And so, our Martial Emperor Festival came to a tumultuous close.
There were things gained, and things lost. And as always, from beginning to end, I was just swept along by the current.
The Fox Extermination Pact led by Zebuldia, action taken by those who had watched us at the venue, Gaark and the others running themselves ragged—the world was apparently in an uproar, but none of that was my concern.
If there was one point where my will and theirs aligned, it was simply this: the criminal organization should just die. If bad people disappeared from the world, I'd never be misunderstood, never be called the Thunder God, and could live a bit more peacefully.
As I was preparing to leave Clet, Luke suddenly spoke up from his chair, idly polishing a wooden sword.
"Seriously though, Klye. Isn't this whole thing way too much of a win for you?"
"...Huh?"
No, no, I haven't won anything. Sure, I'd been loafing around, but you can't call that a win. And near the end, I really went through the wringer.
The one who snatched Klye's staff wasn't even me—it was Luke.
And yet, the world really is a big place if there are people who get taken in by Luke's blather.
Perhaps my exasperation was evident, because Luke straightened up and said: "I mean, come on! I entered the Martial Emperor Festival looking forward to cutting down strong opponents! You, Klye, got to enter the Festival AND fight that ridiculously powerful fox? That's totally not fair! I wanted to fight too! I wanted to get struck by lightning too—"
The first part I understood, but the second half lost me. Apparently there are people in this world who want to be struck by lightning. How strange.
"Sure, the criminal hunting was fun in its own way. But that was just an appetizer! When the main dish I was expecting gets snatched away, even a man of few words and cool demeanor like me is gonna have complaints! Listen, Klye. I want to cut down strong enemies! To slice them to pieces!"
Luke said this with a passionate, serious expression. No, no, no... you can't kill people at the Martial Emperor Festival...
"Well, Lucia and Anthem are at least excusable—they were actually tasked with stopping that massive energy output at the end! And Citry, I don't know what happened, but she was just flashing peace signs the whole time! But where are MY enemies?! Slicing through falling rubble is boring! Klye, you're my enemy! I can slash you! You're my enemy! Myyy ennneeeemy! It's nooot faaaair!"
Luke stomped his feet and screamed like a child.
A man of few words and a cool demeanor...?
It seemed he had quite a bit of pent-up frustration...
That's when Liliz walked in with a deadpan look on her face.
"Did you know, Luke here challenged the previous Martial Emperor and got dodged?"
"That coward! He said he wouldn't fight outside of matches because he'd destroy buildings! I would've fought him in a heartbeat!"
He'd fight in a heartbeat, which is probably why despite having top-tier swordsmanship he still hasn't become a Sword Saint... Apparently, achieving that rank requires a certain amount of spiritual discipline.
"Okay, okay, Luke. Klye's getting uncomfortable, so let's go over there, okay..."
She said in a coaxing voice. She grabbed him from behind and pulled, and Luke let out a high-pitched yelp.
"Hey! Liliz, you're in the same boat as me, aren't you?!"
"Hmm... well, if Luke hadn't been throwing his little tantrum, I would've done it myself. But fighting alongside you means I can't win, so..."
Liliz said with a peculiar, uncomfortable expression. It seemed she was still harboring some embarrassment.
So Liliz wanted enemies too... This is... the mark of a top-tier Hunter! I need to get Liliz to teach me some common sense.
While I was thinking this, watching Liliz drag Luke away, she turned around and pointed a stern finger at me.
"But, Klye! I'm not satisfied with this either, you know! You owe me, and I will collect!"
"Oh dear..."
It seemed I'd racked up quite a debt... What was I going to do?
At Liliz's words, Lucia, who had been silently preparing up until now, turned and gave me a cold stare.
"Just so you know, Luke may have said all that, but I'm not satisfied either, Leader! I was forced to miss my qualification exam, and then immediately made to stop THAT thing!"
"...I'll give you Klye's staff."
"Huh?! I don't want it!"
But honestly, what had I even done wrong? The foxes were the ones at fault. They were a criminal organization. If anyone needed to make amends, shouldn't it be me?
"Me too! Me too! I want compensation! They took Kirukilu from me AND I didn't get the organization I was supposed to receive! Hmph!"
"You were happily flashing peace signs the whole time, Citry!"
