"Ah, there you are! Hello! Do you have a moment?"
The previous night, while the others were busy lecturing Tadakatsu and the rest of the Yamato dads, Anhel had been struck by a sudden inspiration. She had immediately headed out to their lodgings to track down Katsuyori.
Having located her target, she greeted him with a look of pure satisfaction. Katsuyori, suddenly addressed, responded with a skeptical furrow of his brow.
"Hmm? You are... the one who was nearby when I spoke with Hugo Clay."
"That’s right. I'm Anhel. I’m the engineer in charge of maintaining his magic items, as well as his lead girlfriend candidate."
"I see... An engineer and his primary wife. What business does a woman in such a position have with me? Surely you haven't been sent to carry out a night attack?"
"Of course not! Actually, I have a little business regarding tomorrow's duel...!"
Katsuyori remained wary of Anhel, knowing she belonged to the enemy camp.
Though she was a woman, he wore a grim expression, certain he could not afford to let his guard down. Facing his stern gaze, a smiling Anhel held out a single sheet of paper.
"Hmm? What is this?"
"A contract regarding tomorrow's duel. I was talking it over with Yugo and the gang earlier, and we started thinking... isn't this all a bit one-sided?"
"One-sided?"
"Think about it. If we lose tomorrow's duel, Sakura and the others will have to deal with you lot meddling in their lives for the rest of their time at the academy. They’ll be separated from Yugo and the rest of us just when they’ve finally made friends. There’s no doubt it’ll have a massive impact on their lives, right?"
"Well, I suppose that is true..."
"We’re shouldering a huge risk if we lose. And yet, there’s no penalty for your side at all if you lose. Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair?"
"Hmph...!"
After hearing Anhel's explanation, Katsuyori could do nothing but cross his arms and groan.
She was absolutely right. While Yugo’s side was wagering something as significant as their relationship with the three Warrior Shrine Maidens and the very direction of their lives, his side was paying no price for failure.
A situation where they stood to gain everything if they won, but lost nothing if they failed, was the height of inequality.
"...It is exactly as you say. A battle is something fought by wagering things that neither side can afford to yield. Even though your side is prepared to surrender Lady Sakura and the others, it would be unmanly and dishonorable for us to seek only profit without shouldering a burden in return."
"Right? Right! I knew you’d understand!"
Having decided that Anhel’s logic was sound, Katsuyori gave his consent. She nodded back, her smile widening.
With the groundwork laid, Anhel presented the contract to Katsuyori once more.
"Because of that, I want you guys to shoulder a reasonable risk as well. Specifically, if you lose, you will become the sponsors for our magic item production until we graduate. This contract is simply proof that you agree to those terms."
"Hmm, I see. Very well. Do I simply need to sign my name here?"
"I appreciate how quick you are to catch on! If I’d gone to the other two, I doubt things would have gone this smoothly... Oh, here's a pen!"
Though it didn't look like Katsuyori had actually read the fine print, he took the pen and signed the document without a second thought.
Accepting the paper back, Anhel’s satisfied expression deepened. She then asked him a casual question.
"I know we’ve already moved past this, but was it really okay for you to do this on your own without talking to the other two?"
"It matters not. We were the ones who came to this country uninvited and challenged Lady Sakura’s group to a duel. They have no right to complain about a contract concluded on my authority."
"I see, I see! You’ve got a point there!"
"Above all... no matter what contract is signed, it will never be enacted so long as we do not lose. There will be no issue as long as we win tomorrow's duel. It is as simple as that."
Katsuyori snorted defiantly, then continued with a stern look.
"Since ancient times, there are only two outcomes to a battle: victory or defeat. The victor gains land, gold, and people, while the loser forfeits all—sometimes even their life. Had you not come to me with this proposal, our battle would not have been an honorable duel, but mere child's play. I thank you."
"Oh...!"
Anhel let out a soft exclamation of surprise at his response, which was practically overflowing with the samurai spirit.
While it was a bit concerning that he hadn't noticed the unfairness of the duel until it was pointed out to him, she decided to revise her opinion of Katsuyori. Aside from his density, he actually seemed to have a fairly noble character. She cleared her throat and prepared to take her leave.
"...Well then, I'll be going. I can't exactly root for you in tomorrow's duel, but... I wish you the best of luck."
"Indeed. Be careful on the roads tonight. Well, you are a woman chosen by Hugo Clay. I doubt a common thug could do much to you, but it is always best to be cautious."
Showing a surprising amount of consideration, Katsuyori watched Anhel depart.
Once her back was no longer in sight, he gave a firm nod. He crossed his arms and let out a thoughtful grunt, muttering a single question to himself.
"However... what exactly is a 'sponsor'? There are too many unfamiliar words in this country for me to keep track of..."