Chapter 8
Part 1
---CANARIA foster home. 5/5 17:38.
After picking up all the pieces of the will and last testament that were scattered everywhere, Izayoi used his foot to tip the chair and its contents, the 'man in a tailcoat', who had been sleeping all this time beside the window, to the ground.
"WUAH YO!"
"Woah what Woah! How long are you planning to sleep, you fake lawyer?"
Izayoi accused the 'man in a tailcoat' with impatience creeping into his voice.
The man clambered back up, albeit unhappily, and brushed the dust off his black bowler hat before replacing it once more onto his head.
Following that, he tilted his head. "Well then, what's your business? Have you already completed the game?"
"No. There's still a critical portion that I've not figured out yet."
"……Oh? That means you have already got most of your conjecture down?"
The rim of the monocle was aglow with a radiance.
Allowing the man to inspect the 600 pages of the will and last testament that he had tracked down, Izayoi offered the answer to the riddle.
"The riddle was 'be to find the non-existent 'me' and 'you' and hand it over to the entrance---!'
"Firstly, it would be impossible to hand over an item that did not exist and I can only presume that it is a metaphor to describe something that exists---As for the item that is described by the metaphor? The answer is hidden in the previous stanza."
The [Host] is the 'me who doesn't exist',
The opponent who accepts the challenge is also the 'me who doesn't exist',
The challenge requirement is also me.
"The only line that is different from the other two is that it doesn't deny its own existence. So if I replace the phrase 'Challenge requirement' for 'last testament and will', then the only recount that wasn't mentioned in the will and last testament that did not talk about 'me' and 'you'---would be the incident where we had gone to observe the battlefield. And hence, that would be the answer for the riddle of 'the 'me' and 'you' who doesn't exist'."
"Oh ho……That's the correct answer, Izayoi-chan."
Besides clapping his hands, the 'man in a tailcoat' showed no sign of wanting to do anything further.
Narrowing his eyes, Izayoi tried to intimidate the man.
"……Aren't you the 'entrance'?"
"Me? That's a really interesting conjecture. So would you please not mind explaining it to me?" 'Man in a tailcoat' was full of smiles.
Izayoi checked his watch to confirm the time.
The time now was already 17:40. Though it wasn't the time to give explanations, he did not have any other options.
"……The following conjecture that I have is pocketed with doubts even to me. The words If I were to take it literally, the words of 'bringing everyone with me' that was written in the will and last testament would mean that she intends to bring all the others to the World of the Dead."
"Nn. Nn. Then?"
"In other words, the entrance that the last testament and will had described would be the entrance to the World of the Dead……and that is my guess……"
It was rare but this time, Izayoi faltered at his words.
The 'man in a tailcoat' touched his chin. Apparently finding Izayoi's words interesting, he started to chuckle.
"Hahaha, in other words, you believe that I'm the guide to the Country of the Dead?"
"No……I think you are not that sort of minor character."
"And what do you mean?"
The man nudged his bowler hat on his head a little as he leaned closer to Izayoi.
Izayoi opened his mouth to continue, not before heightening his guard and suspicions.
"---In South America, there's a religion that reveres a god who's always said to wear a swallowtail coat, a black bowler hat and the god is said to be in charge of life and death."
"……Oh?"
"The name of that god is [Baron Croix][81], it is said that the god who wears a swallowtail coat stands between life and death at the 'Crossroads that extends without end' where the human realm and the world of gods intersect……and this Death god also seems to have borrowed the power from the side of 'Life' to obtain omniscience."
Izayoi looked at the 'man in a tailcoat' straight in the eye. Those very eyes that had an eye behind a monocle.
If those eyes of his were really able know every single living thing in this world, then he would be able to make some changes to the will and change the contents.
However, the man who was named 'Baron Croix' by Izayoi seems to shake his head in lament.
"I see. That sure is a very interesting conjecture. But you, the person who said your conjecture seem to be in doubt."
"……"
"Oh? Looks like you are more doubtful than I had thought. Judging from your character, I had thought that you would be more excited and happy……Oh well, not that it matters. I will just answer the two doubts you have. Firstly, about that will. It was not tampered by me. That will is truly written by Canaria with her own hand."
"……and the other doubt?"
The 'man in a tailcoat' crooked his mouth into a smile.
"---That's the correct answer. I'm Baron Croix, also known as one of the Loa[82] who governs the route to [Guniee][83]."
Getting to his feet in a slow fashion, the swallowtail coat shook with his movements. And at that very moment, the presence of the 'man in a tailcoat' suddenly expanded.
Izayoi backed a step and another to pull away from that 'man in a tailcoat'--- [Baron Croix].
"……Ha! I see! Looks like you weren't just putting on an act of bravado."
"Of course not. But somehow you still seem to be in doubt until now?"
"Nope, there's no such thing……I did want to insist on thinking otherwise but now that I'm facing you, it would probably be futile to continue being stubborn."
