The domain city of Mynoghra, Selduchi. On the outskirts, the front line against Quolia.
While Takuto and Yuu intensified their offensive against the Orthodox Continental Alliance, the man—a player belonging to the Regalia Treaty Organization—was shouting his laments at the top of his lungs.
"I can't take it anymore! I just can't! No more! I don't wanna!"
Kurifukkeiji—.
A player of the TRPG faction, and one of the key figures in this war. Though his pathetic appearance suggested otherwise, he was a man Takuto had been deeply wary of and on guard against from the very beginning. This was due to his peculiar fate: having fought and lost against Mynoghra, he had ended up in this present situation through various twists and turns.
Now, he was fighting on the battlefield opened near the Quolia-Selduchi border, alongside the Selduchi sector forces under Mynoghra's command.
"Glory to Mynoghra! Come! Let us advance!"
The Brain Eaters, possessing an anti-human special attack, surged forward despite their rear-support role.
"Victory to Quolia! May God's iron fist fall upon the wicked!"
The Quolia Holy Knights wielded their Holy Sword Arts, calling down God's grace upon themselves as they rushed to meet the enemy.
"No! No! Our new God is Ira Takuto! Let the iron fist strike down heresy! Let the truth be known to the world!"
The Ruinous Knights, former Quolia Holy Knights who had converted, leaped out to support the combat-incapacitated Brain Eaters.
The prepared forces were immense, rivaling the main army. These were the subordinate units they had spent an entire year gathering for this moment. Alongside the "misfits," countless other subordinates jostled together.
Naturally, the opposing enemy forces were just as vast. Holy Knights, Succubi, and Spirit Warriors were all present, and they had even dragged out the Medical Priests and Ritual Priests who normally stayed in the rear. Both sides were fighting with everything they had, determined to break the other's will.
A full-scale alliance between Mynoghra's mixed forces and the TRPG faction.
The scene unfolding here was distinct from the main force led by Takuto or the auxiliary force led by Yuu.
Yes, this was the alliance with the TRPG player Kurifukkeiji.
As long as Mynoghra's ultimate fighting strength remained merely hero-grade, the individual who would have the greatest impact on the situation here was none other than this man.
But despite that impressive title, the man himself was putting on a pathetic and shameful display.
"There are so many enemies! This isn't the main front! Why do I have to struggle like this!"
Even as he whined, he snapped his fingers, launching attacks in all directions at the enemy.
Unlike the central region of El-Nar, this front was bearing the combined weight of Quolia's and the Succubus forces all at once, making the pressure entirely different. In terms of quality, the main force held by Takuto and his group was superior, but conversely, with Quolia's Holy Knights and armies present, this side outnumbered them.
What strategic decision Vagia, the leader of the Succubus and the ruler of the Continental Alliance of the Just, had made was unclear, but if he judged that only he and his elite were crucial to suppressing Takuto Ira, then this situation was somewhat understandable.
"Ugh! Too many! There's just too many of them!"
Of course, understanding something and being able to deal with it easily were completely unrelated, and offered no comfort.
The Succubus right before Kuribara's eyes raised a mace that glowed with seven sickening colors. As if anticipating the move, he snapped his fingers, splitting its torso into three parts.
Kuribara clicked his tongue and twisted his face at the result.
He had intended to split it into five or six pieces, given the effort, but this was the outcome.
Like this, the enemy was equipped with gear brought in by another player of the game, separate from the force called the "H-type" Succubus, making them exceedingly troublesome.
And after this, there were still hostile saints to contend with. Considering this, one could understand why Kuribara was wailing so.
The situation was a chaotic melee, yet it was still holding together because, firstly, no overwhelmingly powerful individual forces had yet emerged from the enemy's side, and secondly, and most importantly, he had supporters.
One such person had already rebuked Kuribara multiple times amid the fighting.
"Lord Kuribara! Please refrain from shouting such useless complaints! It is unseemly! It affects morale!"
"Shut uuuuuup!"
