第３２１堀：逃げ道を塞ぐ (Part1)
**Chapter 321: Blocking the Escape Route**
**Side: Hifi**
My head is still spinning.
It isn’t because I’m mesmerized by this fantastical scenery.
It’s because of the sonic magic unleashed by Popuri.
I never imagined that a spell consisting purely of sound could achieve such a feat. Even for someone like me, who was at a reasonable distance, the impact was significant. It’s no wonder Comet, who heard that roar from up close, fainted and suffered defeat.
I was surprised by Comet’s loss, but perhaps it only goes to show that we had underestimated our opponent. I, too, never imagined I could lose. Comet likely felt the same, and because she couldn't react to that maneuver, she was taken down.
It pains me to say this about Comet, but this has opened my eyes. The complacency that had been lurking in the back of my mind vanished with that spectacle. Thanks to that, I can now face this with a fully prepared mindset.
*Yuki-dono, I understand your efforts, but this is something I cannot yield.*
I stare at Yuki-dono, who stands beyond the swirling cherry blossoms, but he is busy talking with Popuri and the others, seemingly unaware of my gaze. Surely, that magic was also his suggestion. Without that level of ingenuity, one could never secure the magical power necessary to maintain a continent, and Luna-sama would never have sent him here.
"Well then, Hifi, what will you do? You can still forfeit, you know?"
"No. I am the one making unreasonable demands, and I cannot be satisfied with this. I will make both Luna-sama and Yuki-dono understand that it is perfectly fine to entrust this continent to my hands."
"…*Sigh*. Well, I have my own share of the blame, so I can’t really say much. But if you lose to Yuki, you’ll step down quietly, won’t you?"
"…If I lose, I shall handle it appropriately."
"I’m not saying you have to be happy about it, but stop this foolish infighting among our own. That’s exactly why I set up this duel in the first place."
"I understand that."
I know the reason for this duel is that she doesn't want us to destroy each other through internal conflict. It is rare for Luna-sama to intervene to this extent. It shows just how indecisive she is regarding our punishment. The tyrannical gods of the past had their divinity stripped without a word; considering that, we should have been punished immediately for failing to carry out our assigned mission.
Luna-sama is wavering. Therefore, I simply need to win this duel and show her, with dignity, how we will improve this continent. I, too, have no desire to be at odds with someone whom Luna-sama values so highly. I won't go so far as to demand that you agree with our methods, but if you could tacitly approve and refrain from interfering, that would be enough. Since I came here as an escort for the envoy, I’m sure there are acquaintances I’ve made in this continent, and if I promise to treat them as generously as possible, surely you will understand.
…If I lose, I cannot withdraw unless I am shown a concrete plan—a solution to avoid war and a way to resolve the continent's magical depletion. If we had met a little sooner, we might have been able to cooperate without such clashes. But this was never their concern to begin with. Taizo-dono offered his hand of his own volition, but it would be too convenient to demand the same of them. Yes, for their sake as well, we must demonstrate as their predecessors that we are capable of handling this.
"Oi. Yuki, are you ready yet?"
"Hm? Ah, yeah, I'm ready."
With that, Yuki-dono walks toward us in a leisurely manner. It’s a reply lacking any respect for Luna-sama, but since Comet is the same, I cannot exactly reprimand him for it. And yet, he looks like a young man, even younger than Taizo-dono. How could such a youth manage to solve the magical issues of other continents in just a few years? What is he hiding in his heart, and why did he come to an otherworldly continent that had nothing to do with him?
Before I knew it, Yuki-dono was right in front of me. The wind stirred, and cherry blossoms danced in the air as if to match his arrival.
"Well then, Hifi-san. Are you ready?"
Yuki-dono speaks to me casually. It doesn't feel like a duel is about to begin; it feels like a normal greeting.
"Yes. It is one win and one loss, and I have come to understand your resolve. I suppose our results will decide the outcome."
"…Hm? Ah, no, no. It’s not one win and one loss. The real thing starts now, so please call Comet-san and Taizo-san."
"Eh?"
I didn't understand what he meant. The real thing starts now? Then what was all that until now?
"W-what do you mean by that?"
"No, just think about it calmly. Taizo-san and Taiki-kun were just relatives having a sword fight, right?"
"…Er, yes. That is one aspect of it, but they are on your side, are they not, Yuki-dono?"
"They are on my side, but Taiki-kun is mostly an outsider, and I never said he was a Dungeon Master, did I, Luna?"
"Yes, you did not."
…Excuse me? In other words, it was just a contest between the two of them?
"Then, what about Comet and Popuri and the others?"
"They are even more of an outsider. After all, they are just acquaintances I met after coming to this continent. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are strangers, but would you entrust such an important matter to them?"
"……"
…Indeed, one would not normally entrust such things to them.
"Then why did you bring Comet and Popuri and the others?"
"Well, they had their own history with Taiki-kun and Taizo-san, so I thought it would be good to have at least one chance for them to talk. It seems there were misunderstandings in how everyone parted ways."
"Misunderstandings? Or perhaps blood-stained ones…"
"Well, anyway, that’s why everything up until now was just an exchange between friends. Now that the lingering feelings have been cleared up, let’s have a refreshing match."
"I-I see."
He keeps throwing off my pace. What is he thinking?
"So, please bring Comet-san and Taizo-san here. Let’s settle this quickly with a 3-on-1."
"Eh?"
What is he saying now?
"No, well, those two are in agreement with Hifi-san’s ideas, aren't they?"
"Yes, that is true, but…"
"From our perspective, as long as the predecessors are safe and the plans are moving forward, we don't want to ruin our relationship just to gain control of this continent."
"I see…"
"In other words, I want to get this over with quickly, but Hifi-san is stubbornly pushing her opinions to Luna, so we have no choice but to have a match. If that’s the case, we might as well win 3-on-1 and prove our point. Even if I beat Hifi-san 1-on-1, it doesn't prove my ability to manage the whole thing, does it?"
"That is… true."
"That’s why don't you think 3-on-1 is just right? If you lose to me 3-on-1, the lack of ability will be clear, and we can discuss changing the approach a bit. We can aim to combine our opinions. And, if you win, you can take the lead, but there are people here who have taken care of me, so please, at least let me protect them."
…When I think about it, it’s a perfectly reasonable argument. For Yuki-dono, there is no need to go out of his way to be on bad terms with us. Not unless the premise is to exclude each other and achieve our goals alone.
"How about it? This way, we can move forward without any hard feelings, right?"
Indeed, if that’s the case, there is no problem. I seem to have been a bit too stubborn. Yuki-dono already has some connections to this continent. Even if I told him to leave because he was in the way, he wouldn't be convinced. In fact, there is a possibility that I could utilize the connections Yuki-dono has made so far.
The desire to avoid internal destruction by insisting on doing things only by our own hands—that is something Luna-sama, Yuki-dono, and I all share.