The standoff unfolded under extreme tension.
Before them stretched an empty wasteland.
Only occasional gusts of wind carrying sand could be seen—no human figures were visible nearby.
Yet the "failed experiment" Takuto had brought along clearly perceived through "Appraisal" that multiple individuals were hiding just ahead.
Aware of this fact, Takuto still refrained from issuing any specific instructions to the "failed experiment."
His policy was to observe the opponents' reactions first.
After a moment, as if steeling themselves, the space before them warped, and several figures emerged.
Raising his left hand, Takuto signaled Atou and the Elful sisters to hold their guard, then intently studied the newcomers.
"Y-y-y-y-you came, Takuto Ira!"
The youth before him shouted with a trembling voice.
His voice cracked with tension, and his fear was palpable. Upon closer look, even his legs were shaking.
Impressed at how worked up the boy seemed, Takuto responded with a lighthearted jab to gauge their stance.
"Ah, Kurihara Keiji... You've become quite small. Back then, you didn't answer me, so I felt lonely. Have you been well?"
"Nngh—!!"
That alone was enough to overwhelm the boy, making him stagger back.
Internally, Takuto assessed the situation with a quiet hum.
It seemed to indeed be Kurihara Keiji. His voice quality had changed slightly, but it bore resemblance to what he had heard before in the Renea Sacred Kingdom.
Next, he glanced at the two beside him. They were much easier to identify. They were still wearing the priestesses' attire, showing considerate attention to detail.
(Priestess Soarina, and Priestess Fenne. They're here too...)
Their bond still seemed strong. Fenne aside, Soarina glared at Takuto—apparently, she hadn't forgotten that he had destroyed Erakino.
The contents of the duel declaration were beginning to take on a serious air. It was a messy, archaic letter, but the opponent seemed utterly sincere.
(He lost so spectacularly, and scattered in all directions, so I estimated the chances of them regrouping were low... but I suppose Kuriki must have his own kind of charm after all...)
Either someone lacks that something which draws people to them, and thus isn't selected by the gods as a player, or perhaps Takuto, being particularly acknowledging of Kuriki, was evaluating him with a slight bias.
Either way, the scene Takuto saw was singular: the TRPG faction had reassembled and was right before his eyes.
But... there was one presence that felt out of place.
It was a girl who looked exactly like a living copy of Erakino.
Assuming the different coloring meant she was a separate existence.
TRPGs have a system for creating characters. The game Kuriki had brought, "Elemental Word, Fourth Edition," naturally had that system incorporated as a fundamental part as well.
Verifying by sight alone was a bit short on information, but perhaps he had created a new character.
If that were true, it would be an immense nuisance, and Takuto sighed inwardly.
"You are Erakino...? No, that can't be right. I killed her. A different character? Did you make a new character sheet?"
The girl raised both hands, as if mocking Takuto, and tilted her head as if to say, "Well, what do you think?"
That brazen attitude resembled the Erakino he had seen before, but it also felt different.
That one was more the type who favored operating in the shadows.
(Either way, she's certainly an enemy. Jumping to conclusions with limited information leads to mistakes.)
"TRPG systems really are a pain," Takuto muttered. "Unlike computer games or board games, there's room for interpretation, so you can use any number of grey-area tactics."
This was one of the reasons Takuto warily regarded TRPGs as a game.
This game system fundamentally progresses through player conversation. Of course, the basic rules, mechanics, and prohibitions are listed in the rulebook, and you must proceed in accordance with them, but...
Even so, the freedom level was on another level entirely. It was to the point that as long as all participants agreed, you could even ignore the rulebook's prohibitions and it would still hold together.
In short, as long as it created the best possible experience, anything was acceptable. The game's true purpose, the shared goal of all participants, was to have fun playing together amicably.
The very freedom that made this world so compelling was, in this world, its greatest threat. Takuto's words served as a warning, both to himself and to his subordinates, but surprisingly, it was the newcomer—the fake Erakino—who reacted first.
