Part 3
— And, the time has come to raise the curtains.
The audience seats were full without even a single empty space.
This is what would be called a flood of customers.
As usual the fox girl Lily was running around as a saleswoman, and selling goods while her kitsunemimi were twitching. This time the other children from the senior group were also selling along with her.
From now on the games hosted by 「No Name」 themselves would increase. And Kuro Usagi wanted for them to get even a bit of experience.
(Witnessing the fight of Izayoi-sama and others, kids who might decide to become players might appear in future. For that to happen, I have to give my best!)
Hyokon! - Lily's kitsunemimi jumped up as she made a fist.
At the moment she had about half of the goods sold.
A single gong reverberated, marking the start of the game.
『Thank you for waiting! Before starting the final game of 「Adamantine Forge」, the new leader of us 「No Name」, Player Kasukabe Yō will do an opening speech!』
—OOOOhhhhhhhhh!!!
In the middle of loud cheers, Kasukabe Yō stepped forward. Getting on stage Kasukabe Yō took up the microphone, and faced the audience with unusually tensed expression.
Looking at the audience Kasukabe Yō, albeit hesitantly, looked at the place where flags of the hosts were hanging.
「Six Scars」, 「Perseus」, and also the red flag that had the traces of name of the old 「 」.
Although her father was the leader of 「No Name」, becoming their new leader didn't feel real.
—Nevertheless.
The heart of Kasukabe Yō began to throb from a different matter. The condition that Kuro Usagi proposed to her cleared up her currently messed up head, and more than anything… It was the most interesting proposal.
Under the weight of her throbbing chest, Yō took the microphone and started her speech:
『I.......... am not the strongest person among the 「No Name」. Even now, I'm not confident that I was truly useful in the fight against Aži Dakāha. I believe that this victory was possible only because of people other than us, who put their lives on the line.』
"─────"
It's not like that – from the audience voices were raised. Everyone who fought along with her knew very well just how bravely Kasukabe Yō fought.
『Originally, the person who should have become a leader should be from the other two. But one of them is going on a journey alone to save comrades, and another one who is stronger than me, lost sight of his own self, doesn't know what to do and didn't take the leader's position.』
"............?"
Turbulent atmosphere that drifted even reached the audience.
Yō frantically continued the awkward speech.
『If I, whose ability is not recognized become the leader of 「No Name」, then who knows what kinds of grudges will pile up after this when we create The Great Alliance. That's why, I want to clear everything right here.』
The final words were unmistakably directed towards Izayoi.
Just once, Yō looked back at Kuro Usagi.
『Kuro Usagi. There might not be a way turn back after this, so…...re you sure this is alright?』
"YES! Now go and say it loudly!"
Kuro Usagi answered with a wink. Lately, she has become very reliable. Surely that has to be because she gained more self-confidence, after receiving the divine protection from Indra.
Attracted to that smile, Yō also smiled back.
Perhaps this could be the final prank that three of them would do together.
Then they should give their all. To stand tall without any regrets.
For Kudō Asuka to depart for journey.
For Kasukabe Yō to become a new leader.
And for Sakamaki Izayoi to break his shackles once more.
In order to reach their souls, Kasukabe Yō shouted with all she had.
『Let's have a match, Sakamaki Izayoi!!! If I win in this Gift Game, then until you fix that face that lost all energy from defeat...! You would not return under the flag of 「No Name」!!!』
[1] Arjuna (अर्जुन) is the son of Indra. He is the considered as the best archer of his time, Karṇa being his rival. He was the third of the Pandava (पाण्डव) brothers.
[2] Karṇa (कर्ण) was the king of Anga, and was the only one as strong as Arjuna (अर्जुन). He was the son of Sūrya (सूर्य) a solar deity in Hinduism. He was the best friend of Duryodhana (दुर्योधन), and so fought with the Kaurava (कौरव) side.
[3] It's part of the Mahābhārata, in the Karna Parva (कर्ण पर्व). Karṇa had the Kavach (armour) and Kundal (ear-rings) which made him invulnerable against enemies. Knowing that Indra made a plan to take that: he disguised as a poor Brahmin. Sūrya (सूर्य) warned Karṇa, but he said that he had to respect the host custom. Indra asked for the Kavach and Kundal as alms. Karṇa said he recognize Indra, and Indra took his normal form ashamed. Karṇa however gave them to him. See Prelude to war on Wikipedia.
[4] FYI this is the Author-sama, as usual, changing a bit the myth. In the story the most important point was that Arjuna won in a "disgraceful" manner: he killed him from the back while he was unarmed.
About the curses: 1) He will "lose the knowledge when he needed it most when fighting against an equal warrior" 2) (because he killed a cow) "he would become helpless and die in the same way the innocent cow had become, by his chariot wheels getting stuck in the ground" 3) "at a very crucial moment in battle, his chariot wheel would be trapped". See Quora & Wikipedia for more.
He was indeed killed that way. His chariot wheel was trapped in mud, Arjuna tried to kill him failed and was unconscious, Karṇa tried to extract his wheel, Arjuna woke up and killed him in the back.
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