This competition, which nobody knew why it had started or how it was supposed to continue, yet was still being forced forward, finally began.
The teams were decided by drawing lots, though Joshua had no idea whether anyone had cheated.
For now, the groups drawn were as follows.
The first group looked fairly ordinary, with Josie as the lead alongside her friends Reddels and Arl, but there was actually a trap hidden within it.
Then there was the idol group of Galolie, Tylinn, and Ciri, who did not even need to compete; they could win just by piling up their fan counts.
There was also Shael, Thousand Faces, and Thunder Crystal Sophia's... pure passerby team, where nobody knew each other well enough to warrant introductions.
The fourth team consisted of Joshua... along with the visibly distraught Messiah and Joshua's second daughter, Joia.
"I want to report this! There's a traitor in my team!"
When Joshua drew that lot, he had clearly seen Herolia whispering something to Messiah. Messiah might very well stab him in the back later in the competition.
"Since we're on the same side, I... would absolutely never do anything like betray you," Messiah told Joshua with righteous conviction.
"You stuttered just now!"
Joshua did not believe that nonsense for a second. This girl seemed quite upright mentally, but her body was unexpectedly honest.
"Next is the fifth group."
White Bird temporarily ignored Joshua's complaints and announced the fifth group directly.
The fifth group consisted of Herolia, Foya, and Lloydel.
The instant this group was announced... Thousand Faces was the first to step forward, unable to accept it.
"I believe the teams need to be reassigned."
Thousand Faces was the first to voice an objection.
Foya had only recently managed to overcome her fear of exploding whenever she