"You get it, don't you? Well, of course. The real deal used this 'Gankasu' to smash things to bits, after all! Oh, by the way, call this thing Zangai. It's just a cheerful observer made from Erakino's remains."
Takuto desperately suppressed the bitter expression threatening to surface on his face. The origin story was far too vague. There was a possibility he'd been ordered to say that, but judging by Kukifuku's attitude and demeanor, that possibility was slim.
Tabletop RPGs allowed for relatively easy character creation via character sheets. But even so, having new characters added so casually and frequently would render the effort put into other games pointless. Yet, Takuto sensed none of that vibe. Especially judging by Kukifuku's subtle shifts in attitude, it made more sense to consider him someone with a particular agenda. Above all, the man didn't seem like the type to employ such roundabout methods. At least, not based on his impressions so far...
(If that's the case, is he some kind of exceptional existence? Or is it just his personality? Just like Vittorio, guys who play the clown are scary because they sweep your legs out from under you...)
Takuto mentally registered Zangai as a being to be wary of. That said, his original plan hadn't changed. Mynoghra, in its current state, was prevented from engaging in military action between factions due to the effects of the Grand Ritual. Incorporating TRPG forces through dialogue was already the established course of action.
"Kukifuku. This time, I'm not looking to make an enemy of you. I want to form an alliance."
"An alliance... you say?"
Kukifuku tilted his head in puzzlement. The Holy Maidens on either side of him twitched slightly at Takuto's words, but that was all. It seemed they had delegated all decision-making authority for this matter entirely to Kukifuku. Takuto welcomed this situation; the lack of unnecessary interference was appreciated. His greatest fear was that outside meddling would throw the meeting into chaos and derail the talks.
"Regarding the succubus incident. As someone who participated in the multi-faction summit, Kukifuku, you should understand. We are now in a state of complete hostility with the Orthodox Continental League. Sooner or later, we'll have to settle matters with the nations of the Dark Continent. The more fighting strength we have, the better."
Takuto spoke with a bit more force and momentum than was typical for him. In truth, the SRPG faction and the RPG faction were the ones in complete hostility. The TRPG faction, including Kukifuku, was largely outside that particular fray.
When confronted on that point, Takuto pushed the conversation forward forcefully. Of course, he couldn't remain a complete bystander in this TRPG either.
Eventually, he would have to settle matters with the Orthodox Continental League, so he couldn't stay uninvolved.
Lower your head, reach out your hand, clash head-on, or flee to the ends of the earth.
For them too, it was better to decide quickly.
Naturally, the best outcome for Takuto would be if they became allies.
"Let's set aside any grudges for now. How about joining our side? Those Nobles have been giving us trouble. Surely you understand that a head-on collision right now would have no clear resolution?"
Kurifuku wore a difficult expression.
He was likely weighing Takuto's words. The subtle air of discomfort probably stemmed from his own indecision...
Takuto sensed one more push might do it, and delivered his final remark.
"Or are you planning to hand over your saintesses to the succubi?"
The change was dramatic.
But it wasn't what Takuto had imagined. Eyes filled with will pierced through him.
It wasn't anger. They were the eyes of someone who had made their resolve.
(That's bad. I thought they were dragged along against their will because they were so terrified, but it's actually the type that acts cowardly while having already made up their mind...)
Kurifuku turned his gaze backward, as if confirming something.
He looked toward his companions -- the two saintesses and the one remnant.
His back was completely exposed, but Takuto simply watched. Thanks to the Grand Ritual's effect, no harm could be dealt. Even if it were possible, Takuto's pride wouldn't allow it.
"You say it yourself. You're the boss, aren't you?"
"Show them what a man is."
"Please do your best, Keiji..."
Eventually, urged by what felt like encouragement from his companions that was actually a dismissal, Kurahara turned his attention back to Takuto.
Takuto, along with the subordinates he had brought along, simply watched the scene unfold in silence.
"Trying to throw a wrench into things with unnecessary chatter won't work, Takuto Ira! I won't fall for that trick! I'll—I'll defeat you! I'll become the strongest in the world! And then I'll win this battle and bring Erakino back to life!"
