After finishing my meal with Anima, we finally arrived at the fifth arena.
While the structure wasn't much different from the previous ones, the knowledge that I was finally facing the strongest of the Five War Generals made it seem incredibly imposing.
"Are Lilia-san and the others inside?"
"It seems so. They may have already begun their challenge."
I scanned the area near the entrance, but Lilia-san and the rest were nowhere to be found. Assuming they were already challenging Agni, Anima and I headed inside.
As we moved deeper into the structure, the roar of a crowd and the unmistakable sounds of battle reached my ears. Quicking my pace, I soon spotted everyone gathered near the entrance to the arena floor.
"Oh? Kaito-san. Good to see you."
"Sieg-san! Sorry to keep you all waiting. Are they in the middle of a challenge right now?"
Sieg-san noticed me and called out, so I bowed lightly and joined the group.
"Yes... though in just a few moments, the entire group, including Milady, is about to suffer a complete defeat."
"What!?"
Startled by Lunamaria-san's words, I immediately looked toward the center of the arena. There, I saw Agni standing with perfect composure, while Lilia held her great sword high, about to bring it down in a crushing blow.
Lilia's strike, delivered with every ounce of her tremendous power, was an attack that surely rivaled a blow from a Count-class high-ranking Demon. Yet, without moving an inch, Agni caught the blade effortlessly with a single hand.
"...A fine attack. However, your magic power is still inconsistent."
"Guh...!"
It was an overwhelming sight.
Whenever Lilia unleashed a barrage of strikes, Agni parried them all with one hand without taking a single step. When Lilia fired a tornado of magic, Agni dissipated it with a casual wave of her arm. Even when Lilia attacked at speeds I couldn't even perceive, she failed to even make Agni's expression flicker.
It was an disparity in ability so vast that even an amateur like me could understand it. This was the power of the Head of the Five War Generals.
In the end, Agni parried every one of Lilia's attacks without ever moving from her spot. When time ran out, Lilia's challenge was declared a failure.
"...It wasn't bad. I look forward to your next attempt."
"Y-Yes... Thank you... very much."
Breathing heavily, Lilia returned to us with an exhausted expression.
"Lilia-san, are you all right?"
"Kaito-san... Yes. As expected of Agni-sama, the leader of the Five War Generals. Even with a handicap, I couldn't lay a finger on her."
"Actually, I've been watching the other challengers while we waited for you, Miyama-sama... and it seems no one has cleared it yet."
"Are you serious...?"
Just how ruthless was Agni being? To think that not a single person had cleared it...
Shuddering at Lunamaria-san's report, I turned to Anima beside me.
"...Anima, do you think you could win?"
"It's frustrating to admit, but I have no confidence. Compared even to Epsilon-dono, Agni-dono is in a completely different dimension."
"I see..."
Apparently, Agni was strong enough that even Anima judged victory impossible before the fight even started. She was undoubtedly the strongest of the Five War Generals I had encountered so far. Honestly, if even Lilia-san couldn't win, my only real options for a proxy were Eden-san or Pandora-san, but...
"Why, if it isn't Miyama-sama. Welcome."
"Ah, yes. Hello... Sorry to intrude."
Just as I was weighing my options, Agni finished repairing the damage from Lilia-san's challenge and approached us. She greeted me with a deep, respectful bow.
"I am humbled by your courtesy. I have already received reports from my subordinates that you have obtained four extra-large stamps. As expected of Miyama-sama."
"Th-Thank you."
"However, I too have been entrusted with this arena by Megiddo-sama. I cannot afford to hold back, so please understand."
"Y-Yes, of course!"
Agni was—it might be rude to say it was unexpected—but she seemed to be the type who used proper formal language when the occasion called for it. Then again, most of the Five War Generals weren't exactly simple muscle-heads... with the exception of Kong-san.
Agni looked me straight in the eye and continued quietly.
"Miyama-sama, I speak at the risk of being rude."
"Eh? Oh, yes. Please, go ahead."
"Forgive me, but even with the maximum handicap, you would not be able to defeat me. I strongly recommend appointing a proxy for your challenge."
"I... I understand."
Well, that had been my plan anyway, but what should I do?
If it came down to who could beat Agni, Eden-san or Pandora-san were truly my only candidates. However, Pandora-san seemed busy, and I was reluctant to interrupt her work. On the other hand, Eden-san... in her case, I was terrified she might accidentally kill her opponent. She viewed the inhabitants of this world as little more than insects, which made me uneasy.
Still, if I had to rely on one of them, perhaps it should be Eden-san, since I could call her immediately. As for her holding back, I was sure I could manage if I asked her very, very earnestly...
Just as I was reaching that conclusion, an unfamiliar voice called out from behind me.
"...In that case, I shall act as your proxy."
"...Eh?"
I turned around at the sound of the voice, and my first thought was: 'Who?'
She was a petite girl, standing somewhere in the early 140-centimeter range, with amethyst-purple eyes and semi-short hair that was black on the inside and gray on the outside. Despite her small stature, she walked toward us with her arms crossed and a truly dignified air.
She wore a garment that looked like a military dress uniform modified into formal attire. Pinned to her chest was a black badge, the mark indicating she was one of my companions.
Who was this? I didn't recognize her at all.
the mysterious woman walked straight past me to Agni, gazing at her calmly before speaking.
"...I owe this man a debt so great I can never truly repay it. A task of this level won't even cover ten percent of it, but I won't be able to settle my mind unless I pay back at least the interest. Therefore, I shall serve as his proxy. Do you have any objections?"
"U-Um... who exactly are you?"
"...Hm!? That idiot... Did she not explain a thing?"
The woman, who had been making her declaration with such composure, froze when I asked my question. After a moment, she let out a long sigh, placed a hand to her forehead in exasperation, and turned toward me.
"My name is Iris... Iris Illuminas. I suppose you would know me as 'the partner of that big fool.'"
"...Eh?"
Dear Mother, Father—A mysterious woman suddenly appeared for the challenge against Agni. This was definitely our first time meeting face-to-face, but I recognized the name. If my memory serves me right, this person—Iris-san—is Alice's best friend.