Once an Inquisitor of Heresy for Quolia, Klee Imreis had turned traitor, bearing the stigma of betrayal to protect the one she deemed worth protecting. Even in the harsh reality of fighting former comrades, she never lost sight of herself or what should be prioritized. In contrast, Kuribara's display was utterly disgraceful.
Far from heeding Klee's complaints, he screamed on, broadcasting to all how wretched his situation was.
But did he realize that this very behavior was drawing more enemy attention and intensifying their attacks against him?
Naturally, such a rash and impulsive man would find it difficult to survive alone on this brutal battlefield. It was precisely because there were companions to weather the tidal waves of attacks alongside him that he could afford to scream his belly full like this.
"If you have the energy to scream, perhaps you could do a little better? I'm on the verge of losing all patience with this utter hopelessness."
"Lady Fenne. Keiji, and all of us, this is our first time experiencing a battle of this scale. It's only natural to be overwhelmed, is it not..."
"Stop coddling him like that, Soarina. That's why Keiji gets full of himself."
Evaluating their utterly hopeless leader were the two saintesses.
The Saintess of Flowery Burial, Soarina, and the Saintess of the Hidden Face, Fenne.
Perhaps befitting of saintesses, they maintained enough composure to exchange idle words while focusing on the battle, though they fell a step behind the witches empowered by the player and game system. Still, they were decisive weapons of this world.
No matter the situation, they possessed strength that no enemy force of this caliber could hope to overcome.
And above all...
"Luck! Luck! Luck!"
"Analyse! Analyse! Analyse! Transmit!"
Every attack aimed at Kurifoto was deflected by luck.
Simultaneously, within the minds of everyone fighting around him, the optimal action for the moment was conveyed with miraculous intuition.
Despite his pathetic appearance, the contribution of the man named Kurifoto Keiji in this scene was immeasurably high.
He maximized his own survival rate through a raised Luck value, and used his Analyse skill to discern the enemy's strategy and morale.
Kree, having received that information via Transmit, immediately took command of his subordinate units, while the two saintesses deftly deflected the new attacks upon their new lord with miraculous foresight and luck.
The abilities of an absurd TRPG.
The game system, which had Takuto declare it his greatest headache, was indeed wreaking havoc here as well.
The absence of GM authority made no significant difference.
Originally, the game system was precisely this overwhelming and violent—a display of power that could only be called crazy.
"Concentrate the reserves at Point Alpha! Shift to Formation C and press through!"
Kree shouted, and the enemy was no less quick to issue their own commands.
"The enemy's movements have changed! All Holy Knights to the front line, support units synchronize attacks! Absorb the pressure and launch a counterattack!"
A desperate battle of wits played out on both sides, with countless lives vanishing in the process.
Clumsy as the military maneuvers might be for something called strategy, Mynoghra’s side, having received Takuto’s training, maintained a slight advantage.
Amidst the fighting, Soarina continued to cry out complaints while shielding the weeping Kuriku from harm, voicing a doubt.
"But still... is it right to point our blades at the common folk?"
Hearing this, Fenne replied with an exasperated expression under her veil, as if to say, What are you talking about at a time like this?
"I understand that feeling. But we agreed to leave everything to Keiji. He'll take full responsibility and figure something out for us."
Though circumstances forced her to wield a blade against Quolia, Soarina had originally been a saint. Though she had lost her own dream, some lingering affection for her former homeland likely remained.
More than that, she now found herself wondering what awaited them at the conclusion of this battle.
On the other hand, Fenne had long since made her peace with this. She hadn’t willingly abandoned her role as a saint, and she still possessed compassion for others. But what mattered most to her now was the happiness of herself and the tiny few around her.
Furthermore, she had decided that if any trouble arose, she would simply cast it all onto Kuriku.
He had made such a grand show of it. If he couldn’t handle that much, he was useless, but she believed he would grumble but see it through.
In that regard, one could say Fenne was more steel-nerved than Soarina.
Of course, the one who was least steel-nerved here was Kuriku himself...
"We’re only human in the end. Even if people praise you as a saint, what you can actually do is limited. Sometimes, it’s important to surrender to the greater current, Soarina. Struggling against it will only make you drown."
"That... that’s certainly true..."
