Only One Chance for a Turnabout

<Forte>

I’ve been waiting for this moment. The moment when a security hole would open.

That day we came back from the amusement park, the day Sharp got her first period—we made a promise while relaxing in her room.

“I’ve finally regained my sanity for a brief moment. But I think I’m still under their brainwashing. If this keeps up, I’ll probably become a combat weapon.”

“Don’t be weak! You can’t lose to yourself!”

“Listen carefully. I have a plan. It seems like I’m going to transform into something called the Garnet Prince. And their brainwashing is no joke. If I lose my sanity even once, I’ll start attacking everyone around me. It won’t be easy to return to who I was.”

“So then...”

Sharp shook her finger.

“But you, from what I can see, aren’t under as intense brainwashing as I am. Their attention is on me. They’re underestimating you. So here’s the deal…”

With a snap of her fingers, a holographic harp appeared in the air. She looked up at it as she spoke.

“Apparently, this girl Lala, who’s always next to Largo, can play the harp in a way that temporarily breaks the brainwashing. But her playing is still unrefined. It won’t work alone. That’s why I need you to support her on drums to amplify the magical effect. Maybe then… I can come back to my senses.”

I see. Sharp’s thought this through in her own way. But… it’s impossible.

“Sure, harp magic might work, but the effect is only temporary—emergency treatment. It won’t last ten minutes. And once they see that I’ve regained my senses from the harp, they’ll attack Lala or develop a macro-magic to seal the harp, making it impossible to revert ever again. Sorry, but I don’t think I can help you.”

“There’s only one chance.”

Sharp murmured.

“Only one chance before they put a countermeasure in place. I want Lala to assist me in the decisive moment that’s sure to come.”

“What decisive moment?”

“The Magical Private Network—the moment a hole opens into the space connected to the StarVoiceNotary. I’ll be moving with one of the Edge Shadow Corp executives. Sooner or later, that executive will show a moment of vulnerability and open a security hole. In that moment, if you’re pretending to be brainwashed but are secretly still sane, I want you to bring me back.”

“That’s quite a gamble you’re depending on.”

“There’s no return where there’s no risk. If there were a plan guaranteed to succeed 100%, then it would be the very plan that’s guaranteed to fail. If we play it safe, they’ll respond perfectly in kind. Even Oda Nobunaga, the great warlord from the Warring States of another world, launched a bold surprise attack at Okehazama when he was still weak. Only after gaining power did he start preparing meticulously before facing enemies head-on. Right now, we’re in our own Okehazama. A strong player in a game reduces uncertainty to raise the chance of winning. But the weak… they increase the uncertainty and bet everything on it. That’s how the weak fight to win.”

“Makes sense. So, this StarVoiceNotary… are you saying you’re going to rewrite the macro-magic that forms the foundation of the organization?”

“Exactly. But I can’t do it. When that time comes, I’ll be barely holding onto my identity. But if Largo, Lala, and Tenuto are by my side when that hole opens…”

“Will those three really act so conveniently?”

“I’ve planted the seeds.”

A holographic book floated in the air. The title read:

“StarVoiceNotary Made Simple: From Push to Deploy”

“Frankly, books on StarVoiceNotary are extremely niche. Maybe they’d stock them at a big city magic school like in Miravenia, but not in a backwoods school like this one. They’re ridiculously expensive too. But I worked like crazy, borrowed the name of a trustworthy local aristocrat, and donated it. So that whenever those guys realize the truth behind macro-magic, they’ll have the means to learn how to cast it. I’ll stop at nothing to avenge my sister.”

Sharp’s plan… To be honest, I didn’t believe it would work. But her sheer tenacity made me want to believe in it.

I remember a conversation with my mother, Elise, when I was five.

“Hey, Mama. Why did you name me Forte?”

“Hmm… Maybe because it was written in a magical letter? Just kidding. ‘Forte’ is a musical symbol. It means ‘strong.’”

“Ohh, so you wanted me to grow up strong? Like a buff muscle man?”

“Strength isn’t just about muscles, sweetie. It’s about willpower.”

“Willpower?”

“I want you to follow through with what you believe is right. That’s the wish I put into your name.”

“Mama…”

It looks like Sharp’s gamble paid off. And Mama, the name you gave me is coming to life in a place like this.

No… I can’t relax yet. I have to back them up, to make sure those three can deploy successfully.