"No, I think you could revive Erakino without defeating me, actually..."
"O-oh..."
What he wanted to do somehow came across.
More than seeking revenge, he likely wanted to reclaim the pride he had lost in a past battle.
In this world, the dead could be revived through various means. While it often came with extreme difficulty, it wasn't impossible.
That was probably why the idea of settling things with Takuto Ira had surfaced in Kurahara's mind.
Not revenge, but a settling of accounts.
As a player, Takuto could appreciate the sentiment, but this was now a reality.
As Takuto, he felt a desire for Kurahara to focus on the immediate problem rather than being swayed by such sentimentality and inner conflict.
And the immediate problem, of course, was dealing with the Eternal Continental Alliance.
"R-right, Fenne?"
"Why are you asking me? How lame."
Kurahara was growing confused. Takuto felt the momentum shifting.
It seemed the two Holy Maidens intended to let Kurahara do as he pleased. Takuto didn't know their reasoning, but it certainly worked in his favor.
Time to press the advantage.
Takuto smiled inwardly, welcoming this bizarrely lightened atmosphere of a duel with silent applause in his mind.
"If I may call you that, Kurifuku. The truth is, I also have a companion I wish to resurrect, and I've already found the path for that. If you're willing to cooperate, I'd be glad to assist with Erakino's revival in return. It's the maximum concession I can offer after being preemptively struck by the TRPG faction."
This would settle things nicely.
A well-phrased killing blow, indeed. The TRPG is a system where the game is played with words.
Then to manipulate him with words and bring him into one's camp could, in a way, be considered a very TRPG-like way of fighting.
Maximum effect for minimum effort.
Inevitably, troublesome interactions would follow to align information and build a baseline cooperative relationship. One would prefer to take that first step easily.
This was Takuto's genuine feeling. He truly wanted to wrap this up smoothly. And while he had complicated feelings about Kurifuku, he didn't particularly harbor hatred or animosity.
Regardless of what the other thought, Takuto was seriously considering recruiting Kurifuku as an ally.
At the same time—
(Well, it's not going to be straightforward, I suppose.)
Somewhere, Takuto understood that his persuasion would be futile.
"No. If I become your ally through this kind of coercion, I'll be ruined. I'd regress back to the indecisive weakling from the past who couldn't make choices. —I decided to settle things with you. That's why I'm going to settle this with you!"
So it came to this after all...
The response wasn't particularly surprising to Takuto.
Certainly, Kurifuku was still as hesitant as ever, and at times, so indecisive that he would even seek help from his companions.
But perhaps his defeat had forged growth in him; Takuto sensed a kind of core or strength running through him now.
A single, unyielding pillar of strength that would never break.
At worst, this might end in a parting of ways...
Gritting his teeth inwardly, yet betraying none of it, Takuto simply stated the facts in a concise manner.
"But I have unfortunate news. I am currently casting the Great Ritual, a massive barrier enveloping the Dark Continent to protect Mynoghra from the allied forces. This barrier completely stops all hostile actions from both sides."
Indeed, a duel was impossible from the very start, regardless of anything.
Whether both parties consented or not, the Great Ritual's effects would equally obstruct everything.
Of course, there were exceptions like neutral NPCs, but that didn't matter as long as Kuribara's forces were a TRPG faction.
No matter how they struggled, settling things here was impossible.
"Is that true...?"
"Could that be why you can't read our minds?"
Only now did the Saintesses finally voice their unease.
Mind-reading—Saintess Fenne possessed the Miracle of Telepathy, bestowed upon her by God.
However, the act of reading minds naturally constituted a hostile action. There was no reason why she alone should be exempt.
"O-Oh! That's incredible! But listen! I'm even more incredible!"
Kuribara blustered with spirit.
If anything, it was closer to a small animal's threat display, though...
Takuto, seeing that his intent still wasn't quite getting through, couldn't help but sigh. He then patiently and politely explained to Kuribara, who was still in the thick of confusion.
"No, that's not it. A duel also qualifies as a hostile action. We cannot attack each other."
"Even if we try?"