The situation had already grown beyond a scale a mere saint could control.
In this battle where divine will likely intervenes, there is so little we can do. Then we must focus only on the events before us. To try and save too many is simply to lose more.
"We tried to handle everything ourselves and it ended in the worst way. That's why we decided to leave it all to Keiji, isn't it? He said to leave it to him, so he should bear the responsibility. For all of us."
There was a touch of emotion in her words, but Soarina, with her limited life experience—particularly regarding the matters between men and women—was too dense to catch the nuance.
"But is Keiji really alright for this? Even he surely can't handle a situation like this..."
"Oh my? Already giving up on him? Then I'll take him off your hands."
"W-wait, Lady Fenne! Th-that's not allowed!"
"And why not?"
"Because... well... it's..."
"Hey! Someone lend me a hand here, Soarina! Fenne! My support stopped a while ago! Hey! Hey, are you listening! Ah, shit! Help, heeeeelp!!"
Even in the midst of a battlefield, they possessed this composure. Yet, this ability to banter like this was also proof of the immense strength they held.
The individuals themselves might be desperate...
Though, of course, how they appeared to others was an entirely different matter.
"Do the bigwigs of the organization have to be distracted by romance even in the middle of war? Please stop feeding us this garbage-like nonsense."
"They must just perceive things differently than we do. It's normal for them, so they're acting as they always do. They're probably indifferent to life and death—both their own and others'."
Watching from a distance, the twins let out their dissatisfaction as they observed the scene. Mearia, the provisional lord of Selduchi, and Elful, the career officer.
Unlike themselves, who were drenched in blood as they slaughtered the enemies before them, the others over there seemed to be having far too much fun, and this irritation was its expression.
That said, the root cause of that irritation didn't seem to stem from the frivolous exchanges of the TRPG faction.
Rather, it was directed at one of Mynoghra's boasted heroes... the one they were least proud of.
"Yes, yes. If you keep making such complicated faces all the time, you'll get wrinkles!! The damn brats already have the mental age of middle-aged women, so couldn't you be a little more charming..."
Without pause, a slash flew forth, and she avoided it with an unnatural bridge step, following up with two or three more attacks to drive off the noisy intruder. Karia looked thoroughly displeased as she vented her frustration to her sister.
Vittorio the Insolent Hero was on this battlefield. That meant he was up to something here again.
"Why is that man here?"
"He followed us on his own. Should have dumped him somewhere."
When she furrowed her brow and glanced sideways, she was naturally met with a beaming smile and a wink. That annoyed the sisters more than anything.
However, he kept a certain distance and showed no signs of leaving the front line, so Vittorio must have some sort of ulterior motive.
Though, if asked whether he would actually contribute to the battle, the answer was complicated...
"Now, now, calm down, Miss! This one is just a liiiiittle interested in that poor saint. She has to take responsibility for killing me, you knooow!"
Amid attacks from the enemy, Karia and Mearia both displayed looks of surprise in perfect sync.
Both knew very well that Vittorio was a hero with a broken personality and a few screws loose. What they didn't know was that he would become fixated on something like this.
The sole exception was their master, Takuto Ira, whom he called God.
But strangely, the current Vittorio seemed to be clearly targeting the saint from the diary.
Given that Quolia's powerful saint's whereabouts were still unknown, Vittorio declaring he would handle it was beneficial for both the twins and Mynoghra.
But could they really assume it was that simple? Knowing Vittorio's personality and the numerous problems he had caused, the two felt an uneasy sense of discord along with an indescribable anxiety at his words.
But that too lasted only a moment, washed away by the frantic cacophony of blood, screams, and clashing swords that filled the battlefield.
Perhaps having no intention of pestering the two any further, Vittorio waved his hand in farewell, leaped up with a swish, and vanished somewhere across the battlefield while performing a strange dance.
"He's gone... Bad feeling."
"Just hope he doesn't bring trouble back with him when he returns..."
Having him around was annoying, but his absence brought its own anxiety.
That was the kind of presence Vittorio was.
………
……
…
——And then the battle shifts. All by this man's hand.