Citry, who had jumped on the bandwagon to stir up more trouble, was violently sent flying by Lucia's wind magic and went tumbling. That was a pretty savage comeback even for childhood friends.
Citry... she was flashing peace signs to everyone, huh? Just what had she done, and how much had she made off with?
Swallowing all these thoughts, I turned to Anthem, who had settled down nearby.
"You're the only one on my side, Anthem... Not that you'll stop Citry or Liliz or anything."
"............Mm."
Don't "Mm" me. Don't "Mm" me...
§ "Well, when you think about it, the real trouble is just beginning! I mean, Klye, you just declared war on the world's largest criminal organization head-on!"
"Will lots of enemies come?"
"They'll definitely come!"
I deliberately ignored the exchange between Luke and Citry and headed for the city exit.
There were far too many people in this world who picked fights they hadn't even been looking for. One or two more enemies wouldn't matter much for the Mourning Specter, which had been racking up enemies from the very beginning—but this time, it might actually be dangerous?
I'd only just managed to calm things down recently. Should I stay indoors for a while longer? I was a half-baked Hunter who couldn't even properly detect presences. Having to remain constantly vigilant against ambushes from enemies of unknown whereabouts was exhausting even in comfortable conditions.
If the enemy were as powerful as the Phantom-type fox, I could at least vaguely sense them...
Was there anything left to do in this city...?
The moment I thought that, I suddenly spotted a familiar face in the crowd on the main street, and I couldn't help but slap my forehead.
Walking along the edge of the road, carried along by the crowd, was not the evil fox, but rather Sola from the Fox Mask Enthusiasts Club (Provisional).
Her outfit had changed from the sacred-looking white robes to something that blended in seamlessly with the city folk, and her long hair was hidden under a hat, but there was no mistaking her.
In a sense, she might have been the only person I had directly inconvenienced in this entire affair.
Whether it was purely my fault or not—the fact that Sola had mistaken me for their leader and tried to bluff her way through was largely her problem too—but at the very least, the fact that she ended up having to fry tofu was my doing.
I felt like ignoring her and leaving town, but that would be a breach of courtesy.
I'd made Citry set up a kitchen for them, so I should at least check on the outcome. Even setting that aside, I wanted to say goodbye at the very least.
Wrestling with how to call out to her, I raised my hand with my best smile.
"Hey, Sola! How are things?"
Sola flinched, her whole body trembling as she looked at me. What was wrong? Her eyes were wide open and her mouth was twitching.
Then, Sola took a deep breath, glanced around nervously, approached me, and held a single finger to her lips.
"Shh—Boss—no... Klye. I'm no longer Sola."
"Huh?! What happened?"
I stared in surprise at her unexpected words. Sola answered in a low voice.
"I don't fully understand everything myself, but... we were cut off. After that incident, there was an investigation into responsibility, and a civil war broke out. The bosses are fighting among themselves, and it's absolute chaos! Even if things settle down, the organization will never be what it was. Right now, the whole area including Zebuldia is a blank zone. We can't even contact headquarters anymore. We don't know who's an ally and who's an enemy. And I... I've been fired as a shrine maiden."
"Oh... oh..."
It seemed something major had happened, though I didn't fully understand it.
They were probably still on the tame end of things, but anything with "fox" in its name was bad news.
"Gafu tried to gather as many acquaintances as he could before communications were cut, but being completely abandoned by the organization is the worst-case scenario imaginable. There's nothing that can be done. Honestly, nothing at all. Gafu is completely at a loss. What should we do?"
It seemed she'd been putting on a brave face until now, because Sola looked like she was about to burst into tears.
What should we do, she asked. Well, what could I do?
I frowned and was silent for a while, but since Sola's expression didn't change, I had no choice but to sigh.
"I... don't really get it, but if you've been cut loose and have nothing to do, why not just sell Inari sushi bentos like we planned? An organization that fires people like that isn't worth your time... probably."
I had enchanted the phantom of an ultra-high-level Treasure Hall. Life was unpredictable. Who knew—it might actually sell!
Sola froze, still looking like she was about to cry. Behind me, Citry had been waiting quietly without interjecting, though clearly itching to do so. I grabbed her arm and held her out.
Here, I'll lend you Citry... But I'll want her back when you're done.
Finally, I added one last piece of advice. She'd probably never come to this city again, so consider this a parting gift.
"Oh, and don't put "fox" in your shop name. Unless you want trouble."