"Go ahead, feel free."
It was Saintess Fenne who responded to Takuto's explanation.
It seemed she had grown tired of waiting, judging Kuribara unreliable.
Takuto, wanting to quickly resolve this increasingly vague and draining conversation, readily agreed.
Even a grand ritual that withstood the mighty, unparalleled attacks of the Succubus forces shouldn't be vulnerable to the power of a Saint.
"Then, I'll take you up on that."
"You—!"
Simultaneously, a powerful shock shattered the air before them with a sharp clang.
That sound made his heart skip a beat, but only for a moment.
In fact, calming down the suddenly enraged Atou via mental communication might have been the more troublesome task.
"Do you understand now?"
"Yes, quite. It's a terrifying ability."
It seemed she was satisfied.
At the same time, the meaning of Takuto's words had reached the other side. No matter how much Takuto explained, it might not have fully clicked for Kurihara, but since Fenne—a comrade—was conveying it, their response was bound to be different.
That was what Takuto had wanted, and Fenne herself had fully intended to do just that.
"What are you going to do, Keiji? At this rate, all we can do is talk. Unfortunately, in a battle of words, you don't have a single chance in ten thousand against him. Or rather, you've already lost."
"That... that's not true, Keiji!"
"Um, no... well, what should we do?"
He was completely frozen.
He had probably come here thinking only about settling things with Takuto Ira. He had anticipated that Takuto might scheme to avoid battle, but he clearly hadn't foreseen that combat itself would be impossible.
He could also feel the unrest emanating from the two Saints.
*Now's the chance,* thought Takuto, and he launched into his pitch without hesitation.
"So, how about joining up with us for now? We have a lot to discuss, I'm sure. We were, after all, enemies. I won't pretend we'll become friends. But we can shake hands while keeping a knife hidden. For the sake of your goal, and ours, we have to deal with the Succubus forces somehow first."
He watched for their reaction. Confusion dominated.
That it wasn't an outright refusal already meant they were under Takuto's spell, in a sense. For now, the direction would be to shelve the matter, and if he could absorb them as fighting forces later through circumstances, there would be no problem. The risk of being stabbed in the back certainly remained, but since their goal was the revival of Erakino, that could be handled however he saw fit. Or, so it seemed —.
"No, that's wrong. Completely wrong."
It was Zangai, who until now had remained utterly silent, who interjected with this objection. All eyes turned to her. She was smiling, looking thoroughly amused, yet her expression carried a hint of displeasure.
(Here she comes, after all. The Vittorio role for the TRPG faction? Even so, there's almost no hand to stir the pot from here —)
<!!> Error Code 447 (An abnormal operation has occurred)
<!!> An exception has been added to the existing magical effect.
<!!> For a temporary period, combat between Takuto Ira and Kurabokeiji is now possible.
<!!> The resulting disruption to game balance from this operation is [Minor].
"—!?"
"Huh? Something felt weird just now. What was that?"
In that instant, an impossible intervention occurred. This was conveyed to Takuto through the system of the Eternal Nations. This supernatural sensation, existing far beyond the boundaries of their understanding — Takuto had experienced something like it before.
Takuto's expression twisted instantly.
His worst fears out of the worst possibilities had come true.
(Whoa… that's a hell of a headache you've got there, Kurokata!)
Takuto glared with resentment at Kurokata, who was looking around blankly. The man, oblivious, just kept tilting his head as he questioned Zangai.
"Just this once. I've temporarily rewritten the battle-prohibition setting. Sorry about this, but I want to see the Master at his best. Regretfully, just humor me on this one!"
Zangai cackled as Kurokata scolded him for causing unnecessary trouble.
But Takuto had no time for that. If Zangai's words were true, the effect of the Grand Ritual had vanished and their attacks could now reach each other.
The same sense of crisis gripped his subordinates, who had maintained a strict silence as his guards until now.
"Lord Takuto, I shall also—"
Atou declared, slightly flustered, as tentacles emerged from her back.
But that was a bad move.
"No, Atou, I'd prefer you hold back."