"I'm the guy who fought Takuto Ira to a draw! There's no way I'm going down in a place like this! I'll show you! My secret weapons—"Luck""Luck""Luck"—and—"Prayer"!!"
Perhaps growing impatient with the deadlock, or unwilling to sink further into crisis, Kuribara suddenly takes a different kind of "action" than before.
"Wait, Keiji! That's still incomplete!"
"You mustn't, Keiji! It's never worked before!"
The two saints are the ones taken aback. Whether his rampage was truly unforeseen, they rush to stop him in a panic.
But he is not a man to be stopped by that. Simultaneously——
"Shut uuuup! God, Buddha, TRPG system-saamaa! Isn't the difficulty just a bit too hiiiigh!? Scenario check, pleeeease! This is a lifelong request from your player, Kuribara Keiji! One more time—"Prayer"!"
——And neither is he the kind of man to end there.
=[■■■■■]===
Player Kuribara Keiji's request accepted.
To ensure smooth game progression, difficulty is being adjusted and the scenario is being adapted.
———
In that instant, a main current of power far beyond the scope of a player's handling of the system engulfs the world.
"Impossible!"
"The, the power is draining...!"
"What in the world is happening!?"
The change was abrupt. The equipment of the Orthodox Continent Alliance, which had been displaying such power moments before, suddenly lost its luster, and at the same time, a clear shadow fell over the movements of the enemy forces.
This was the moment. For the first time, the man who had been losing every gamble showed his tremendous luck. Which goddess of fortune had smiled upon him?
At least, unlike his former self, it was certain that he was now attracting at least some of the goddess's attention.
"Wooooooo! The strongest! The strongest! The strongest TRPG! I'm the strongest! Kuribara Keiji is the strongest!"
That said, it seemed to be only somewhat...
===
Due to the difficulty change, the proceeds have been negotiated with the <<God on the Board>>.
As the price, the player, Kuribara Keiji, will be incapacitated for one turn.
---
With a snap, Kuribara's limbs froze as if they had turned to stone.
Risks are inherent in gambling. It is when you are riding a winning horse that the demon of bankruptcy smiles.
"Uwaaaah! Fenne, Soarina! Help meeeee!"
As if to say "You see what happens?", the TRPG faction retreats from the front lines, carried by the two priestesses.
Running alongside them, Zangai—the girl who is the spitting image of Erakino and the final member of the TRPG faction—joins them from somewhere.
"Ahahaha! Fun! I'm very satisfied with this! Show me even more of your pathetic side!"
"Hey! Where did you go off to! You gotta fight too!"
Even though his body won't move, his mouth is still free. He disregards his own blunder and lets loose a complaint at Zangai. If Kuribara's memory was correct, she too should have been able to use the power of dice.
Moreover, it was she who had taught him the effective way to use dice, so depending on the situation, she might be more of a combat asset than Kuribara.
But, whether one calls it unexpected or, considering the situation, expected, Zangai's response was a clear refusal.
"Heh heh heh. No way, that's against the rules, silly. We're covering for you on our side, so don't worry, okay? Even like this, I'm the type to give it my all, you know?"
Kurifuku opened his mouth to retort further at those words. But Zangai's expression was so genuinely delighted that it caught him off guard. The man looked so happy, so blissful, that for a fleeting moment, Kurifuku saw a reflection of the old Erakino in his face.
"...Is that so. Do what you like. Oh, right, Soarina, Fenne. I was thinking, once I recover from this—"
Perhaps feeling awkward, or not wanting to be caught staring, Kurifuku turned his attention away from Zangai and began discussing his tales of past glory and future strategies with the saintesses.
Zangai watched him, his expression as amused as ever, and then, unnoticed by anyone, he let a soft chuckle escape—a smile carrying a different intent than before. He murmured a single line.
"Why would a god ever take a game seriously?"
The state of the battle was chaotic. Every faction was now wielding its power without restraint, desperate to claim victory for itself.
What awaited at the end of this conflict? Yet, though slight, the tide of battle was undeniably tilting toward Mynoghra. It was believed the end of the war would arrive before long.