Izayoi might have shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner but cold sweat was still dripping down his back.
Noting Izayoi's response, 'Baron Croix' seemed to be very disappointed as he drooped his shoulders.
"……I see. No wonder Canaria was worried."
"What?"
"I mean that, Izayoi-chan, you are a very boring fellow. Oh my, it sure is such a waste and pity to the point that it makes one surprised, shocked and very disappointed in your entirety. Haiz. And here I heard that you were a much more interesting person. Although you might have a strong and abnormal strength, it is clear that you have already lost the method to release it. Or should I say restricted by your mental seals---Let me say it bluntly. You have become too used to this world and I can't let you clear the game in this condition you know?"
*Tack!* The heel of 'Baron Croix's' shoe tapped the floor. Holding down the bowler hat on his head, with his coat tails swaying behind him, 'Baron Croix' moved closer.
At that very moment, a violent wind shattered all the windows in the little room and the two people were drenched in the rain that was blown in.
"Well then, I shall have to adopt some extreme measures to start the ball rolling! And so, I'll hereby welcome you to my realm---The Crossroads of Life and Death!"
The violent winds whipped the shattered glass fragments into a whirlwind and gradually destroyed the walls of the room, seeming as though it were a shredder machine and the walls being nothing more than flimsy paper in its path.
Not long after, the floorboard of the small room had also vanished and Izayoi found himself falling in mid-air.
The current feeling that enveloped Izayoi as he gradually fell would have been far too strange to be classified as 'experiencing the unknown'. For it was as though the fall was unrelated to the gravity of the place but the world itself was becoming increasingly thin in its composition.
Although a person that fell through the darkness should have been filled with terror and anxiety, Izayoi who was on his way down---was filled with an incredible sense of excitement.
[---Could it be……that he's the real thing?]
The scenes of the various journeys together with Canaria in the past seemed like pictures on a revolving lantern[84] that flashed before his eyes.
---Previously challenging the legend that a demon rested within the waterfalls.
---Previously challenging the legend of the Spiritual Mountain to find the god that lived on it.
---And previously due to the desire to fill the gap in his heart, setting off to sea to find the world's end.
The hopes that were born from the thoughts of 'Maybe it will be found this time' caused Izayoi to be in high spirits as he continued to fall in the darkness.
After some time, Izayoi noticed that the ground had started to reconstruct and at the same time, projections sprung up to form many grey towers and its base.
At the moment when the World above and below had formed the sky and earth, Izayoi's body was tipped over 180 degrees to fall towards the direction of the sky.
Just when he was gazing at the semi-spherical world that was continuing to expand outwards and wonder about how extraordinary it was---A flat object collided into his back for reasons unknown.
Getting back up immediately, he confirmed the situation of his surroundings.
"……Oi! Oi!......What in the world is this……"
Upon a closer look, the sky simply did not exist.
Somehow without him noticing, the clusters of grey towers had been replaced by skyscrapers and had constructed an unfamiliar city.
The multitude of pavements and roads crisscrossed through the glass windowed skyscrapers. It was so exquisite in detail that it looked totally similar to that of a newly finished model.
The reason why Izayoi felt that the sight before him was like a miniature landscape[85] should probably be the fact that he couldn't sense any traces of human life from the place.
But that was only a small portion of the problem.
As for the reason that Izayoi was dismayed about, that should be regarding the world that seemed to be completely enclosed, on the interior side of a sphere.
[The sky and earth is seamlessly joined as a whole……Is this the world that exists between Life and Death?]
That's right. Describing this place as a [World that is constructed within the interior of a sphere] might be much easier to understand.
The spherical world was filled with skyscrapers and buildings that were so close and orderly that they looked like fish scales from afar. In addition, there were also many roads that seem to lead to many places. Ranging from those that led upwards to those that led downwards and even those that led left or right as they moved up the slopes.
Izayoi was gaping and taking in the sights of the street before him when he noticed that there was the faint outline of a person down the street.
"Izayoi-chan, this is the world that I've specially created for you. Do you like it?"
[Baron Croix] stood on the roof of a shorter building as he spoke to Izayoi before taking a plunge down the building to appear before Izayoi's eyes.
Spreading the arms that had everything above his wrists hidden by the swallow tail coat sleeves, he announced to Izayoi.
"Okay. From now on I will be hosting an additional hurdle for you. So don't be reserved and display it all before me Croix Baron ……for I too, want to have a look at the enormous strength that you were gifted with by the world with my own eyes---!"
In a flash, the 'man in a tailcoat' dissolved into a black shadow that sprinted along the vehicle lane.
Grabbing Izayoi who was late in reacting, the shadow forcefully flung him towards the floor by the neck.
"Bastard……!"
Izayoi grabbed the wrist of the 'man in a tailcoat' as he attempted to twist it upwards to counter his opponent's pressure that pinned him to the ground. However, his opponent had dissolved into an intangible shadow once more and had gotten behind Izayoi's back.
