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“----If we defeat this guy---- it wil be our victory.”
“...Win without taking out even one piece----but wil there be a need to kil
someone?”
With those words everyone’s gazes concentrated on the head of the ghosts all
at once, and he received it.
But, the head of the ghosts chuckled, held up the Black King,
“Noo? The rules are absolute. No one wil die. That’s because the [Black King]
is----“
And then vigorously----slammed it on top of the [board], and said.
“----Since it is “this guy”.”
The [ghosts] made round eyes---- but only their head;
Laughed with confidence.
Chapter 4 --- --- 1÷2=Companionless
---- The secret maneuvers of the [ghosts] who spread to various places in the
world continued for near one year.
Today too Riku observed the strategy map (game board) in the hideout, while
playing chess with ShuVi...
｢As expected｣, the Elfs allied with the Fairies. They also made many contracts
with Draconias able of opposing the Dwarfs' aviation fleet, and now the common
enemy of the dwarves, the [Elf Alliance] became a solid force.
On the other side the Dwarfs, adding up the Gigantis who they had a good
relationship with, they allied with many Phantasmas. As a result of the wind
(ghosts) leaking out that the Elfs created a "Phantasma Slayer", a really firm
[Dwarf Al iance] has been established.
But~ what will be troubling if it's forgotten is the greatest force, on the neighbor continent, the Artosh Camp who owns the Flügels.
Though those two alliances keep hiding their sure-kil weapons from each other,
this [coalition] clenched their fists and shook hands against the most alarming
enemy, but since they can't carelessly lay their hands on the strongest God
Artosh, the situation of the war headed to a stalemate.
The Demonia moved by selecting individual targets, the Warbeasts got cautious
of the Zuibaku and immigrated to the west archipelago.
The world was in a critical situation, cautious of the Armageddon (last war), and
became unable to do anything but glare at each other----!!!
----And, those are the speculations about the board's status, raised together by
the idiots(strong ones).
The Russia continent is comically, in its first "stay on watch" group state, until then only used by the humans.
The preparations are the bests, the workmanship is steady, the once-in-a-
lifetime's greatest battle---- what's left is only the last hand.
---------.........
"Hey ShuVi, I asked you before, if there wasn't a God of Games right?"
"...un..."
"You answered that if you fulfil the "activation condition" it'l become an Old Deus... by activation condition you meant?"
"...[Essence] acquisition.... the strength of, feelings, prayers.....exact definition, impossible...flow...?"
When I asked before, the answer was that, it didn't exist because there was no
[essence], but----
"The truth is, I ｢saw the God of Games before｣ ---- if I said that would you
believe it?"
"...If Riku, believe it then... ShuVi, believe..."
While moving a piece with a serious face, ShuVi continued.
"...Riku, overturned... all of ShuVi's, estimations... if Riku says that, there is, then
｢there is｣... if Riku says that, the sky, isn't red, then it isn't red... I won't, doubt anymore..."
---------.
---------Aaahhhhhhhhh damnit!
"Uwah~ This line right now if I let someone hear it I can boast about how I'm
falling for my wife so cuuuuuuuute!!"
"...That's...that, aside..."
Her face being slightly red isn't just imagination. ShuVi said while faltering.
"...Check-mate."
"----Hey~ God of Games...can't you let me win at least once..."
Towards the Riku who held his head with a bitter smile, ShuVi laughed a little.
"Eerm, excuse-me when you're in the middle of a talk that makes the ones
listening embarrassed instead, but can onee-chan disturb?"
----And towards Corona who suddenly appeared, Riku,
"Oh, you came at the right moment Coron, hey, hey the talk just now----"
"Yes yes, thanks for the treat. More importantly, the one that called me was Riku right...can I report?"
Coron is reporting the current vil age---- no, the "humans" situation while flipping through documents.
"It's unbelievable but---- just like Riku said, the reports about the Dwarfs being spotted disappeared."
Coron, who doesn't know of the reason, frowned her brows towards Riku who
laughed [right], and continued.
"...And so, after searching the northern part of Russia with signal fire and scouts we found a huge number of vil ages. But if we try to merge with it the total
number would be near eight thousand people, the current vil age can't
accommodate----"
"Don't worry Coron. In just a little more, the world will become a place where you can live anywhere without having to fear death."
