sense.
"But that doesn't explain how you were correct."
"When I shouted the date, Nagi and Kenta did not remember anything about the date. That means-"
"That means that Nagi's statement was wrong as his trick would have allowed him to memorize anything in an instant." said Amara-san, his eyes full of curiosity.
"And Kenta-san's statement would be true since he was not able to remember what other people said to him." Yuri-san added.
"But what about Karin-san's statement? How did you deduce that?" I asked, not being able to hold in my curiosity anymore.
"Thats simple. You remember when I gave team B the coin to inspect? Why do you think Karin did not remember the date even though she inspected the coin?"
"Ah I get it. It's because she doesn't know how to read." Amara-san said while realizing everything.
The referee, finally finding his voice, cleared his throat. "Ryota-san's deductions are correct. Team A wins with a total of 10 points."
Baku-san's face turned an angry shade of red as he processed the loss. "Damn it!" he spat, slamming his fist onto the table. "You… You tricked us!"
Ryota-san merely shrugged. "I told you I wouldn't need to ask any questions."
The members of Team B sat in stunned silence, unable to refute Ryota-san's flawless logic. As we stood to leave, Ryota-san turned back to Baku-san, his expression serious.
"Don't forget the bet," he said calmly before walking out of the tent.
Outside the tent, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The once-bustling area was now quieting down as teams finished their matches for the day. We found a quiet spot near a row of trees, away from the prying eyes of other teams.
"Well, that was intense," Yuri-san said, stretching her arms above her head. "I didn't expect Ryota-san to pull that off."
"Neither did I," Amara-san added with a chuckle. "But that was brilliant. The way he read them like an open book…"
"I told you guys, I'm the strongest," Ryota-san said with a grin, though there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes.
I nodded, still processing everything that had happened. It was our first real test as a team, and we had passed with flying colors. But this was only the beginning. The next challenges would be even tougher.
"Let's head back to our camp and get some rest. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next," I suggested, trying to shake off the lingering tension.
As we walked back through the training grounds, the atmosphere was still charged with the remnants of the day's battles. The other teams we passed seemed lost in their own thoughts, strategizing for the next round.
When we finally reached our camp, a modest setup with tents and a small fire pit, we settled in for the evening. The camp was surrounded by dense woods, providing a sense of isolation from the rest of the academy. The air was filled with the sounds of the forest—chirping crickets and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
As we sat around the fire, Amara-san started speaking. "Do you guys know much about our opponents? I mean, not just today's, but the other teams we might face?"
"Not really," Yuri-san admitted, poking at the fire with a stick. "I've heard some rumors, but nothing concrete."
"Well, I heard that Kuroda Kenta and his team, Team B, have an interesting backstory," Amara-san said, his tone becoming more serious.
"Backstory? What do you mean?" I asked, curious.
"From what I've gathered, Kuroda Kenta used to be a top student at a prestigious academy before transferring here. His team members, Nagi and Karin, also have impressive backgrounds. They were once part of an elite group known as 'The Crimson Shadows,' a team feared for their cunning strategies and deception skills."
Yuri-san looked intrigued. "Why would they leave such a prestigious group and come here?"
"Rumor has it that they were betrayed by one of their own," Amara-san continued. "After the betrayal, they lost everything—their reputation, their standing, and even some of their friends. They came here seeking a fresh start and a chance to reclaim their honor."
"That explains why they were so eager to win," I mused. "They have a lot to prove."
Ryota-san, who had been quiet until now, nodded thoughtfully. "It's a reminder that every team has their own struggles and motivations. We shouldn't underestimate anyone."
"Agreed," I said, feeling a newfound respect for our opponents. "We have to stay focused and be ready for anything."
As the fire crackled and the night deepened, we continued discussing strategies and sharing what little information we had about the other teams. The training grounds, now shrouded in darkness, seemed to hold countless secrets and challenges yet to be unveiled.
The first day of the selection exam was over, but the real test was only beginning.
Lie Counter-4