Part 4
---The both of them used the back of the building as a stepping ground and had leapt back from each other.
At that moment, the building that was originally used as their stepping ground was blown to bits due to the impacts.
Under the intense steps of their feet, the last building had also exploded and accompanying the large amounts of dust and smoke that drifted up from the rubble, it began its gradual collapse.
Although Izayoi and [Baron Croix] were panting heavily, there was not a sign of a scratch on them.
On one hand, it was Izayoi whom all attacks on him were rendered ineffective, and on the other, it was a god who could restore and regenerate at a fast speed, no matter what injuries he suffered.
The battle between the two had definitely grown more intense but conversely, the situation had descended into that of a see-saw effect[91]. Tugging at his bowler hat, [Baron Croix] looked around at the surrounding rubble with a troubled expression.
"Oh my, Oh my. Originally, this was a stage that I separated out from a part of my realm to create, but I didn't think that it would be so easily laid to waste within a few exchanges. Come to think about it, what the hell is that body of yours? Why are you still up and kicking when I've already laid a death curse upon you?"
"Nice question. I would really like to know the answer to that too."
Izayoi replied simply. But in actuality, it was he who was more surprised about the death curse bouncing off him.
However, in his tone, the excitement that he once had was gone.
Desiring to make the game more heated once more, a [Baron Croix] who was taken aback, brought up a suggestion:
"So? Staying in this kind of rubble littered place shouldn't be able to make you feel motivated right? If you wish, I can reconstruct a stage and this time I can even add a touch of creativity to it by creating a stage that has huge mountains and valleys and even the appearance of Hell that is much grander……"
"No. It's enough."
---What? [Baron Croix]'s shut his mouth in surprise.
Izayoi glanced at his watch before closing his eyes as he tilted his head to the skies.
"17:58……Baron Croix, the time is almost up. Although I might not feel satisfied about being unable to defeat you completely, I don't think that I require any other additional hurdles."
"……Oh? You are satisfied?"
"Didn't you hear that I'd said that I wasn't satisfied with this earlier?! Can't you listen to the words of others properly?"
Izayoi clicked his tongue harshly but he wasn't feeling completely unsatisfied in his heart.
Spreading his arms, he carefully thought through all the things that he had experienced today.
"……You're the god of Life and Death. Having the godly power to bring death and able to revive the dead. Even the term of zombie that the world knows of had its source connected to you right?"
"Oh my, Oh my. About that…… your knowledge is quite profound. You are totally right about that."
"In other words, you believe that even if I lose the game and result in the deaths of those rascals, you only need to revive them, am I right?"
"……Nn. I won't deny that."
"But it is that point that makes me feel uncomfortable……Humans are living things that are easily killed by a chop, hit or a shot from projectiles. And precisely because of that, I've had to rein in my actions. Then here you come telling me that even if they get chopped, hit or get shot to death, they can still revive? Hmph! If you let me see that trash like sequence for myself, it will only make me be less able to restrain myself from this day onwards."
So, it's enough.
Hearing Izayoi that kind of tone that seems to be a declaration of victory before fleeing, [Baron Croix] didn't even bother to hide his disappointment as he openly mocked Izayoi.
"Oh my, Oh my……what control? It sure doesn't seem like you to say that kind of statement. The source of one's will to survive is only born from the search for pleasure and for people like us who are the epitome of hedonists, shouldn't that be a very important part of our lives that we must never let go off? Moreover, Canaria's first lesson would have been to teach you to [Face your feelings candidly][92], am I wrong?"
"……"
Izayoi did not deny that and he just closed his eyes.
Following that, he tilted his head to the sealed skies above and spread his arms.
"……Hmph! So you aren't really that omniscient as the legends say."
"Hm? Yeah. I'm a god who had risen from the level of a spirit[93], and have not reached the stage of omniscience."
"Oh I see. No wonder you didn't know the true meaning behind Canaria's words."
"What?" [Baron Croix] was now perplexed.
Izayoi looked to his front once more with his arms continuing in its outstretched position to gesture to the rubble that were the collapsed buildings around him.
"Take a close look at these buildings around you that have been reduced to mere concrete rubble. If I were to intentionally throw a tantrum, it would just be a matter of minutes that I can cause the structure of the Human society to be destroyed. In this kind of situation, it isn't even thinkable for me to throw a tantrum now and then to release my stress. And when facing that kind of 'me', the words of [Face your feelings candidly] only serves as a way to restrain me in chains."
"……"
"[Face your feelings candidly]---That's right. That fellow would always say the same words to me no matter where we went. Traveling with me across the continents, sailing across the seven seas, setting off to visit all the World Heritage sites to share with me the feeling of being in awe and appreciate the countless experiences---She instilled those feelings into me so that I will never destroy the world."
In order to prevent Izayoi from destroying this world with his power.
Canaria had utilized the method of showing him the beauty of the world to seal Izayoi's strength.
"……Nn, and that's what it's all about. Even if it's very interesting, I do not require anything that might destroy the restrains laid upon my body. For it wouldn't matter if it is tomorrow or the day after that……My life will still continue to be lived out in this world."
And that should be considered as admitting defeat right? Izayoi gave a wry smile as he looked up at the sky again.
[Baron Croix] on the other hand seemed to have suffered an unexpected blow that wasn't within his calculations.
A different kind of look started to emerge from the eye behind the monocle for the first time and Izayoi finally felt as if he were being looked at seriously for the first time as well.
"……Izayoi-chan, do you like this world?"
"Nn. I like it a lot. At least I do like it to the point of being able to accept the fact that I will have to live it out in a boring way for the rest of my life."
Izayoi gave his candid reply immediately and there was no sense of shame, shyness, haughtiness, hyperbole[94] or any other feelings that were in his eyes.
Letting out a sigh, [Baron Croix] used a hand to press down his bowler hat as he muttered to himself.
"……Really? Canaria really caused the highest level of all the extremists which is yourself…… to be able to adapt to this world."
"Yes, that's right. The Sakamaki Izayoi who was originally a troublemaking machine had now become a person that can lead the god, [Baron Croix] who has always been evaluated as 'wise', to be able to stand by as witness to my promise to be a person who will adapt to the societal norms. For a memento, I would really wish to receive a letter of acknowledgement from you too."
Izayoi gave a loud laugh. Although it was a carefree laugh, the timing of the laugh made it sound very empty.
And [Baron Croix] had already seen through the smile that seemed to be a mask that hid the heart that was already drowning in disappointment.
Pulling his bowler hat even lower to hide his face---he lifted his head after setting his determination.
"---But this won't do. Izayoi-chan."
"What?"
"I've only just realized the true meaning for this last game that Canaria has planned for you and I've just understood how to draw the curtains for this game! That seal that Canaria has left on you……even if I have to use the harshest methods, I will have to rip it to shreds---!"
Taking off his bowler hat and tossing it aside without paying it any mind, he then pointed towards the core of the spherical world.
In the next moment, the spherical world started to groan and rumble as it started to shrink rapidly.
This seal world did not have any escape routes and Izayoi opened his mouth in astonishment:
"What…What are you planning to do?!"
"I'm causing this miniature world to collapse and shrink to nothingness. That way, there will not be a Host as well as a Participant! If you truly wish to be saved, you can only choose to defeat me or this world, for there are no other choices!"
[Baron Croix] displayed his strong determination.
And Izayoi felt his anxiety writhing throughout his body.
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