"........."
Riku answered that while concentrating on the chess with ShuVi, and Coron's
fists started to tremble.
"Everything is going wel . If I and ShuVi play the last hand----it's our victory."
"....Hey, enough with the jokes Riku.... do you understand your own
situation.....?"
Coron was trembling without letting the anger show in her behavior---- but when
faced with Riku's figure, she reached her limit.
"You are in a state that it is hard to believe that you're even alive!! If you go out with that body, you wil die!!?"
Coron was yelling with tears floating, but Riku smiled bitterly and answered.
"I won't die. I must live for another eight hundred and fifty-one years."
"----Hey Riku please, stop screwing around, think seriously about your own
body----!"
Towards Coron's voice that was like an appeal, Riku felt that he had no choice
and once again examined the state of his body.
First----the entire body was bandaged.
As expected, the burns in the skin from the elemental bones haven't healed, the
skin of the entire body was contaminated, but that's all.
Next is the internal organs' check.... a necrosis was barely avoided thanks to
ShuVi ----- no problem in particular.
Ever since then a proper meal-like food is impossible but, at least something like
soup is drinkable.
Really, did a few elemental bones reach the blood? Some bones and respiratory
organs were done in a little, but it's a minor injury.
"What's left is.... one arm was lost and there's sight loss------- wait, blindness in one eye huh. Well no big deal."
"-----It's a really big deal!! You-----!"
"The other [ghosts]too, are in a similar state, or even worse than this."
Coron tried to refute, but was cut off by Riku's cold like voice.
"...No one having died up to now is a miracle, but, everyone is already with a
fully-wounded body. "
A full-wounded body. Literally, just as it means, a body full of wounds.
Overall, from the one hundred seventh-nine names of the ghost fleet, certainly,
no one has died yet.
-------yet. Merely, yet.
Injection of poison, contamination through elemental bones, loss of limbs ------
for the sake of deceiving the Dwarfs the [ghosts] played any hand.
For the sake of a mere
induction they would throw away the left arm, for the
sake of deceiving the Demonia there would be some who would eat carrions,
and even ones who induced by getting bitted by a Dhampir---- They used
everything that was usable.
-----Everything "besides the life"----- that's why, Riku said as if supplicating.
"Only one hand left Coron. Overlook it----- And then the Great War wil end.
When that happens I-----"
----- I'l finally be able to forgive myself---- as if trying to say that, but he
swallowed it.
"Then at least, tell me....."
Coron hid her face and her shoulders started trembling.
"Inducing the Dwarfs---- even the Old Deus and removing them from the Russia
continent, even now I can't believe it. I think it's really incredible---- but end the Great War? No matter how much, I can't believe it!!"
"......"
"If you say to overlook it then tell me!! Or is it that me---- a sibling is that much untrustworthy!!?"
-------.......
While Riku and ShuVi exchanged looks, tears fell into the floor from Coron's
down casted face.
".....Coron, if I didn't trust you----- if it wasn't you, I wouldn't entrust everyone."
"Then-----!!"
"What is it that the Gods are seeking and fight for----- you know right?"
After reacting a moment too late to Riku who suddenly began talking, Coron
answered.
"....The Throne of the Sole God, right. If I'm not wrong...."
"That's right. That Throne of the Sole God---- being more specific it seems to be this [Star Grail] thing."
Talking about what he heard from ShuVi in the Elfs' ruins, Riku stood up.
"Old Deus---- are born from stars."
---- By wishing, being prayed to they obtain [essence] and then are born----
ShuVi said that.
"But they were born too much. The [Star Grail] is something for the Old Deus,
the Gods---- in other words, it's a [control device] set for the sake of limiting the existences able to use magic of the level of creating races to a single one."
".........."
"But one Old Deus creating a [device] able to seize the power of all Old Deus,
something like that is impossible ---- right?"
"-----That's, right, isn't it. Because would be----"
With the information heard just now, but after understanding it in a instant,
Coron simply----said.
"------ With the power of [ten], create power superior to [eleven].... right?"
"As expected of Coron, it's☆ super☆ correct. That's right; it's a talk so stupid that you can only be amazed."
