I currently had three stamps in my possession... and standing directly before me was the fourth arena.
After receiving my stamp from Epsilon, Anima and I had stopped for a quick bite at one of the festival stalls before heading here. This arena felt somewhat smaller than the previous three we had visited.
It was remarkably quiet—enough to make me forget we were in the middle of a grand festival. It made me wonder: where were all the other challengers? Perhaps they were struggling to collect their stamps, or maybe most people simply considered challenging the Five War Generals a fool’s errand and hadn't bothered to try in the first place.
Pondering this, I stepped inside the arena, only to be greeted by a very peculiar sight.
"...Hm? Oh, welcome. Sorry about this. Mind waiting until I finish this cigarette?"
"Ah, yes."
The man had disheveled, faded red hair that looked like rusted iron. Clad in a wrinkled, threadbare coat and sporting a scruffy beard, he spoke to me through a cloud of smoke with the cigarette still dangling from his lips.
He looked like a total deadbeat adult—or more accurately, he lacked any sort of presence whatsoever. Was this man really one of the Five War Generals?
I’d felt a distinct pressure from Bacchus, Kong, Epsilon, and Agni. Their temperaments varied, but they all possessed the unmistakable aura of the strong. I felt absolutely none of that coming from the man before me.
He seemed more like someone you’d run into at a pachinko parlor on a lazy Sunday; there was a strange, unreliable air about him.
As I stood there in silence, caught off guard, the man finished his cigarette, stubbed it out in a portable ashtray, and finally turned toward me.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Once again, welcome, Miyama-kun. This old man’s name is Ozma. Nice to meet you."
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you, too."
"Man, anyway, good work getting here. Must be tough traveling all over the place, right? Want some coffee?"
"Ah, n-no, please don't trouble yourself."
He was incredibly laid-back. He felt like a friendly middle-aged neighbor, completely devoid of any intimidating pressure.
"Could you show me your stamp card for a second?"
"E-Eh, sure..."
"Oh! You've already got three? Man, you kids are full of energy. Wait, I’m the fourth? No, no, that’s all wrong. You should have come to me first. I’m the Weakest of the Five War Generals, after all."
"Eh? I-Is that so?"
"It’s true. Epsilon-chan is about the strongest of us, second only to Agni-chan... well, if you've already cleared her trial, then an old guy like me should be a walk in the park for you, shouldn't I, Miyama-kun?"
He didn't sound self-deprecating when he called himself the weakest; he just sounded incredibly relaxed.
"...Well, there’s no point in holding you up with small talk. Shall we get started? Is that girl there your proxy, Miyama-kun?"
"...No, um, if possible, I would like to challenge you myself this time."
"Master!? No! It’s too dangerous! Even if he is a slovenly, worthless piece of trash without a shred of drive, he is still technically one of the Five War Generals!"
"...Honest kids these days really don't pull their punches, do they? This old man is actually a little hurt."
When I announced that I wanted to take on the challenge myself, Anima hurriedly tried to stop me. I knew it was reckless, but I had made up my mind.
"Anima, I've done nothing but rely on proxies up until now. Even though handicaps have been prepared specifically so that I have a chance."
"...Master?"
"Megiddo-san didn't explicitly tell me to fight, but the fact that he went to the trouble of setting up these handicaps means... he probably expects me to try. That's why I want to give it my all just once. I want to be able to hold my head high and say I won on my own merits."
"I like that. This old man is a big fan of that sort of thing."
These were my honest feelings. If I just kept relying on proxies until I reached Megiddo-san, I knew I’d regret it. I’d always wonder what would have happened if I'd taken the chance to try for myself. For once, I was going to swallow my fear and give it a shot. To be honest, knowing he wouldn't be attacking me also helped bolster my courage.
"B-But!? Mas—"
"Whoops, hold it right there, young lady."
"...Hm?"
"When a man decides to be stubborn and put on a brave face to fight, it’s not the place for those around him to meddle. At times like this, a good woman supports him in silence."
"Guh... T-That is..."
"That’s right. Just push him forward without the extra chatter. That's what makes a good woman..."
As Ozma-san spoke in a tone that was gentle yet firm, Anima fell silent. I turned back to her, gave her a smile, and clenched my fist tight.
"I know I’m not the most reliable person, but I’m going to give it a shot."
"...Yes. Master, please do your best!"
"I will."
With her powerful words of encouragement at my back, I walked up to face Ozma-san. He still wore his relaxed expression, but it seemed as though a slightly sharper light had kindled in his eyes.
"...Alright then, let's have a quick review of the rules. I won't attack you, and I won't use magic power. Additionally, I'm forbidden from using one arm and one leg... and as for the movement restriction, let's see... how about a circle this size?"
Ozma-san drew a small circle on the ground with a radius of about two meters and looked at me.
"...That's fine."
"Then, for the movement speed... I won't move at a speed you can't react to. Well, about this much."
Hopping on one leg, Ozma-san demonstrated by moving at the speed of a slow walk. It felt quite slow, but he clearly had the confidence that even then, he wouldn't be caught. Regardless, the conditions were overwhelmingly in my favor. I nodded.
"Your victory condition is to touch this old man with even a single finger... The time limit... hmm. Is an hour okay?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, let's begin... This old man is weak, so go easy on me."
"I'll give it everything I've got!"
"Oh boy, young people really are energetic. It's blinding to an old man like me."
I closed my eyes for a moment to steady my breathing, then I charged toward Ozma-san, who was smiling lazily in the center of the circle.
Dear Mother, Father—I’ve decided to take on Ozma-san at the fourth arena without a proxy. Even with the conditions tilted heavily in my favor, he’s still one of the Five War Generals. I don't think it will be quite that simple.
"Hmm, so Kaito-san's opponent is Ozma of the Silent Sky..."
"Is he strong?"
"Well, if he fought seriously, he'd be even stronger than the Head of the Five War Generals, Agni-san... but he's the type to hold back to match his opponent's strength. I think Kaito-san has a real chance."
"...I see."
There were two shadows at a high vantage point overlooking the arena, exchanging quiet words. At the end of their gaze was Kaito, beginning his struggle against Ozma.
"...Well, as far as Ozma-san is concerned, it depends on Kaito-san's own efforts... but the problem is what comes after. Agni-san isn't the type to hold back, so the only one among Kaito-san's companions who could win is... probably that goddess. I wonder what Kaito-san will do?"
"How transparent. Is my presence here not the answer itself?"
"...Will you be alright after such a long hiatus?"
"Who knows? I suppose I'll have to adjust during the real fight..."
"If you're not confident, you can always back out, you know?"
"Save the sleep-talking for when you're actually in bed."
"Hehehe, then I'm counting on you... Partner."
Exchanging words with the ease of long-standing friends, the two shadows vanished from the spot.