He could certainly deploy Atou here. But if he did, the opposing forces would undoubtedly join in. The two Holy Maidens were known quantities, so dealing with them would be easy enough, but it was unclear what Zangai—who proclaimed he wanted to witness the duel—would do.
An expansion of chaotic conflict was not something Takuto desired either.
He wasn't afraid of Zangai. It was simply that since no one could predict what Zangai might pull, his own side's response was equally unpredictable…
"Ah—look, I know it's a bit much, but let's chalk this up as an irregularity for this round. I'd really prefer to stay as an observer here. I'll refrain from any further interference from now on, so… c'mon!"
Perhaps sensing the rising tension, Zangai offered the explanation with a guilty expression.
I'm doubtful of just how much I can trust those words, but for Takuto's part, to avoid any further escalation of tension, he had to play along for now.
"Very well. I'll allow the duel. However, there is one condition."
Then, he tossed out a provocation to his opponent.
He couldn't stand being on the receiving end the whole time.
"What? A duel has conditions?"
"The death of Zangai. More precisely, his removal from this board. It wouldn't be amusing if unnecessary outsiders started butting in."
"W-why?! This guy has nothing to do with it!"
Kuraibara protested in a flustered manner, but such a feeble objection was far from enough to sway Takuto.
"He has everything to do with it. You just intervened yourself a moment ago, didn't you? Besides--however I may put it, he's your companion, right? Take responsibility for your allies."
Kuraibara grunted and fell silent, seething.
Takuto couldn't back down here either. Even if their relationship soured, he had to do something about Zangai.
His priorities had already shifted.
Unexpected events could always occur. But he hadn't anticipated such an unwilling turn of events.
Even now, he could sense the presence of Saint Fenne searching his mind.
If he didn't possess the [Powers of the God Ira], everything would have been laid bare. Cursing the TRPG faction internally for constantly throwing irregulars at them and keeping them off balance, he broke into a cold sweat.
They were truly, truly troublesome people.
That was all Takuto could strongly feel.
"Besides, all this guy did was just remove your restrictions, right? Coming up with some plausible excuse to raise the stakes on our end~. The truth is, you just don't want to duel, do you~?"
"If you're going to intervene, you'd better be prepared to be intervened upon yourself."
This was his final warning.
Zangai's smirk faded from the one who had been provoking her. It seemed even those words weren't agreeable to her.
A single click of the tongue. Was it from Zangai or Kuregei?
But the decision was made.
"No way. Zangai is a comrade. She's an annoying person who always insults me, and if I mix her up with Erakino, she'll mercilessly punch me, but she's a comrade who believed in me and followed me."
A bad premonition stirred.
Takuto shifted his consciousness. From negotiation mode to combat.
The atmosphere changed palpably, and some present couldn't help but show disturbed expressions at the rapid rise in tension.
"Are you fighting while aware you might lose? Aren't you going to declare that you'll win?"
"No. I'm saying comrades aren't trophies."
Ah, this is the worst. Kuregei Keiji steeled himself.
This wasn't good. Really not good.
The faction Takuto was wary of, the player Takuto was wary of, had made a true resolve.
There was no more time to manipulate words and cloud the issue.
This wouldn't stop until it was settled. It couldn't be stopped.
"You're quite something too, but you're inferior to him, Takuto Ira. Kuregei Keiji is the ultimate player. Yes... you could even call him the number one in the world!"
Takuto understood well that those words from Zangai were a provocation.
But even so, he couldn't ignore them.
"It can't be helped. It's a matter of priorities. Don't resent me even if you die."
Takuto observed his own calm half, noting it had been a while since he felt this unpleasant.
Even he wasn't entirely sure what the source of that feeling was.
For now, I can only focus on the battle before me.
Takuto takes a step forward, and subtly shifts his self-perception from Takuto Ira to something closer to "Ira God."
Slithering, an abhorrent aura of darkness and power surges from him like a dense shadow.
"...My line, isn't it!"
Kuribara suppresses his fear through sheer will, refusing to avert his gaze from Takuto as he declares the start of their clash.