It's an obvious story right---- The Sole God in other words is the power to rule
everything including the Old Deus.
Even if the ten Old Deus poured their powers and put it together, what was
poured down by the ten of them would be only ten's worth of power.
But the [Star Grail] is---- it's about creating a power able to rule the power of the ten poured together, it's that kind of talk.
Fundamentally, their power is not enough. It's impossible.
"That's why-----it's fine if we just do this."
With eyes as if talking about something worthless from the depths of his heart,
Riku said, as if throwing out.
"----- If there are ten Gods, if I kil off nine of them then I would be the Sole God---- right?"
That's right, if you sum up what ShuVi said that day, that's it.
Destroy the [essence] of the other Old Deus, and take in the power of that
existence.
By doing that I can dope my own power----- and obtain enough power to
materialize the [Star Grail].
But, in the end, Old Deus is something that, gets born as much as you wish for
it.
Even if the last one standing kil s everyone, he wil be troubled if a new one is
born and exceed himself.
That's why if it rules with the Throne of Sole God-----[Star Grail]then it wil be the doing of the "Sole God".
"This, is the true identity of this worthless [Great War]."
......... .
"How...stupid!---- you mean that with such a reason, they're making this
war---!!?"
With her shoulders trembling with anger, Coron yelled as if throwing up while
looking to the side.
"Coron.... watch your words. It's rude towards the idiots. Because you see-----"
(TL note: It's a pun with the word baka (which means both idiot and stupid):
Coron calls them "baka" and Riku says that it's rude towards the "bakas") While saying that as if wanting to heal the mood, Riku touched the map-----
game board. And then he announced with an amazed face.
"Because even if we don't do that we can make the [Star Grail] materialize."
"--------eh?"
Looking away from the Coron who was making a blank face, Riku played with
the [Black King] with the palm of the hand.
"Hey Coron, have I told you what are the Old Deus born from?"
"-----Stars, right?"
"That's right, the Elemental Circuit. The source of all things. The power flow of all creation. In other words, born from the stars."
As if supplementing Riku's words, ShuVi continued.
"...The creatures.... races too.... the Old Deus's [essence]....... pass through the elemental circuit, and, are created."
"That's right..... in other words, you see?"
With one sigh, Riku remembered the day he thought about it----- the day he
heard about it in the Elfs' ruins.
After hearing the talk about the main cause of the war between the gods and the
[Star Grail], something had floated straight in his mind.
It was so obvious, that its a wonder why no one noticed.
He said the conclusion that was so obvious, that at the time it surprised even
ShuVi.
"Compared to all the Old Deus in this star---- its origin "the star itself" has more
[power] right, thinking normally."
That's why----- he announced to Coron, whose eyes were peeling off------.
Riku picked up the [Black King], and headed towards the map---- the game
board.
And set it right in the center. Our, the [ghosts]'s---- victory condition.
Namely---- [The last hand], was clearly announced.
"------If the star (game board) is destroyed, the [Star Grail] will materialize."
-------.....
Looking away from the amazed Coron, Riku and ShuVi pointed towards the
floor, and continued.
"The core of this star---- if the Elemental Circuit's Power Flow Source is pierced, the expelled power wil overcome the power of all Old Deus."
".....Manifestation, is, 10^-46 square seconds.... destruction, power expel,
manifestation, wil be immediate......"
"If----- the [Star Grail]is obtained and the star is immediately recreated....."
Riku and ShuVi aligned, and announced together, to Coron who was stil
dumbfounded.
"".....Check-mate.""
"B-----but, that's----- a power great enough to pierce the star, from where it'l ----"
Finally, after rising up from her stupor, and after saying that.
Coron finally noticed, once it entered her vision----- the force map hung up on
the wall.
It can't be. It can't be, it can't be, it can't be!!
"Make them do it themselves!? Not a stalemate---- the objective was a
complete collision of the full forces!?"
Towards Coron's screaming, Riku joyfully, showed an incredible smile.
"About Artosh Camp and the [coalition] you see---- those guy
s won't do a
stalemate."
"------eh?"
Each other's certainly destruction----- The stalemate situation is based on their
certainty that if one side laid their hands on the other then both sides wil be
destroyed.