"Haha! Aren't you very kind?! You'd only tried to neutralize the attack when a god had already attempted to take away your life. It's really hard to find these kind of people nowadays!"
The 'man in a tailcoat' laughed mockingly as he lifted his leg to send Izayoi flying with a strike at his blind spot.
Izayoi's body danced in mid-air as he continued to fly in a straight line into the sky before smashing through the roof of a large building that was diagonally across his original place on the ground.
And after breaking through several layers of reinforced concrete, the noise finally grounded to a stop.
Having dissolved into the shadows again, [Baron Croix] rushed to catch up by following the carnage that was caused by Izayoi's collision. In fact, the building looked as if it had been shot by a cannon as it was crumbling from inside.
"……Oops,was it too heavy-handed a blow on him?"
[Baron Croix] muttered as he tugged on his bowler hat while furrowing his brows. However, it wasn't out of self-reflection that he had said those words. In fact, it's only because he didn't want to end it all before he could even start enjoying himself.
---On one hand, [Baron Croix] might be known as the God of Life and Death, but at the same time, he is also known as the god of love and lust.
And he was one that loved to hold a bottle of rum in one hand while messing around and simply engaging in intercourses, a God of love character that was violent and downright despicable.
Savoring pleasure was in his element[86]. But it would be very unsatisfying and unfortunate if the game were to end due to an accidental lack of restraint, before he could even have time to open a bottle of rum.
[Had Canaria's worry come true? Even if she were to send this sort of youth to the world of Little Garden---]
"---Oi! Megane[87] Bastard!"
"What?!" He turned around in surprise. This is because the trail of destruction was still extending before him while the source of the voice had come from his back. And it was definitely not due to his reaction from being called a 'Megane Bastard'.
However, all his surprise and anger were thrown aside immediately.
That's because behind him--- a building traveling at speed of the third cosmic velocity was heading towards him.
"This---!"
It was the first time in the long span of his existence that [Baron Croix] had the facial description 'dazed till his jaw hung loose' used for his current expression.
That outrageous speed was so fast that it gave him no time to respond with his technique of shifting into a shadow.
Immediately, [Baron Croix] raised his right hand and released a darkness that was shimmering like a hot pocket of air.
The building that was hurled and traveling at the speed of the third cosmic velocity had only needed to touch the dark shadowy mass to be broken into fragments before disintegrating. The remainder had also crumbed into rubble that showered down upon the other buildings below, causing them to collapse as well.
"---Oh? To actually use a defensive stance……Then may I presume that the previous attack might have given you a fatal wound?"
Izayoi's voice echoed in the area. And what was more surprising was that he did not sustain any injuries. Though his appearance might have been more dusty and dirty, there was no sign of a fatal injury. Even so, his facial expression had undergone a dramatic change.
The light smile showed more confidence than before and a pleased look had begun to emerge from his gaze.
"That's good. Very good. In fact, it was great! You sure have some nice moves! I wonder how long has it been since I had my blood boiling inside me like that…? Haha. Due to the wide gap between then and now, I sure can't remember it at all! As expected from a guy claiming to be a Kami-sama[88]! Even the extra hurdle is unique and interesting---!"
*Boom!* Izayoi started forward at a sprint that was similar to that of a cannon being shot from its barrel and the driveway beneath the contact points with his feet started to develop depressions that were similar to craters left behind by small meteorites smashing into Earth. [Baron Croix], slow to react once more, was grabbed by the neck by Izayoi's hand and forcefully flung towards the ground.
"Oof!"
And subsequently, a kick sent his whole body flying into the air and crashing through 12 buildings.
Izayoi stood on the rooftop as he spread his arms.
"---Let's fight to the end! Kami-sama, I request for you to accompany me in this game and play to my heart's content! Having prepared this special stage for me and having prepared the extra hurdle for me……and for being the stand-in agent whom Canaria prepared for me! Since that's the case, your job should be to continue putting up with me until I'm tired of the game!"
[Baron Croix] stood up from the pile of rubble.
Adjusting his swallowtail coat and dusting it a little as he replaced the bowler hat back onto his head, he was full of smiles as he replied:
"Very well. If that's your wish……Then I will thoroughly be your opponent as the stand-in for the Host."
"But---" He hesitated for a while.
"Lad! This game is already mine. If my hit is too hard and it kills you……please don't hold it against me---!"
Spreading his arms, he started to release the shadowy darkness, which shimmered like pockets of hot gas, into his surroundings and gradually expanded it.
While [Baron Croix] was releasing his powers that marked him as a Death god……Izayoi used that time slot to shift his gaze towards the digital watch on his hand.
"……Nn. What a headache……will I be able to make it in time like that?" He had said it in a low mutter that wouldn't have been heard by others.
Just when his mutter seemed to disappear like the pop of a bubble, the two began to engage in their fierce battle.
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